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Wowowee! The Lexus LFA takes the meaning of the word “supercar” to a new high.

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MAKUHARI Messe, Chiba, Japan—The world’s leading automaker, Toyota, pulled the covers off two new concept vehicles that made their world debut at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show on October 21.  The FT-EVII, a compact electric concept vehicle designed for urban driving, and the FT-86, a lightweight four-seat sports car, the first Toyota model powered by lithium-ion batteries, figuratively took a bow before the world’s motoring journalists who were gathered together for the Motor Show’s press day.

Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand also presented for the first time the LF-Ch, a five-door hybrid, and the LFA two-seater supercar.

The FT-EVII concept car is designed to accommodate four passengers in an ultra-efficient and downsized body that is smaller than the micro-compact iQ model.  The new vehicle has electric sliding doors on both sides that facilitate ingress and egress in narrow parking spaces. Instead of conventional brake and accelerator pedals, the FT-EVII features a bar beside the driver’s seat which controls all functions and results in more legroom.  The model has a low front cowl and an auxiliary window below the windshield for better forward visibility.  The vehicle, 2.73 meters long, 1.68 meters wide and 1.49 meters high, can cover a distance of about 90 km on a single charge at a maximum speed of over 100 kph.  Toyota expects to launch the EV in the US market as early as 2012.

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Keeping the faith The Toyota FT-86 Concept honors the tradition of the renowned AE86 of the ’80s in a totally futuristic ackage.

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The Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle or PHV is a five-seat concept model based on Toyota’s third-generation Prius. The PHV, which is expected to be released for leasing in the US, Japan and Europe late this year, can be charged from external power sources, such as a household outlet.  The vehicle runs with an electric motor for short-range driving in addition to the motor on long-distance trips.  The vehicle, making its Japan debut, has a fuel efficiency of 55 km or more per liter and carbon dioxide emissions of 42 grams per km.  The model projects an EV cruising range of 20 km or more on one full charge.  The model is based on Toyota’s belief that PHVs will be best suited for widespread use to effectively meet emissions restrictions and the diversification of energy.

A day earlier, Toyota unveiled the compact luxury sedan “Sai”, which is planned to go on sale in Japan on December 7.  The Sai is based on a concept derived from the Japanese word sai—which means both “talent” and “coloration.” The company considers the name apt as it is a hybrid-only sedan that combines “advanced talent and multicolor sophistication.”  Designed to address current environmental issues, the Sai is fitted with a gasoline-electric hybrid system with a 2.4-liter engine for outstanding fuel efficiency and makes use of Ecological Plastic (made from plant-derived materials) in approximately 60 percent of its interior surface area.  Its strengths are its maneuverability, comfort, refined sedan styling and aerodynamic performance as well as advanced features such as a millimeter-wave-radar Pre-crash Safety system.

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Toyota FT-EVII

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Also making its world debut was the LFA, a two-seat supercar which is set to go into production next year. Designed for the high-performance driver, the LFA is a front-engine rear-wheel-drive vehicle that has been designed for high output from the ground up. A computer -designed chassis and aerodynamic package give the LFA instantaneous response on the road as confirmed in tests conducted on various racetracks around the world, including the famous Nurburgring in Germany.  Under the hood of the vehicle is a 4.8-liter V10 engine mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox that produces a maximum output of 560 ps at 8,700 rpm and maximum torque of 480 Nm at 6,800 rpm, 325 kph top speed and accelerates from zero to 100 kph in 3.7 seconds. Lexus says that only 500 units of the LFA will be produced and sold worldwide.