Toyota FT HS Hybrid Concept Car
Toyota FT HS Hybrid Concept Car
Find out more about Toyota's latest hybrid motor car
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Car giant Toyota have developed a hybrid car capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 4 seconds. The Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept car is not yet available in the showrooms, but Toyota are targetting a price of under $40,000 in the US market for this two-door four-seat sports coupe.
Toyota have not developed a sports model since they ceased production of the Supra in 1997. Potentially this hybrid could fill the void it left in the Toyota lineup. The new hybrid technology developed for this concept could also find its way into future Toyota Prius models.
The water-cooled electric motor from the Lexus GS 450h acts as a super-charger for a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine (also from the Lexus) giving a total power output of an impressive 400hp. This permanent magnet 147 kW electric motor alone can provide bursts of power of almost 200hp for a few seconds at a time greatly boosting acceleration driving the rear wheels. The Lexus GS 450h has a 288 volt 35 kWh battery pack which is probably used in the FT-HS. The batteries are charged through regenerative braking.
Fuel economy details have not yet been released but this powerful sports hybrid is unlikely to give much better than 30mpg. However such a sports hybrid is likely to increase the coolness factor of hybrid cars, and the technology developed can be scaled down easily for more fuel efficient models.
The petrol engine can be fueled with an 85/15 ethanol/petrol mix.
Article Last Modified: 09:52, 16th Feb 2007Comment on this Article
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