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Toyota has released the official images of the FT-86 open concept ahead of its world premiere at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The concept bears a similar front fascia as the coupe version but the hardtop is replaced by an electrical-operated soft top. The boot and windscreen have also been modified. Toyota commented that the convertible conveys a feeling of oneness with nature while maintaining the joy and sense of oneness with the vehicle. When it goes into production, the very successful Mazda MX-5 will have a new rival. The interior of the FT86 Open Top features contrasting white and navy blue tones on the dashboard, seats and steering wheel. The floor is laid with yellow-gold carpeting. Other highlights include alloy pedals and metallic accents. Toyota has yet to release the engine specifications, but it should inherit the 2.0-litre four cylinder, direct-injected boxer engine from its hardtop sibling. The naturally-aspirated lump is good for 200bhp and 205Nm of torque.

[extract] Over the past several weeks, we have seen numerous leaked images of the purportedly production ready of Toyota

Whilst Toyota has suffered from leaked images as regards to their soon to the released FT-86, Subaru has decided to release official pictures of its twin, the Subaru BRZ concept. This preview comes a few weeks ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. My first thoughts about the BRZ is that it has edgier styling instead of having more flowing lines compared to Toyota FT-86 especially from the rear. Subaru says that the BRZ is still in the concept car stage, this means that the Toyota FT-86 that is scheduled to be launched in December 2011 will be the first production ready version of the two. But this also means that this is the only car (and its variants) that I am aware of which has been premiered in one form or the other over the last two years. I have seen, or read the FT-86 concept cars being previewed at various motor shows in slightly different forms. This has got to be a record of sorts as Toyota seemed to be showing off a slightly different version at nearly every large motor show out there trying to gauge people's reaction towards this car. I don't know whether this seems to be working as I am this close to getting totally bored of looking at the FT-86 already, before the car is already out. And now with the Subaru BRZ concept we have the Subaru version of the car getting prepped for launch too. This car is getting billed by Subaru as having the production coupe with the lowest center of gravity ever made. I suppose it should, as it will come equipped with the ubiquitous Subaru Flat-Four engine. It seems it will not be turbocharged, but a high revving normally aspirated one, somewhat against current Subaru norms and also the current standard where almost every small performance coupe runs forced induction. But can they just launch a production ready version by yesterday? I just think they're doing too many previews on this car. Imagine if the car's performance fell slightly flat compared to its looks after all the fuss everywhere.

It will be slightly just over a month to go before Toyota shows the world (at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show) its new sports car, the FT-86 and images of it has already leaked on the internet. No one can be sure whether these images are real or not. But whatever it is, let us enjoy and take a closer look of the purportedly finished product. Let

This must be the ugliest front end ever grace a concept car that is supposedly to replace a modern classic sports car from the 1980s. This is the Toyota FT-86 II Concept car that Toyota will put on display at this year's Geneva Motor Show and if you look at the rest of the photos in the press release you will find out that the rest of the car's pretty scary looking too. This FT-86 II Concept is the Toyota coupe that is being co-developed with Subaru. It uses a flat-four engine from Subaru together with a 6 speed gearbox. I'm sure the car will have optimum weight distribution and I am also sure that Toyota will ensure that the FT-86 will handle as well as the classic AE86 from the 1980s. The only thing I am now worried of is how the car looks. It isn't very flattering to say the least. It looks like a mash-up of various Toyota sports cars from days gone by. If you look again at the front directly you can see that it looks like the seventh generation T230 with a humongous Veilside Combat Mode front bumper. From the side you get the long bonnet from Toyota Supra twin turbo of the 1990s and from the rear you get a huge dose of Lexus LFA DNA injected into it. It could be seen like Toyota is trying a little too hard this time. They should have left it alone at the first concept car or at the FT-HV that I saw at the recent 2010 Kuala Lumpur Motor Show. I just hope they realise this and if they don't, I hope its handling makes it so fabulous to drive till people forget about how it looks.