2017 Toyota Supra May Have 470 HP, Ditching FT-1 Concept Exterior

BMW controls the dimensions and Toyota will take care of the Hybrid stuff.

Sorry Toyota FT-1 fans, it looks like the design won’t be used for Toyota’s new Supra. According to our intrepid auto friends over at Motoring.com on their exposé on certain details on the new Toyota/BMW collab earlier yesterday (July 22, 2015) sources within Toyota have confirmed that the FT-1 design won’t be used. Additionally, a few power plant options have been already locked in and Toyota is hoping to release a prototype to the world as early as January of next year.

Here’s what we know so far. The new Supra will be priced and spec’d above the Toyota 86. During the Geneva Motor show earlier this year, Toyota began its development process and BMW confirmed that although both cars shared the same platform, they would be entirely different looking vehicles. Dubbed, “The Silk Road Project” BMW would be in charge of chassis and engine development and Toyota would handle all the hybrid technologies options. (yay Prius!)

"“The reason that two completely different bodies can be used is because we are not employing a monocoque design but rather a ‘frame-based’ format,”"

Here’s where it gets good. Dimensions for the new Supra will have length no less than 4500mm ( old Supra was 4521mm), width less than 1840mm ( old Supra was 1811mm) and height no more than 1340mm ( old Supra was 1275mm.) In addition, the wheelbase of the new Supra will be less than 2500mm (old Supra was 2550mm.) The source within Toyota said to look at the Porsche 911 for a rough dimension estimate.

For engine choices, the BMW will get a 2.0 turbo four cylinder( 240 HP/260 lb-ft) and an inline 6 cylinder turbo(335 HP/330 lb-ft.) The Toyota Supra will most likely receive the inline 6-cylinder turbo paired with an electric motor in a hybrid battery setup with power coming close to 470 HP.

So there you have it. The 2017 Toyota Supra will have more power than its predecessor thanks to turbos and hybrid technology and will be roughly the same size dimensions wise. You can kiss the FT-1 concept goodbye for any design language inspiration.