TOYOTA FT-1 CONCEPT: Sports car enthusiasts visiting the 2015 Chicago Auto Show will have the chance to view Toyota’s FT-1 concept vehicle. Labeled the spiritual pace car for the new direction of Toyota Global Design, the FT-1’s muscular exterior builds on Toyota’s rich sports coupe heritage dating back to the 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR2 and, most recently, the Scion FR-S. It will be easy to spot by the impressive opulent graphite and saddle color combination. “Function-sculpting” design language yields curved, muscular, expressive body forms seemingly shaped by the wind. Inlets, ducting, and vents are features of the exterior design that help reinforce its track–ready nature with elements of purposeful airflow management. At higher speeds a retractable rear wing deploys and tilts forward to create additional downforce. The body’s athleticism is expressed with taut surfaces and dramatic fender forms that seduce the eyes when covered in an unapologetically red hue. The front engine rear-wheel drive configuration locates the cockpit far rearward within the wheelbase to improve weight distribution. Details with the cockpit comprise all-natural-grain saddle leather on the seats, painted brown edges on the interior and the use of raised metal mesh. While technical specifications do not accompany the concept, one can assume that the FT-1 represents an ideally balanced front-engine, rear wheel-drive layout that is powered by a high-technology, high performance internal combustion engine. Beneath a transparent glass hood, an ambiguous engine cover hides a powerplant left to the imagination of the onlooker.