What else can Toyota make in a hybrid?
Toyota FT-HS
(Credit: Toyota)Old Toyota: reliable and practical cars with decent gas mileage for the commuting set.
New Toyota: the Prius, the FJ Cruiser, hybrid Camry, hybrid Highlander and soon...a hybrid sports car.
(Credit:
Toyota)
The FT-HS concept car is meant to be a sample of mid-priced hybrid sports car with ultra-low emissions and fuel efficiency, according to Toyota.
The front-engine rear-drive car would have a V6 3.5-liter engine, putting out approximately 400 horsepower when coupled with the hybrid system, and be able to do zero-to-sixty in four seconds.
Not sure of the look? Well those "aero-corners" on the body that you may be skeptical of are intended to "promote smooth airflow and reduce turbulence," according to Toyota's statement about the car. The roof is retractable, as is the rear spoiler. The headlamps are also clusters of LEDs.
Toyota FT-HS rear
(Credit: Toyota)The Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports car will debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (click here to check out a few other concepts that will be shown in Detroit).
Another question remains. Now that Toyota has a stake in Isuzu, known for its diesel expertise, when will we see a diesel hybrid?
In a software-driven world, it's easy to forget about the nuts and bolts. Whether it's cars, robots, personal gadgetry or industrial machines, Candace Lombardi examines the moving parts that keep our world rotating. A journalist who divides her time between the United States and the United Kingdom, Lombardi has written about technology for the sites of The New York Times, CNET, USA Today, MSN, ZDNet, Silicon.com, and GameSpot. E-mail her at candacelombardi@gmail.com. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET. 
