Toyota has unveiled a new concept car in the U.S. that combines a hybrid engine with sports-car performance. The FT-HS is "a mid-priced sports car that integrates ecology and emotion". It would be interesting to know what the company means by "mid-priced". Something in the range of $50,000, perhaps? At that price, it will be out of the range of most buyers. But Toyota marketers label the FT-HS an "attainable exotic".


I spoke with a colleague about this today. He said there was dissatisfaction among drivers with the power of the original Toyota hybrid, the Prius, which sells for about $35,000. The FT-HS is obviously aimed at quelling those opinions.

The FT-HS has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and "zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range". You can see more.

Toyota also offers a hybrid Lexus.