BREAKING: Toyota announces debut list for Geneva, FT-86 Open Concept convertible to debut

Toyota has just publicly released their list of exciting cars to see at this year’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. A total of four new cars will debut at the show this year with two world premieres and two first appearances.

The two first appearances are for the new Toyota Auris Touring Sports, and a first European motor show appearance for the new RAV4. The two world premieres are the Toyota i-Road concept, but most of all, the new Toyota GT-86 Open Concept. Yes you read correctly. It seems Toyota is expanding its GT-86 lineup with a potential new drop top version.

Not much is known and only this design sketch was provided with the press release. But so far, Toyota has been taking the automotive sphere by storm as their collaborative project with Subaru, the BRZ/GT-86/Scion FR-S. And the biggest question remains, if Toyota chooses to produce a convertible GT-86, will it lose all of its handling prowess from all of the engineering requirements of convertibles, which add weight and mess with the suspension, leading to less-precise handling?

It’s a big question indeed because Toyota’s two-door rear-wheel drive sports car is all about proper handling with low-power. Messing up the handling in a GT-86 is like taking gasoline away from the car—you’re left with pretty much nothing.

Either way, only time will tell. Check out the press release below.

TOYOTA AT THE 2013 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

  • World premiere of FT-86 Open concept
  • World premiere of Toyota i-Road concept
  • First appearance of production-ready Auris Touring Sports
  • First European motor show appearance of the new RAV4

Toyota will take the wraps off two contrasting new concepts at the Geneva motor show and also pave the way for two new model introductions that will strengthen its European model range in the coming months.

The FT-86 Open and Toyota i-Road concepts will be sharing the spotlight with the new, British-built Auris Touring Sports and the fourth-generation RAV4 compact SUV.

FT-86 Open concept
The Toyota FT-86 Open concept previews a possible future development of the award-winning GT86 sports coupe. The show car will help Toyota gauge public reaction to the idea, at the same time as it carries out engineering tests on a prototype.

Toyota i-Road
The Toyota i-Road has been conceived as a compact, fun and emissions-free personal mobility concept, designed to offer quick and efficient urban transport for two people.

Auris Touring Sports
Toyota will unveil the production-ready Auris Touring Sports at Geneva, having previewed the estate version of its Auris model at the Paris motor show last year. It will publish full specifications, dimensions and performance data for the new, British-built model, which will go on sale later this year.

Toyota intends Auris Touring Sports to become a new reference point in the market for medium-size estate cars, supported by its strong, contemporary styling, excellent luggage capacity and unique-in-segment full hybrid powertrain option.

The model’s debut will be supported by the presentation of a special design study, the Auris Touring Sports Black.

RAV4
The fourth generation RAV4 will be appearing at a European motor show for the first time, coinciding with its market launch in Europe. The new model builds on its pioneering heritage, putting a greater emphasis on the qualities demanded by the modern families that are at the heart of its target market, without sacrificing its core values.

The new model offers distinctive styling, a high quality interior, greater efficiency and improvements to its all-wheel drive system that help deliver a more engaging drive.

RAV4’s debut will be supported by two special design studies, the RAV4 Premium and RAV4 Adventure.

Press conference
Toyota will host a press conference on Stand 4.111 at 1pm on Tuesday, 5 March.

– By: Chris Chin