This Toyota concept was the most exciting, disappointing, interesting, unusual, etc. I went from loving it to hating it to loving it. I first saw sketches released of this vehicle and thought, WOW now this is a revolution, then after the sketches came the release of the photo’s……… and now I was saying ummmmm, well I wasn’t saying anything. I was wondering how this was possible. How did an Anime character turn into a car?

Let’s start at the front of the vehicle.

A theme that we have seen for about 3 years now with the headlights becoming a piece of sculpture applied to the body of the vehicle, is well executed. The large inlet beneath the headlight is well executed as well. Where it gets a little odd is the transition from looking at the car from a strict side view, and looking at it from a front ¾ view, this surface now looks very large and plain. The front bumper reminds me of a cow pusher on the front of a locomotive, which is odd.

The absence of wheel arches is well noted; instead large sheer planes are used to emphasize the wheels being at the edge of the car. The hood is not noteworthy, other then it’s aggressive rake forward.

The lack of A and B-pillar makes this vehicle appear very tail heavy, with all the mass of the DLO supported by the Huge C-Pillar, very architectural. (Cantilevered like Frank Lloyd-Wrights Falling Waters)

The sides are very slab, with little surface tweaks to allow for inlets before the rear wheels.

Behind the rear wheel is this odd cut line/surface break that breaks the side view, from the rearview. Most cars attempt to flow the surface around the corner, but this vehicle breaks from convention and deliberately cuts this surface off.

The rear ¾ view of the vehicle is very strange, but very new. Reminds me of some of the new student work coming out of Art Center, or Cleveland Institute of Art. The surfaces are soooooo exaggerated, and soooo planer, that I get lost at times in a sea of white body color.

Overall the FT-HS has excited me in the end. I went from both extremes, from love to hate to love again. After seeing it in person, and filtering the design, I can say this is one of the most interesting concepts at NAIAS. Flame it or love it, one thing I can say is that it has some new surface forms, some nice detailing, and a very fresh proportion.

The Interior was very well executed as well. I will only post some sketches, and leave the comments to you…….

This is a beautiful sketch….

I hope you enjoyed my short design crit. Just wanted to keep it short and give you some of the opinions I have heard, and feel. Remember to formulate your own opinion on this design, after all design is about a personal expression.

Scott Digital