From Dreams to Reality: Unraveling the Toyota EX-7, Toyota’s First Supercar Concept

Join this channel to get access to perks: In the history of automotive innovation, certain concepts stand out for their boldness and boundary-pushing design. The Toyota EX-7, unveiled at the 1970 Tokyo Motor Show, remains one such iconic and trailblazing concept. Born from the tragic end of Toyota’s Group 7 motorsport program, the EX-7 was a futuristic vision of a road-going supercar that was designed to show the world what the manufacturer was capable of. The roots of the EX-7 can be traced back to the mid-1960s when the FIA introduced the Group 7 category, granting manufacturers unprecedented freedom to create lightning-fast two-seat racing machines. Toyota, in partnership with Yamaha, developed the Toyota 7, a thoroughbred race car designed to conquer the tracks. However, after a tragic accident that claimed the life of promising driver Minoru Kawai, Toyota withdrew from motorsport competitions. But Toyota used what they learned from building the group 7 racecar to build their own supercar, and this was to be their first attempt at building a thru supercar. The EX-7 was built on the foundation of a retired Turbo 7 race car chassis. While the aluminum tube chassis underwent slight modifications to suit road use, it retained its mid-engine layout and fully independent suspension. This was trully a race car built for road use. Under the sleek and otherworldly super futuristic body, the heart of the EX-7 was a 90-degree V8 engine, the same powerhouse that drove the Turbo 7 race car. Now in the race car this V8 produced a mind boggling 800HP but in the EX-7 That motor was changed from the race version, you see Toyota removed the turbochargers but the naturally-aspirated version of the engine still produced an impressive 450 hp, which was really impressive in the 70s. And it send all of that power from the motor thru a 5 speed manual gearbox. But enough about the powerplant, although it is impressive the true stand out feuture of this car was its striking design. With its sharply angled front end, futuristic glass roof panels, and a wide, wedge-shaped rear, the car looked like a creation from a Sci-Fi movie set. The most mesmerizing feature, however, was the vertically opening doors and roof panels, powered by a hydraulic system. Now I can see many flaws with this. You cant stop under a low ish tree as it would scratch you roof door thing. Parking garages, now I know most parking garages have a high seeling, but I have been in a few with a low roof. But the biggest problem, uhm lets say its raining and you have to get in or out. Just imagine the fun. Anyways The two-seat cabin of the EX-7 was a marvel of engineering and design. The bespoke sports seats rose automatically, making access to the low-slung car more convenient, while the upholstery in a mix of white and yellow added to the concept’s futuristic allure. The EX-7 made its debut at the 1970 Tokyo Motor Show, leaving the crowd awestruck and igniting a frenzy of excitement. Enthusiasts were eager to own a piece of Toyota’s groundbreaking concept, but alas, Toyota had no intentions of putting the EX-7 into production. The car displayed at the Tokyo Show was the sole example, and while it made a few more appearances during the 1970s, its current whereabouts remain a mystery. #conceptcar #supercar #toyota