The Toyota FT-1 concept car looks set to take production form.

Toyota looks set to push forward with plans to introduce a flagship sportscar to sit above its popular 86 coupe.

The Japanese manufacturer is currently working with BMW to build jointly developed sports cars that will tackle different corners of the performance market.

Toyota told Britain's Autocar that such a model would go on sale alongside the affordable 86 without treading on BMW's turf.

Karl Schlicht, Toyota Europe vice-president, says "The intention with the new car is for it to sit above the GT86".

"It doesn't replace that model; the GT86 goes on with its own mission."

BMW board member Ian Robertson told Autocar the cars would be built on a scalable platform with different goals in mind, unlike the near-identical Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 twins.

"The cars in themselves don't actually need to be positioned the same," he says.

"The concept works, the platform can deliver and now we have two proud sets of engineers - one group German, one group Japanese - who are each fighting and arguing for the car they want."

Toyota produced the acclaimed FT-1 concept for the 2014 Detroit motor show as an example of what its next performance car could offer.

The concept offered an undisclosed petrol-powered engine driving the rear wheels. A production model could capitalise on Toyota's racing experience against Audi and Porsche in the World Endurance Championship by using a powerful hybrid drivetrain.

Toyota sports car chief Tetsuya Tada told Drive at the 2014 Nurburgring 24 hour race the manufacturer was considering a three-tier sportscar lineup that could include a convertible.

"We want to do three sports models from Toyota and at least one convertible model will be realistic," he said.

"I'm thinking convertible model will be on higher model ... maybe."