Toyota Getting Back to its Roots for Possible Sports Car Revival
While the rumors of a modern version of the cult-classic AE86 Corolla or a new Celica continue to be spread around blogs and car forums, we have found something that shows Toyota is seriously considering getting back into the compact sports car game.
Moto Miwa, the founder and webmaster of the Toyota enthusiast site Club4AG has been in contact with Toyota engineers responsible for a new compact sports car project that is being considered for production. Toyota wants to know just what it was that gave its classic vehicles like the AE86 and MR2 such a passionate fan base.
Naturally, Club4AG members are calling for a vehicle that delivers a light weight rear-wheel-drive chassis, a responsive if not powerful engine, and an affordable base price with lots of potential for tuning.
Whether this particular project is given the green light or not, it is nice to see that Toyota is at least thinking about the opinions of the common sports car enthusiast. While the Lexus branded IS-F and upcoming LF-A have shown that Toyota is serious about performance, those cars are still out of the price range of most car buyers.
Let us know what direction you think Toyota should take with this project in the comments section.
Comments
Bob
I think the club members hit it on the head. An affordable lightweight responsive car. They don't need the car to have 500 horse if it is light and fun to drive. Plus with emission and fuel standards tightening they may end up developing the type of sports car that everyone else will need to have.
Toyota Getting Back to its Roots for Possible Sports Car Rev
[...] post by Mike Garrett and software by Elliott Back « Toyota Celica (4) Toyota Puts Platinum on NBA All-Star [...]
detroit9000
Engineering love!
All they need to know they can learn by watching Data's struggles with love in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Justin
Suzuki hit the target in the motorcycle world, with its SV650/SV650S in 1999, and improved on it in 2003 withe the fuel-injected 2nd-gen SV.
It was a smash hit, much like the Hachi -- an inexpensive entry-level bike that was friendly to use and cheap to maintain for new riders... but easily modified to become a giant killer for those who wanted more.
Much the same model should be followed for the next entry-level sports car -- practical, inexpensive, responsible design... yet inspiring to drive stock, and with plenty of room for potential down the road.
I'll be waiting with checkbook in hand, should they do it right.
LemonCurry
One of my friends in high school had a nice used car like the one pictured. I remember it being a high-revving, fun to drive car and wondered often why there weren't any more new models like it.
I still have an old '85 MR2 which, although it needs a ton of work, is fun as hell to drive. If Toyota can recapture the magic in a sporty corolla (or matrix even) and cut the fat, I'd be all over that.
Mark
Except for the Supra and MR2, I cannot think of a good sport car from Toyota in recent memory. The "cult-classic" Corolla was a turd and so was the FWD Celica.
uragan
What the Club4AG is asking for is a Miata or a Civic S.
Trinks
I was hoping that the tC was going to be the new Toyota sports car, and I know a lot of other people had been hoping the same thing. It still could be, if they re-engineered the car to take out a lot of the weight and gave it a high performance engine, maybe even a tuned version of the supercharged 2.4L if Toyota wants to cut down on development costs. I know it's not exactly a Hachi replacement, but at this point anything is an improvement.
PockyIsGod
Oooohhhh... a replacement hachiroku? That would be a blast to drive. If they make it light enough a N/A 1.6-1.8 litre I4 and rear wheel drive would make BMW shake.
john
the AE86s are one of the few toyotas I can see myself in. I'd love to see a new version of it come out. Imagine if Honda gets a new CRX going too? I'm no jap-scrap lover, but that'd be a rivalry I'd follow real closely.
Jeff
**Mark** - Something wrong with Celica All-Trac and GT-Four?
**Trinks** - The tC's weight distribution would be terrible if it was stripped down and the supercharger is garbage. Not to mention s/c aren't as fuel-efficient as turbos since their always on. Cobalt SS Turbo would destory a S/C tC.
My ideas for Toyota:
Need a 3S-GE replacement (K20 competitor) and a 2AZ-FTE with Dual VVT-i.
1 RWD car is a necessity. If there isn't one by the time I'm done with my tC I'll be looking at the Genesis Coupe for sure. Ideally a 6-Speed 2AZ-FTE FR setup would be nice (and relatively cheap).
I think the 5th Gen Celica lineup would be a great model to follow (4 Door or Coupe)
Base: 2.0 GE Head w/ Dual VVT-i, FF Setup
Top Model: 2.0 GE Head w/ Turbo & Dual VVT-i, 4WD
Then add a 6-Speed 2AZ-FTE FR as another model (Priced around the 4WD model mentioned) offered only as a coupe maybe a spyder.
Jeff
And my one wish: Re-programmable ECU. Long shot but it sounded good in my head. :)
Jeb
As a carless 16y.o., I once got to hoon around for a weekend in a loaner used Celica GTS...it was the generation before the really rounded one came out. Red, hatchback, stick shift. I got it to 100mph down a cracked and uneven runway at the local airport and then managed to sneak out the back gate as the local constable was cruising in the front. How I BEGGED my parents to sign the note on the thing, but no. And maybe it's my memory getting away from me, but that was a heck of a car. Of course, I got my Integra a couple of months later, and practically forgot that Celicas even existed.
Chris
@Jeff: All ECU's are reprogrammable; they just have to be hacked first :)
dan
The classic Japan ride whether it be a motorcycle, KZ900 or car the 240Z. Today the CB1100R Honda classic creation is another example. What do these vehicle all have in common (as well as the car pictured in the article), simple, true to its roots Japan form and function. 57 Chevy for the Asian scene. Old school is what ever was true to the time period and brought back without comprimise. A Corolla for today would either have the pointy front end and boxed look, with period correct dash and simple engine bay, or forget it!
ISF insider
Slightly off-topic, but I think Toyota Motor Company will focus on the Lexus F-brand to promote sports cars in the near future. I'm even in for a bit more speculation and dare to say it's about time for Lexus to enter European endurance racing.
There is a lot of rumoring of Toyota entering 'Les 24 Heurs Du Mans', perhaps even with a hybrid racer. Could well be, as TMC won the 24 hours of Tokachi last year with such a car. Besides, it's been a long time (1999) since Toyota raced the famous race at La Sarthe (they finished second) and the company is doing well. So why not?
But why should it be badged as a Toyota? Lexus' F-brand could do well with a promotion. Besides, it was a Lexus - or at least a Lexus-powered prototype for the non-fanboys - that won the 24 Hours of Daytona for the third consecutive time this year.
All in all, I wouldn't be surprised when not a Toyota Hybrid, but a Lexus Hybrid would make it to the start of the 76th edition of the 24 hours-race in France on June 14.
ISF-insider
www.isf-blog.com
Post new comment