Toyota to Unveil FT-86 Open Concept Convertible Next Month. Production Likely

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by BRianZ

TARGA TARGA TARGA

I'm with you on this one.

The convertible is OK (only if they keep the back seats) but it still looks like I did it myself in the garage with a saw. To me, the basic shape of the car just doesn't lend itself to being a droptop.

The Targa would me much better, but I've always been a fan of Targa tops anyway so I'm biased that way. I owned a '83 Camaro Z28 with a custom Targa done by "Targa Tops, Inc" the folks that did the one for the Simon and Simon TV Show. I also owned a Fiat X1/9 for a while.

Targa screams sports car to me, convertible says sunny day cruiser.

[roflcopter]

Originally Posted by lazyluka

MX5 and S2000 disagree.

I have to agree with you here. Those are definitely geared toward the enthusiast crowd. But they were also designed from the ground up to be convertibles. Once you design a (perfect) chassis in a car, taking the roof off will only make it worse, despite any engineering trickery.

Richard Hammond translating Clarkson on convertibles:
"If you take the roof off an ordinary car like a Peugeot or a BMW 1 Series
or something, no harm done and if anything, you make it a bit better cos
it's a bit of drama. But with serious performance cars it's a different story.
There are good reasons why there's never been a Eurofighter Typhoon Cabriolet."

[Carbon420]

Originally Posted by fitcious

i definitely see Toyota announcing two things at the Geneva Auto Show:

1. The convertible
2. Optional powertrain for the GT86 (as in supercharged or turbo) but will not be available in the US

Oh cry me an f-in river. You know how much awsome crap there is out there that I can't get in Canada. APPLE JACKS!!! Too bad if you don't get this one thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MannyO]

Never thought I'd say this, but I wouldn't mind if a convertible FR-S was produced and brought to the states. Raises the chances of seeing another 86 during my commute.

I feel alone driving around, sometimes on purpose, and not seeing another twin

[mike@vossen]

Looks great. While I might not get it if it helps them with sales and profit that is good so they will continue to invest and produce cars like hardtop. Porsche, Corvette, etc all make convertibles....no biggie...

The MX-5 vs FRS vert comparison will be fun!

[Starscream15]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Convertible FR-S sounds like a chick car if engine output remains the same. As in, I expect to see many women driving them.

I was for 1.2 seconds and started a large rant then realized I had been successfully trolled.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

Convertibles derived from coupes is never a good thing. More like an after thought.

Except that Tada had confirmed almost a year ago that a convertible would be coming, and that the car was designed from the outset to be built as a convertible as well.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by monkie

I am glad I have the Hard top

By the way that Toyota are speaking with keeping weight down will most likely be a rag top convertible and that would look like crap IMO

And how much body flex would they get even with the extra weight for soft top.

Originally Posted by DeepHunta

I have a fear that this convertible will be heavier and less balanced than the hardtop one....

IF, and only IF, the convertible has the same chassis rigidity as the hardtop, same (or less weight) and more hp, then I will trade in my hardtop in a heartbeat!

Gladly pay $30k for it too!

the car was actually developed around being a convertible, weight shouldn't change much, as far as body rigidity, a little will be lost. In fact the car might actually be lighter...

Originally Posted by iLuveKetchup

Convertibles derived from coupes is never a good thing. More like an after thought.

this was actually coupe derived from convertible
there was a write up in an interview back in 2011 with TADA and he mentioned a convertible is in the works and that the car's chassis was originally built for convertible for the main purpose of strengthening the car from the get go and that if the market demanded a convertible, one could easily be made since the car's chassis was built around one in the first place.

If you open the trunk and study it, you can see where the top would logically fit and we would still have a TINY amount of trunk space

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I'm with you on this one.

The convertible is OK (only if they keep the back seats) but it still looks like I did it myself in the garage with a saw. To me, the basic shape of the car just doesn't lend itself to being a droptop.

The Targa would me much better, but I've always been a fan of Targa tops anyway so I'm biased that way. I owned a '83 Camaro Z28 with a custom Targa done by "Targa Tops, Inc" the folks that did the one for the Simon and Simon TV Show. I also owned a Fiat X1/9 for a while.

Targa screams sports car to me, convertible says sunny day cruiser.

mmm 911 Targa.

[wbradley]

I agree that convertibles are for the most part driven by women, or at least men with a full head of hair!

MY mom drives a Solara cabrio and my sis an E350 cabrio.

[MVJ1975]

The term "open top" and that concept picture doesn't indicate convertible to me, it seems to indicate a barchetta (no top). My guess is a manually removable top (targa?).

[Turbowned]

I buy myself an FR-S. I buy my brother FR-S convertible. Everybody knows FR-S convertible is for girls!

[zohare]

Originally Posted by lazyluka

MX5 and S2000 disagree.

Difference is that the MX5 and S2000 STARTED as convertibles. This is what makes them great. The trend repeats. Boxster, 550 Spyder, MR2, etc. When you take a car meant to be a coupe and turn it into a convertible... You get 350Z roadster garbage. Too heavy, too flexible, too slow and or too expensive. Often ruins the great characteristics of a well engineered package, so I agree with others, I unfortunately see it becoming a chick car. They would have to FURTHER reduce weight somehow, and keep the chassis stiff, and or up the power, something's got to give. They can't build a no compromises convertible, it's impossible. If they do, the price will go up putting it out of range of the MX5, unless it came optioned. I already see a bad start... Back seats. Someone find one GREAT convertible that had backseats... Often just creates problems. Just do away with them completely and give us a real Spyder

LOVE the idea of a Targa or a T-Top!! Or even the removable hardtop, or no top. Totally okay with that.

[SnapOv3st3r]

LOL...at all the low self-esteem people worried about being labeled a "girls car". Grow a pair and buy what you like, not what someone else opinion of your car is.