Quote:
Originally Posted by thill
Agreed, and when you consider a modern day roadster like the Miata approaches 2500lbs, you can see where the FR-S and BRZ came close especially when factoring in a hard top, larger wheelbase, and a useable trunk + functional backseat.
My guess is that to lose more weight when the cars debuted you were looking at using carbon fiber and other more costly materials and it would just push the price of the car up too high. Many people were already complaining about the price since the original rumors was that the car would start around $22K.
Look at the Alpha Romeo 4C. The car will most likely cost somewhere in the $60-80K range when it hits the states and the rumors are that it will be approaching 2400-2500lbs in the US, and the whole design of the car was to be as light as possible but still meet US regulations to be sold in the US (in Europe the car without all the additional safety features weight right around 2100lbs).
|
The Alpha clearly wasn't engineered for the states, they are only selling a handful per year so its not a valid comparison. The safety add on's are just after the fact slap-on, not core integrated from conception.
All I'm saying is if Toyota wanted our cars to be lightweight sports cars they could have done it.
This car is big to me. Its width is more than the 2015 Mustang. Its a lot bigger than classic sports cars. They could have made it smaller and lighter and maybe targeted just the minimum safety requirements. Toyotas last sports car (MRS) was the real deal minus the engine.
So this time they decided to build a GT instead. And as a GT I think its a great chassis but long term the silly decision to not use a turbo engine will slow down sales.
Its really similar to the Silvia which was absolute incredible car if you had the turbo engine(SR20DET), but so-so in the states where it didn't. The sales suffered. People want power in a GT no matter how well it handles.
Toyotas last reals sports car the MRS was great except they used the 1zz instead of the 2zz. And they are repeating the same mistake again with the FA20T on the shelf.
For me I'm OK with the acceleration and many of us are, but ultimately once the newness wears off if they don't turbo the engine sales will decline IMHO.