Quote:
Originally Posted by strat61caster
Are you implying that the gr Yaris doesn't have airbags? It most definitely does and all the other safety equipment required to sell it in countries like the UK, EU, Japan, Australia, etc. and weighs 2,700# to do it with the AWD.
Outgoing fit weighed 2,500#, Miata currently weighs 2,300, 4c 2,500#, let alone the dozen econoboxes that are in that Weight range today.
Regulations aren't why we don't get light cars, it's lack of demand, on which we agree.
The gr Corolla will be as cheap as Toyota wants to make it. They'll build what, 10,000 for the us market? They don't need to make 10% on each unit to survive, they're Toyota. Pre-pandemic you could pick up a fully loaded xse Corolla hatch for <$20k 
As a Corolla it's a GTI/wrx/Veloster competitor, if they price it like a golf R/sti/type R they'll have shot themselves in the foot. |
Doesn't the US require more airbags and other additional safety items than other countries?
The Miata is a really small 2-seater car. Not exactly fair to compare the weight of that to a vehicle that is AWD and larger. Also using the weight of a Yaris and comparing it to a Corolla isn't exactly fair either. They're both economical cars, but the Yaris is/was a straight up bareboned vehicle. Minimal NVH reducing items, even when compared to a car like the Corolla. Everything in it was cheaper and lighter materials as well.
The CF hood that they used on the GR Yaris saves a lot of weight, but as mentioned, drives up the cost. But yeah, I'll agree with you on the lack of demand for more track focused cars.