Interview with Tetsuya Tada - Chief Engineer of the FT-86

[xantonin]

On a side note, this makes me want to keep my FT-86 stock in honor of the engineering that went into it.

[Giccin]

My Yaris is not sports car, not even close. Not after the suspension upgrade, exhaust, alloys, and spoiler. Its a little egg with a tiny engine. But its fun to drive (for me) because there is nothing to it. A simple & sharp, electricly assisted power steering that shuts off after 30MPG, a little engine and a 5 speed transmission, but its still a Yaris. This is what I want in a sports car, but with some more guts and RWD.

I agree.. Yaris is an egg.. and sometimes taking corners too fast.. I feel like I'm going to flip my car. Lol. Taking hard turns are fun but... scary.

I'm still slightly embarassed about my little black panther. LOL

"GO FASTER DAMMIT!!" lol

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Giccin

I agree.. Yaris is an egg.. and sometimes taking corners too fast.. I feel like I'm going to flip my car. Lol. Taking hard turns are fun but... scary.

I'm still slightly embarassed about my little black panther. LOL

"GO FASTER DAMMIT!!" lol

We need some vids of you in the Yaris on that Mulholland corner.

[cyde01]

if it really is a whole new engine, then i hope it isn't fb20 based at all. maybe there's a tiny glimmer of hope that it will be 86x86 bore stroke?

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by xantonin

Anyone notice the page is no longer available that this was taken from?

Until you mentioned, I didn't know. Wow~ not sure SCION catch that article and cut it off...?

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Until you mentioned, I didn't know. Wow~ not sure SCION catch that article and cut it off...?

It is still there, for some reason the forum removes a '-' between "the" and "mouth." I put the correct link underneath. If you copy/paste that link it will work.

_http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/08/the-truth-about-the-ft-86-straight-from-the-mouth-of-the-chief-engineer/

this one should work also
http://goo.gl/a7zEg

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by Dimman

We need some vids of you in the Yaris on that Mulholland corner.

Watch me understeer and hit the side of a mountain or hit the guardrail. LOL but I can get some for you the next time my friends go. Lot of CHP there lately but nothing a radar can't fix (kinda). Do you prefer day or night shots?

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Until you mentioned, I didn't know. Wow~ not sure SCION catch that article and cut it off...?

Sketchy.

[WingsofWar]

yeah still there

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...hief-engineer/

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by xantonin

On a side note, this makes me want to keep my FT-86 stock in honor of the engineering that went into it.

If they are 19K, you can probably do what the guy in Belgium did. Buy 1 to keep brand new and one to drive/mod.

[MiguelAE86]

Originally Posted by RRnold

If they are 19K, you can probably do what the guy in Belgium did. Buy 1 to keep brand new and one to drive/mod.

Grrr you took my idea! (although i won't do this until the last year of production lol)

[Jordo!]

Originally Posted by .

“You can ask anything except specs and price,” Tada-san announced after we found a quiet space away from the din of the Megaweb.

“In that case, let’s have lunch,” was my answer.

I kinda tuned out after I read that...

It's a nice interview, but really provides no new information, except that there's no hope for a DSG and that the auto trans they offer will be lackluster.

I guess it would have gone against the price limits, but really, would it have been so awful to develop an improved version of the DSG they had for the last gen MR-S?

It's over a decade later -- the technology should be available to make one that really performs well and doesn't add enormously to the cost for those who want it.

That would have been an option for the "softcore" maniacs, which might have been a big hit. It could have maintained the serious sportiness the car deserves (for all but the most resolute three-pedal types), and also picked up more sales.

Instead I fear a slushbox that, like the one in the last gen Celica, was so ill suited for the motor, they might as well not even had bothered...

That will make a relatively small group of people very happy but will seriously alienate numerous others...

Guess we'll find out in a year or so.

[pastuch]

"The FT-86 has about half of the computing power that is dragged around in a modern day car. The preferred shifter is a stick. An automatic is optional. The slushbox is nothing fancy. “No DSG or anything of that kind,” says Tada, and is proud."

I was ecstatic when I read this! Automatics are for people that hate driving. Paddle shifting sucks ass. The slush box manumatic in my G35 makes me want to punch babies.

"No CD-player"

ANDROID DOCK! ANDROID DOCK! ANDROID DOCK!

Tada promises a “production car with the world’s lowest center of gravity.”

THANK YOU! SO AWESOME!

"It's a nice interview, but really provides no new information, except that there's no hope for a DSG and that the auto trans they offer will be lackluster."

I agree, they should just not include an automatic AT ALL. That would be the right way to go!

[Geard]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

You Pre-ordered a car that hasn't been released yet, no specs released, no pricing announcement? Maybe you put a deposit down as there is no car to Pre-order yet in either Toyota's or Subaru's system.

Wrong wording on my part, yes I placed a deposit on one. I was already third in line at the dealership for the car and wanted to make damn sure I can get my hands on one. I trust what I'm hearing and have faith that Toyota won't drop the ball on this one, call me over eager but hell I'm game!

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Jordo!

I kinda tuned out after I read that...

It's a nice interview, but really provides no new information, except that there's no hope for a DSG and that the auto trans they offer will be lackluster.

I guess it would have gone against the price limits, but really, would it have been so awful to develop an improved version of the DSG they had for the last gen MR-S?

It's over a decade later -- the technology should be available to make one that really performs well and doesn't add enormously to the cost for those who want it.

That would have been an option for the "softcore" maniacs, which might have been a big hit. It could have maintained the serious sportiness the car deserves (for all but the most resolute three-pedal types), and also picked up more sales.

Instead I fear a slushbox that, like the one in the last gen Celica, was so ill suited for the motor, they might as well not even had bothered...

That will make a relatively small group of people very happy but will seriously alienate numerous others...

Guess we'll find out in a year or so.

I just think the autobox will be less 'gimmicky' eco-mode, sport-mode, blah, blah. Six speed, torque converter, paddles and we're done. Probably won't have rev-matching either.

However does this leave an opening to aftermarket ECU transmission tuning?

Even if it's just a meh auto it will at least have the same number of gears as the manual (unlike the retarded 2ZZGE/4spd logic) and will be sold in volume to the non-fanatics. It will be fine.