Is toyota coming back?

[82mm 4g63]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Toyota fanboi huh? Ferrari F40 for me.

Big time, as you can imagine it's been a rough decade and a half for me. lol

[tree fingers]

Toyota coming back to the sports car enthusiast is contingent upon the success of the FR-S. IMHO

[Leeky]

Originally Posted by RRnold

IMHO, all of the main Japanese manufactures fell off in the late 90's. This was most due to the EPA's LEV (Low Emission Vehicles) in the mid to late 90's which caused a whole new design shift. Since the US wasn't about fast cars w/turbos, this would heavily impact sales in Japan.

I second that.

It was around about the turn of the millenium (1999-2002) that Toyota globally killed of the MR2 Turbo, Celica GT4 and the Supra.

At the same time Nissan killed off the R34 Skyline GTR, the Silvia (200SX) and the Fairlady (300ZX).

Mazda killed off the RX7.

It was like suddenly the Japanese branded the Turbo the Devil and got rid of them as quick as they could. Perhaps these cars dont sit well next to their Eco-Friendly models?

[Type[R]+]

Except for Mitsubishi and Subaru......

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Type[R]+

Except for Mitsubishi and Subaru......

In North America those were more of a later revival. We didn't get the Evo until the 8 and the first WRX we got were GD chassis.

[Type[R]+]

Originally Posted by Dimman

In North America those were more of a later revival. We didn't get the Evo until the 8 and the first WRX we got were GD chassis.

yeah, but they still make them!!!

Pity about Mitsubishi going to kill off the evo

[kuruma]

Originally Posted by 82mm 4g63

Wow. The Supra is still my all time favorite car. I would give both of my cars, and a baby toe for a low mileage 98 Black on Black Supra.

Having owned several sports cars, which include 03 cobra, 91 mr2 turbo, and a 94 supra (among others)
I have to agree that the best car I've owned is the mkiv. It was a stunning car to look at (imo) and once that single spooled up, theres no feeling like it.

I still mole it around my head about getting another one. It was my dream car as a little kid.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by Leeky

I second that.

It was around about the turn of the millenium (1999-2002) that Toyota globally killed of the MR2 Turbo, Celica GT4 and the Supra.

At the same time Nissan killed off the R34 Skyline GTR, the Silvia (200SX) and the Fairlady (300ZX).

Mazda killed off the RX7.

It was like suddenly the Japanese branded the Turbo the Devil and got rid of them as quick as they could. Perhaps these cars dont sit well next to their Eco-Friendly models?

Yeah, it was like a clean slate as soon as they realized the Y2K bug was a joke. It's a shame because it was like each Japanese manufacture had their own powerful car and it was sort of a battle to see who can build the nicest looking, fastest, best handling vehicle.

Now we sort of know how the young adults felt in the 70's when the muscle car era died and in came the small gas saving compacts.

Originally Posted by Type[R]+

Except for Mitsubishi and Subaru......

Originally Posted by Dimman

In North America those were more of a later revival. We didn't get the Evo until the 8 and the first WRX we got were GD chassis.

+1 Those came later.

In NA, Mitsubishi ended the 3000GT VR4, Galant VR4 and Eclipse turbos in the end of the 90's. The Starion was cool but ended in the 80's.

[AIRMAX]

The thing is, we have to understand that Sports Cars are still a niche market. R&D are mighty expensive for these cars and unless they sell it for premium price they dont make profit.

When you are on the market for a 35K+ USD (80K+ AUD) sports cars, the competition becomes stiff, since it opens up your budget to the European cars like the S3, S4, M3 etc.

We have to understand, market researchers are employed heavily by ALL OEMs, sadly the big wig executive would rather listen to the Accountants than the Engineers when designing their new cars....

Thats the main truth about why Japanese Sports Cars just suddenly got killed off... sure we can argue for Nissan, Subaru and Mitsubishi, with their late 90s early 2000s assault (GTR R34/ 350Z, WRX, EVO etc). But you notice that apart from Nissan's cars, the other 2 are treated by their owners as Sedan/Sports cars.... practical performance cars... again Nissan is not the rule, they are the exception.

I think about 2 years ago thats when the Japanese started designing their new sports cars, I mean take a look at the engines concepted in the last 5 years. Toyota, Honda, Nissan etc have GOOD engines to base their new sports cars on but, the GFC killed off a few concepts...


In the next 5 years, I think depending on how long this GFC II goes for, we will see a couple more sports cars from Toyota and Honda. Some people dont respect the Hybrid Engine possibilities, but a HV sports car is exactly what would make sense right about now. Fuel efficient performers, whom ever can develop that car within an affordable range would STEAL a big chunk of the market.

I think the next "Supra" and "MR2" can be HV, HV system paired with 3.5 Liter V6... we looking at 300hp and HUGE torque, I'm talking 400+ Nm from V6 non turbo.... the MR2... well they seriously just need to update the 3SGTE.... these are the perfect engines for the MR2 size and mid rear setup car, again mate it with a HV system, get around 250-260hp and 400+ Nm torque, these are rockets!!

I think Toyota will eventually become sporty again, their president has admitted he wants sports cars again, not to mention he test drove the LFA and FT86 and gave feedbacks.... the guy is too much of a REV head not to influence sports cars back to his company.

[The4kBeast]

Originally Posted by 82mm 4g63

Big time, as you can imagine it's been a rough decade and a half for me. lol

You're not alone, brotha.

As for hybrids and all that stuff, it is govt regulation that is pushing the drive to mpgs. If you don't like it, then maybe you should voice your opinion to your elected officials. Fossil fuels have always been an issue, and in my lifetime we will make the switch to hydrogen cars. Until then, or at least until the next rapid ramp up in emission regulations in 2016, I'm going to enjoy me some internal combustion-engined cars.

As far as I'm concerned, Toyota has a lot of time and money invested in the FT86 (FR-S). While initially I questioned it being a Scion, I can see how it matches well with the culture of modifying your car to suit you. I don't need a 500hp monster, but I do want a light balanced car with plenty of power, and a rwd layout. I can't wait to see this thing and drive it for the first time in anger!!

I think Akio Toyoda is the real deal. Considering the rapid change to sportiness that too place after he took the reins, I can't imagine that Toyota isn't going to stay in the top 5 in the rankings of us automakers. Yes, they got away from the formula that made me originally become a fan, but it seems like they've learned that they can continue to offer cars that sell in low volumes because they are a benefit to the brand-name. Take the FJ Cruiser as an example- in off road communities, they've been amazed that the FJ is still around for sale. It sells in Mlle volume, but is an iconic car for Toyota that represents the brand and attracts people to the brand. I think cars like the LF-A, IS-F, And Ft86 have the same effect... And demand the same type of commitment to the haul as FJ. Stick with it Toyota, it's the right thing todo, even if you aren't sellin 200k copies in NA.