Here we go again! MR2 real this time?

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Trying not to bring hope to anyone by seeing this vid,

Too late.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Trying not to bring hope to anyone by seeing this vid, but the design they’re showing off is decently close to the design I saw… maybe about 65% identical. As for the specs, idk. I’ve heard so many specs: kei engine (like one on the vid), GR Yaris/Corolla I3 engine, v6, I4 hybrid & lists goes on… either way, not sure the Toyota board will approve the new MR2 tbh.

If this was a mild Lotus Emira with a NA 2GR or the GR Corolla/Yaris motor then sign me up.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

If this was a mild Lotus Emira with a NA 2GR or the GR Corolla/Yaris motor then sign me up.

That’s what I heard first & I was so excited about it… then shit went worse from there. Atm I’m not 100% sure what’s going on.

[spike021]

I have to think the board is feeling pretty good about things, considering they signed off on the GR Corolla and that seems to be doing relatively well.

But what do I know

[soundman98]

i still have serious doubts that toyota corporate will let someone like tada run as free with the design as before. the 86 was a radical departure from typical toyota. i don't believe toyota is ready to take such a 'risk' on something different again just after finishing the supra.

the corolla gr was at least based on a pre-existing, pre-federalized platform. for them to create something entirely different, toyota just plain doesn't normally have the gumption to step outside the box like that for something that won't ever sell more than the 86.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

That’s what I heard first & I was so excited about it… then shit went worse from there. Atm I’m not 100% sure what’s going on.

EVs and battery factories are probably getting all of the R&D budget. I’m sure they are debating whether they should do another ICE sport car. They are selling well right now because everyone is freaking out to buy the last ICE cars. Maybe that demand might make them feel confident in building something like a new MR2, but I’m sure a bean counter wants the money invested into BEVs.

[soundman98]

toyota's definitely been getting some flack lately for not jumping onto the battery bandwagon with everyone else--that was what that big reveal for 'look at us,, battery stuff!' thing was a little while ago. but it's very typical for the company to take the safe route with established tec and leave the teething development to other brands.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by soundman98

i still have serious doubts that toyota corporate will let someone like tada run as free with the design as before. the 86 was a radical departure from typical toyota. i don't believe toyota is ready to take such a 'risk' on something different again just after finishing the supra.

the corolla gr was at least based on a pre-existing, pre-federalized platform. for them to create something entirely different, toyota just plain doesn't normally have the gumption to step outside the box like that for something that won't ever sell more than the 86.

What do you mean by radical? I mean, they made Scion specifically for radical designs, and the FRS wasn’t all too radical compared to other models. Collaborations on cars and trucks is not new for Toyota either.

If they were going to make a MR2 then it would make sense to make it on an EV platform with a rear EV motor, which isn’t the MR2 we want. They could do an AWD hybrid, or they could do a front range extender with a non-turbo 1.3L or something. Then again, maybe the EV platform allows for a RWD ICE motor to be possible.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

What do you mean by radical? I mean, they made Scion specifically for radical designs, and the FRS wasn’t all too radical compared to other models. Collaborations on cars and trucks is not new for Toyota either.

If they were going to make a MR2 then it would make sense to make it on an EV platform with a rear EV motor, which isn’t the MR2 we want. They could do an AWD hybrid, or they could do a front range extender with a non-turbo 1.3L or something. Then again, maybe the EV platform allows for a RWD ICE motor to be possible.

https://jalopnik.com/scion-died-beca...hit-1756837229

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by soundman98

https://jalopnik.com/scion-died-beca...hit-1756837229

That really doesn't explain your point. If anything, it only supports the idea that Toyota could be fine with something "radical".

[Captain Snooze]

My auto Suzuki shopping trolley has a kerb mass of 970 kgs and claimed power of 103KW/138hp, 240Nm. Hearing the specs of that rumoured car leaves me disappointed.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

That really doesn't explain your point. If anything, it only supports the idea that Toyota could be fine with something "radical".

but that is my point. toyota created the scion brand to be radical and different to 'reach a younger audience', then let it languish and started producing similar vehicles that weren't a radical departure from the parent brand. the XA for instance, never needed to be a scion. it fit perfectly under the toyota brand.

even the 2nd gen XB was so americanized that it really didn't belong under the scion brand. the fr-s was the most radical departure the scion brand ever made, and the history of how the car almost didn't come to be until subaru stepped up and hooned it should be documentation enough to how unwilling toyota is to push for new/radical production.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by soundman98

but that is my point. toyota created the scion brand to be radical and different to 'reach a younger audience', then let it languish and started producing similar vehicles that weren't a radical departure from the parent brand. the XA for instance, never needed to be a scion. it fit perfectly under the toyota brand.

even the 2nd gen XB was so americanized that it really didn't belong under the scion brand. the fr-s was the most radical departure the scion brand ever made, and the history of how the car almost didn't come to be until subaru stepped up and hooned it should be documentation enough to how unwilling toyota is to push for new/radical production.

I saw Scion as either small, weird, cheap and/or off brand for Toyota. Toyotas were pretty bland. Lexus was premium/luxurious. Scion was edgy and was targeted to a younger audience. Toyota was probably hoping to pull young people into the brand young, and then they would upgrade to a Toyota or Lexus as they got older. The Echo/Yaris/Mazda2 was cheap, even for Toyota, but it had more Toyota design than a Scion. The xA was the Yaris for Scion and also was tame for Scion because it should be for a first car for the brand. Subsequent cars like the xB, iQ and even the oddly-rear-quarter-paneled-two-doored tC were just far less conventional compared to the typical family Toyotas. The FRS wasn’t any more radical to me. If anything, it’s GT lines were fairly familiar. It fit inside the Scion brand just fine.

The problem for Toyota was that the brand was suffering from being bland and mundane. Same with Lexus. This was after the now infamous Pebble Beach event where Toyota saw that none of its Lexus models were there or would be there in the future, and it was where the motor journalists suggested Toyota/Lexus was boring. It probably wasn’t helping the brand to have Scions being interesting and Toyotas being boring. Toyota needed to be bold inside its brand and not fear that it would be ruined or even cheapened by having radical designs or a broader range of cars.

Since that day on Pebble Beach, Lexus and Toyota has come a long way to reinvigorate the brands with sports cars like the LC500, RC-F (radical coupe), 86, Supra, and GR Yaris/Corolla, and I could total see them continuing to keep the excitement going with another sports car.

And I think you have it backwards: Subaru didn’t want to make the 86. It probably would have been AWD without D4S if Subaru had their way.

https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...-bad-idea.html

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2698

[alex87f]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

My auto Suzuki shopping trolley has a kerb mass of 970 kgs and claimed power of 103KW/138hp, 240Nm. Hearing the specs of that rumoured car leaves me disappointed.

Being 4 inches to the ground greatly improves the driving experience.

I had a Swift Sport long ago, and what -maybe- held it back the most was the seating position.