FT86 Postponed till 2013?!

[KLB]

News Scoop – FT86 Release Postponed, Design Changed

May 26, 2010 by Adam Zillin
Filed under Japanese News, Latest Articles

32 Comments




According to Japan’s “Best Car magazine”, the FT86′s release date is set to be postponed a further 2 years with the goal posts being shifted from a 2011 release date to 2013.


Toyota are offering two reasons for this reported delay. It is said that the design is going to be amended yet again, indicating a fresh source of frustration for fans of the car the world over. Toyota appear to have gone to lengths to reiterate that the concept we have all seen at the 2010 TMS was only that; a prototype and they have left the door open for further changes to its shape.
Best Car has also said that according to the data from the newly formed TMJ group (Toyota Marketing Japan), fears exist that the release date for 2011 may be premature – with a global economic slowdown effecting sales and with expectations that the sports car market is going to take longer to recover.

With the car slated to be displayed again at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011, Toyota are also said to be taking a hard look at the success of Honda’s CR-Z, with its hybrid engine the main focus and this may end up influencing the development of the FT-86.
Interestingly, Toyota is said to be planning to sell the car in Japan for a little over 2,000,000 yen – quite cheap in itself but it is too early to say for certain.
Indeed many things about the development of this car are uncertain and this cannot be helping the confidence of the legions of people hungry to get their hands on this car when it does in fact go on sale officially.
As it stands, this latest round of reported changes lend themselves to the impression that Toyota appear to be doing their best to score an own goal with this car.
Source: Best Car Japan
Words: Adam Zillin

[stevens8]

bwahahaha I dont even know what to say so i'm just not gonna say anything.

Wait he's a 2011. That explains things.

[Franisco]

Are you kidding me? For your first fking post you post news from months ago, with no search? GTFO

[Shevon]

FAIL!!!!

[ichitaka05]

LMAO!!! If you gonna do just Copy and Paste, then here!

News Scoop – FT-86 is on time

July 24, 2010 by Adam Zillin
Filed under Japanese News, Latest Articles

28 Comments



Good news FT-86 fans. I was invited as one of the only foreign journalists to attend a press day on Wednesday where the JDM only Noah and Voxy Minivans were being showcased by G’s, the sports vehicle oriented arm of Toyota Japan. The FT-86 though, didn’t take long to come up in the conversation…

Most importantly, Toyota held the strictly invite only event not only to show off the G’s upgrades to their people movers but also to offer access to some of Toyota’s innermost engineers and sports department managers.
This presented an ideal opportunity to discuss Toyota’s involvement in the current market and inevitably, questions regarding the FT86 surfaced quickly.

A private 20 minute question and answer session I had with Dr. Shigeyuki Hori, Project General Manager for the Sports Vehicle Management division and Kazuo Okino, Group manager for the same division uncovered a number of promising pieces of news.
I can confirm that the cars development is on schedule and that the reports for the cars release in 2013 are erroneous. Toyota reiterated its intent to release the car by the previously appointed date, in November 2011. I can also confirm that the car is approximately 50% complete with the target price remaining steady for the mid level spec FT-86 at approximately 2.5 million yen ( approx. $29,000 USD ). One can only speculate at the moment what the base grade spec and price will be and no mention was made of the price for the top spec model but one can be led to guess this will involve a turbocharged motor.
While on the subject of turbocharging, Hori san and Okino san both confirmed that discussions were still being held and nothing had been decided yet. Both were hesitant to provide any confirmation on the radical Gazoo Racing model that wowed the world at last years Tokyo Auto Salon. It needs to be remembered that G’s is ostensibly a street car oriented arm of Toyota and as such the cars will be basically stock power wise with most of the modifications coming in the way of aesthetic changes and suspension, chassis and brake upgrades.
But take heart – the Voxy and Noah concepts at Wednesdays conference appeared in almost exactly the same configuration as the cars that were displayed at the TAS last year. This bodes well for the FT-86.
Another interesting fact about the cars development is that it will remain virtually unchanged, design wise. Okino san was clear in his remarks when he said that the FT86 will only be modified in regards to its aesthetic parts, namely items relating to the body but the overall shape will not change.
One last piece of news that is sure to bring some relief, was the comment made that a hybrid version was not being considered for the FT86. Hybrid technology is indeed being considered for the sport car segment but in another form of car. This car is most likely to be the new Toyota Hybrid sports concept.
Later in the day, the Chief Officer for Toyota’s Motor Sports Division, Tadashi Yamashina, held an exclusive round table conference for the assembled journalists of which 7tune was privy to.
One of the journalists at the conference reminded Yamashina san that there is a very high level of anxiety amongst the public over the FT-86, to which Mr Yamashina replied categorically that the cars development was on schedule and that because of Toyota’s connection with Subaru, there was no way that the car wasn’t going to be great. Read from that what you will but it is clear that Toyota is holding this hand very very close to its chest and is intent on releasing news and coverage on the car when it feels the time is right.
Who can blame them really? This is one of the most anticipated cars to come from Japan in over a decade, so Toyota and its members are quite within their right to be guarded with information.
I was very encouraged by the positive signals coming from within the organization and the general tone appears to be one of positivity in the changes taking place.
I would like to personally extend my thanks to the Corporate Communications Department personnel, and Toyota as a whole, for offering 7tune the opportunity to be a part of this important conference.
Words – Adam Zillin
Photos – Toyota

[cyde01]

[dalli]

Mothafudger

[C-Bone]

^^ LoL shuttlecat

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by sitobion

Eu and JP are all about the Hybride tech and clean engines while the US is all about Huge PK for less money.
It would not supprise me at all if Toyota posponed it again or never came out as a Toyota at all but just as a Subaru and nothing more. It would be then justified that only Scion took the FRS and only Subaru would bring the car out in EU en JP with in 2013 a hybride world version as a Toyota Badge.

This news is from May which was declared false in July .

[70NYD]

Originally Posted by sitobion

Eu and JP are all about the Hybride tech and clean engines while the US is all about Huge PK for less money.
It would not supprise me at all if Toyota posponed it again or never came out as a Toyota at all but just as a Subaru and nothing more. It would be then justified that only Scion took the FRS and only Subaru would bring the car out in EU en JP with in 2013 a hybride world version as a Toyota Badge.

wow mate do you love the smell of your farts?? (southpark refference..)
read a bit more before you mouth off, you look like a fool

[Dark]

Originally Posted by sitobion

Eu and JP are all about the Hybride tech and clean engines while the US is all about Huge PK for less money.
It would not supprise me at all if Toyota posponed it again or never came out as a Toyota at all but just as a Subaru and nothing more. It would be then justified that only Scion took the FRS and only Subaru would bring the car out in EU en JP with in 2013 a hybride world version as a Toyota Badge.

Wow, D-bag much?

[Dragonitti]

BHAHAHAA!!! This thread.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by Dragonitti

BHAHAHAA!!! This thread.

Threat whore. LMAO

[nate89]

Hey guys, I just heard Toyota is developing a new car with Subaru. Supposedly it will be an AE86 successor. Maybe even the possibility of rwd and a Subaru engine!!!!