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Toyota president plans to fast-track new sports car

 
4 2,971 views Aug 5, 2009
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The announcement came this morning in a speech at the Center for Automotive Research

The announcement came this morning in a speech at the Center for Automotive Research

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Fans of Toyota's sporting history have often lamented the current lineup of perfectly competent yet decidedly boring offerings, calling them 'appliances'. The days of the Supra, Celica and MR-2 may yet return, however, with new president Akio Toyoda at the helm.

Speaking today at the 2009 Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Conference, Toyoda said, "My hope is that I can transfer some enthusiasm from the race track to our vehicles and make driving fun for our customers around the world.

"And to that point, I am happy to announce this morning that Toyota plans to build an exciting...fun-to-drive...affordable sports car and launch it within the next few years.

"I am very excited about it...and I plan to fast-track it."

That could mean a debut of the new car as early as 2011 or 2012, which would put the vehicle right on schedule for the 086A joint project currently being developed with Subaru.

That car is expected to be a RWD sports coupe powered by a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine rated in the neighborhood of 200hp. Some reports have the car being sold in the U.S. as a Scion, which would help mate the car with Toyoda's statements about affordability and excitement.

Whatever the car ends up being, or looking like, it's exciting to see such enthusiasm for driving, racing and cars in general at the head of Toyota. Let the talk of a Supra revival - hybrid or not - begin!
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Comments (4)

  1. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 8/5/2009 9:49am PDT

    All-right Mr. Toyoda! Leave it to the grandson of original founder to inject some much needed enthusiasm into a currently boring, dispassionate company. It's up to you, Mr. Toyoda, to keep Toyota MoCo from becoming another Honda.
     
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  2. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 8/5/2009 2:28pm PDT

    The rumors of this on again off again project remind me of the rumors about the Z28 Camaro
     
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  3. ma_Saabaru5 avatar Saabaru5 Posted: 8/6/2009 8:43am PDT

    Truly an emotional roller coaster.. Like Nike, Just do it!
     
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  4. By  ps3 gamepad Posted: 12/30/2009 10:54pm PST

    This is sounding more and more like the first generation MR2 and that was a fun car to drive. My concern is that it might be gutless and this car shouldn't be fun in name only.
     
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