Supra and MR2 could return, says Toyota
GT 86 chief engineer reckons Toyota has room for a three-tier sports car range
Not the new Supra...
''Right now the 86 will be a mid-size sports car,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''I would like to have one smaller and one larger. One would probably be a Supra follower. Nothing has been decided yet. It would [be] like a Supra successor.''
Sounds good to us, Tada san. If a Supra successor did get the go-ahead, it would be likely that the car could be another joint venture with Subaru, possibly using an evolution of the platform that underpins the Toyota GT 86/Subaru BRZ.
Tada wouldn't be drawn on any details about an MR2 successor, nor how close to a green light the idea of more Toyota sports cars is, but it is well known that ToMoCo is keen to be known once again for sporty cars. CEO Akio Toyoda is also a keen petrolhead.
''Personally, I love the smell of gasoline and the sound of an engine, so I hope that this type of vehicle never disappears,'' he told assembled hacks at the Tokyo motor show last week. ''I hope that motor vehicles will continue to provide dreams and inspiration to people for all eras. I believe that if it is not fun, it is not a car," (Stop press! Toyota boss says Prius 'isn't a car' - Ed)
''I truly believe that no matter how advanced cars become, it is important to retain this feeling.''
Sounds good, Akio. Now what about that new Supra and MR2?
Just cheered me up no end, and hopefully this time around I'll be in a position to afford one (well if the NSX was much more keenly priced!)
I suppose the only Japanese manufacturer that didn't give up on this sort of vehicle was Nissan then!
It's about time that the Supra was replaced; Nissan have done it with the GT-R. I just hope that Toyota produce a credible match to the GT-R and a worthy successor to the MK4!
Over 20 years on its still a fantastic shape for a car from a mainstream manfacturer. Especially considerings its basically made of bits of Corolla turned backwards.
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