Monday 5th December 2011

Supra and MR2 could return, says Toyota

GT 86 chief engineer reckons Toyota has room for a three-tier sports car range

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Not the new Supra...

Toyota could be offering a three-tier sports car line-up in the near future, with spiritual successors to the Supra and MR2 to sit above and below the new GT 86. At least that's what'll happen if the GT 86's chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada, gets his way.

''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.''

...not the new MR2

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?

[k15tox]

about time!