RE: GT86 'just the start' for Toyota
Discussion
They have to do a new Mr2. Can't see any reason why not. If they use the range of engines available, 4 pot 2ARFE to 3.5 2GRFE and anything else they come up with soon, it'd be quite the machine that is very much missing right now, this side of a 50k Exige V6.
Give it Boxster levels of storage and you are onto a winner.
Give it Boxster levels of storage and you are onto a winner.
New MR2 please - Same weight as the last one (mk3) is fine, a touch more grunt (maybe), less generic styling, and a bit of boot space (just something comparible to the current Elise), and price £20-22K. Get the handling right (again), and you're onto a winner
It might hurt Lotus though, unless Toyota bought Lotus! They probably spend more developing an engine variant than the cost of the complete company.. Maybe some Toyota manufacturing principles would be a good thing. They even manufacture some of their engines in the UK.. Imagine a GT86 or new generation MR2 sprinkled with Lotus chassis magic..
A replacement Supra or 4WD / Celica offering doesn't really appeal to me..
gofasterrosssco said:
New MR2 please - Same weight as the last one (mk3) is fine, a touch more grunt (maybe), less generic styling, and a bit of boot space (just something comparible to the current Elise), and price £20-22K. Get the handling right (again), and you're onto a winner
It would hurt Lotus though, unless Toyota bought Lotus! They probably spend more developing an engine variant than the cost of the complete company.. Maybe some Toyota manufacturing principles would be a good thing. They even manufacture some of their engines in the UK.. Imagine a GT86 or new generation MR2 sprinkled with Lotus chassis magic..
A replacement Supra or 4WD / Celica offering doesn't really appeal to me..
I can't see them doing another MR2 tbh. They didn't sell enough of the last one (perhaps partly because it had no boot, but...) and the GT86 is considerably more practical.It would hurt Lotus though, unless Toyota bought Lotus! They probably spend more developing an engine variant than the cost of the complete company.. Maybe some Toyota manufacturing principles would be a good thing. They even manufacture some of their engines in the UK.. Imagine a GT86 or new generation MR2 sprinkled with Lotus chassis magic..
A replacement Supra or 4WD / Celica offering doesn't really appeal to me..
I remember something about a saloon though. IIRC the GT86 was going to have a four-door sister model. Might be good - badged as a Subaru it could be a more convincing Japanese 3-series than the Lexus IS.
I've been saying for years that Toyota should buy Lotus. Given that Lotus has tweaked Toyota chassis on the quiet for ages, and in return Toyota has supplied Lotus with engines, it would only be making official a relationship that Colin Chapman began personally with Toyota in 1980.
If that happened, then in addition to Lotus's revamped model lineup (focusing on the forced-induction and track-ready models would be best for them IMO), the Elise could form the basis for a new MR2, perhaps built at Hethel or at least Burnaston with Lotus input, with performance and running costs deliberately below that of the Elise S. Could also stick the Lexus V8 in the Esprit too.
simonigrale said:
We picked our GT86 up at the start of September and love it. Very pure car.
As you can see on the pic, the background gives you an idea of our running in process
Looks a lot of fun, definitel the right way to introduce it to the world! Although presumably you've hidden the plate so that no-one recognises it come sale time!As you can see on the pic, the background gives you an idea of our running in process
**shudders**
SmartVenom said:
simonigrale said:
We picked our GT86 up at the start of September and love it. Very pure car.
As you can see on the pic, the background gives you an idea of our running in process
Looks a lot of fun, definitel the right way to introduce it to the world! Although presumably you've hidden the plate so that no-one recognises it come sale time!As you can see on the pic, the background gives you an idea of our running in process
MycroftWard said:
StottyZr said:
An Elise competator would be nice. Sub 1000kg, 140-250hp variants and ~22-30k price tag with 5years warranty
That would be great for sure, it would put Lotus out of business though wouldn't it?New Scot said:
MycroftWard said:
StottyZr said:
An Elise competator would be nice. Sub 1000kg, 140-250hp variants and ~22-30k price tag with 5years warranty
That would be great for sure, it would put Lotus out of business though wouldn't it?
I don't have a problem with Lotus going out of business if they can't compete against the competition.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff