Sun Devil
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- current: 2016 Audi A7 . Past: 996TT,997cab, 997TT, R8 V10, 13 FR-S
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yup, sounds like more rehash rumors of a "mid engine BMW & Toyota/Lexus sports car".Unless they show an MR-2 concept at Tokyo, I think this is a mix of really old news brought back to light swapping the S-FR to an MR-2 successor to make it look like new NEWS. From what Toyota has actually shown us the line up will be: FT-1 production car + 86 + S-FR production car.
I fear we're heading into a windmill of 'news/leaked info' aka = click bait for the next few months. So many articles with Tada San said this and that have come out but who knows what really holds true weight...But I guess it's somewhat entertaining for the time being.
This is getting exhausting. I just want the damn Supra already..
who knows, they might be in the dark as much as we are. we have never seen tada-san even touch one of these mules, let alone see a single asian sit in any of them. What is tada-san's job for this project exactly?^Anyone from Toyota that knows the true insights must be reading these forums/articles going
'Where do they come up with this stuff '
^Anyone from BMW that knows the true insights must be reading these forums/articles going
'Where do they come up with this stuff '
http://www.evo.co.uk/toyota/13960/n...ws-what-new-sports-car-might-look-like-beforeNew Toyota Supra on its way – FT-1 previews what new sports car might look like before its 2018 reveal
Toyota has confirmed that it will re-launch the Supra, its front-engined sports car that went off sale in 2002. The new car will be part of a three-strong family of performance cars that the marque will offer. The Supra will sit at the top of the group and be the biggest and most powerful of the trio. An MR2 replacement will be the smallest and lightest while the GT86, which will be subject to constant development, will fill the gap between the two new cars.
Just because it will be Toyota’s largest, flagship performance model don’t think for a minute that the new Supra will be a ponderous and heavy beast. Toyota engineer and Gazoo Racing chief, Teysuya Tada, told evo what we could expect from the new sports car, and very promising it was too: 'A Supra should be lighter than it’s rivals.' Personally speaking, my favourite Porsche is the Boxster and Cayman, although I am a little disappointed with the four-cylinder engine. The Cayman helps a lot of us here to make a sports car.'
A heavily camouflaged version of the next generation Supra has already been spotted testing, and we expect the new car to be revealed next year. Exact details of the car’s specification aren’t know yet, however Toyota has divulged that it will be built on a platform that it has co-developed with BMW.
Rumours suggest that the Supra may also use one of the Munich manufacturers straight-six engines, too. Tada’s disappointment with the 718 Cayman’s lack of cylinders suggests that even if the Supra doesn’t use a BMW six-pot, it may end up with more than four pistons.
Toyota is also open to creating a hybrid sports car, and the new Supra might include a supplementary electric motor. However, this is part of the company’s long-term plan so we expect the Supra to be powered by a petrol engine alone to begin with.
Our biggest clue to what the new Supra might look like has been the FT-1 concept car that made its debut at the 2014 Detroit motor show. The camouflaged test car showed a profile and strong central nose similar to that of the FT-1.
Toyota calls the FT-1 'a symbol that captures elements of the emotion and energy' of future products. Originally penned by CALTY Design Research, Toyota's California-based American design team, who took their influence from classic Toyota sports cars like the 2000GT and Celica.
they couldn't even be bothered to spell Tetsuya's name correctly...legit. Still not sure how tada-san would know such info when no one from toyota has bothered to go out for a test drive in any of the mules
Full interview with Tetsuya Tada
Why is Toyota suddenly producing enthusiast-led cars again?
'Some time ago Toyota became number one in terms of units sold, producing very practical and environmentally friendly vehicles only. I myself was chief engineer on one. But at shows or drives with journalists I’d be asked if I was enjoying these dull cars: to be honest, we did think it was a bit boring.
'There was a period when, if we tried to create a nice car that we wanted as engineers there would then be instructions from higher up to hurry along to launch and reduce costs for more profit. Then Akio Toyoda became CEO, and it all turned upside down.
'He said of course making many units is important, but perhaps more important – for engineers - is to have passion in creating a vehicle. That started some years ago and now you’re seeing the results of that.'
Will we see a return to the three-tier Toyota performance car range, as in the days of the Supra, Celica and MR2?
'We hope to have the three brothers in place as soon as possible.'
What can you tell evo about the new MR2?
'For a sports car, simple is best. But after 2020 there will be many environmental and noise regulations. It will be an era when it’ll be very difficult to create a simple sports car as you know it. But our underlying thought of going into Le Mans is that there are possibilities to use new technology to make such a (sports) car, and we’re working very hard to do it.
'When it comes to installing batteries, the mid ship layout is an attractive one. We hope to come out with such a model one day.'
What about a fully electric sports car?
'An EV Sports? That’s difficult to answer. For me the most important element of a sports car is how light you can make it. A Tesla is very good for acceleration, but very different to the light feel of a GT86 – and that’s my definition of a sports car. If there are further improvements to motors and batteries, then it could be made.'
What kind of car will the new Toyota Supra be?
'A Supra should be lighter than it’s rivals. Personally speaking, my favourite Porsche is the Boxster and Cayman, although I am a little disappointed with the four-cylinder engine. The Cayman helps a lot of us here to make a sports car.'
Can we expect any more developments with the GT86?
'The most important thing with a sports car is you must not stop development, every year, even if they are small things.
'The concept of the GT86 was intentionally not to be obsessed with the tyres, like you normally would be with a sports car. We tried to take the contrary approach. However, last year in Japan we did launch a model that emphasised the tyre – the GT86 GRNM. We put out 100 units, cooperating with Bridgestone to develop a special tyre for it, with new suspension and bodywork to complement it. There was also some more power from TRD.'
Will you be expanding your range of rally cars, particularly given the strong start to the WRC campaign?
'We are already studying the possibility of having R5, R3 and R2 cars ready for customers.'
Why produce the Yaris GRNM?
'This is Toyota’s first rally car for 17 years, and right from when we had the thought of coming back we thought of producing a commemorative model. Of course, compared to the days of the (Celica) GT4, the gap between the road car and the rally car is quite big, but we felt we could get some of the ambience of the rally car and provide it to our customers.'