Toyota may build Supra convertible / targa instead of 86 convertible

Saeedali78 said:

How do we demand a manual and a targa top? Through protests??!

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^^ Seriously. Way more people have been clamoring for a manual Supra than a targa Supra. And I get it that the very body structure (strong enough for the Z4's convertible top) is more than rigid enough to handle a targa configuration already. But the R&D has been done for both the elusive manual transmission and targa top.

They should release both. And as *independent* options. An A80 MKIV Turbo hardtop manual is one of the most desired configurations today but many people love targa models as well. The more variations the better!

I'd place an order for a manual today. I would have placed an order for a manual targa months ago.

Still not placing an order for an auto.

KahnBB6 said:

^^ Seriously. Way more people have been clamoring for a manual Supra than a targa Supra. And I get it that the very body structure (strong enough for the Z4's convertible top) is more than rigid enough to handle a targa configuration already. But the R&D has been done for both the elusive manual transmission and targa top.

They should release both. And as *independent* options. An A80 MKIV Turbo hardtop manual is one of the most desired configurations today but many people love targa models as well. The more variations the better!

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Nothing can beat the manual transmission in terms of driver engagement. It’s manual or nothing.

That’s why, Toyota, you said the Supra is meant to be a driver’s car. Well, I couldn’t totally agree with that because that “manual = enhusiast’s transmission of choice” is missing.

DesmoSD said:

I’ll be first to call bullshit!

They tried the same thing on the FT86 forum with the convertibles, targa top, shooting brake photoshops. Toyota unveiled an actual GT86 Shooting Brake but then again Tada likes to tease.

“It's a design study, the company says, and it's just "testing the waters."

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You're correct. Targa won't happen. He just answered saying out of targa or convertible which one was likable chance for Supra. Toyota prob have contract/agreement with BMW that, they won't make vert (cuz BMW have Z4) and same goes w BMW not making hardtop Z4.

As for open-top 86, read my next paragraph.

Captain_Kirk said:

https://www.motor1.com/news/357196/toyota-86-convertible-supra-targa/

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That's half true. I've talk with Tada-san about this and he told me interesting info. Tada-san and the team got an approval to make an open-top 86. To make it interesting, they wanted to make open-top 86 at Magna Steyr... yes, same place as current Supra is made. BUT sadly it never came to the agreement, so they had to axe the idea of open-top 86. He never stated why and what didn't came to the agreement... so this is MY guess. Price/assembly and Subaru.
1. Price/Assembly: If open-top 86 was made at Magna Steyr and coupe is made in FHI. price between these 2 will be hugely different.
2. Subaru: Don't wanna blame everything on Subaru, but a lot of things Tada-san/Toyota had never came true or isn't equipped in Subaru side (example: 5 axis black box). Subaru prob didn't like that other plant going to make 86/BRZ (less assemble = less job), so they didn't agree on this idea. Subaru do not like the idea of open-top since rumor of open-top (you can google some old article bout this), so all the Subaru staffs shook their head sideway, so Tada-san prob said fuck it and start working on Supra project.

Again, why they didn't make open-top 86 reasoning is my pure guess. Tada-san never stated the reasons, he just told me, it was gong to happened, but couldn't come to the agreement and never happened.

The targa thing has been brought up a few times internally, and Tada stated it wasn't even a consideration. I'm not knocking the wishlisting, but that's the reality of it or at least it has been aside from the typical 'never say no' answers in interviews.

@ichitaka05 That's one of the major drawbacks of the joint partnerships; the battle of having to please not one company but both. If there wasn't any hint of a open top, it would have been unveiled early on in the pipeline. The same goes with a 6 speed manual. Then again, as you've mentioned, offering a targa open roof Supra would conflict with the Z4 project.

Now with the 86, having two versions coming out of two different factories doesn't sound like a strategic move at all.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/686645/toyota-supra-convertible/

Speaking to media at the global drive of the all-new 2019 Toyota Supra, assistant chief engineer, Masayuki Kai, told media that they haven't ruled out introducing a convertible version of the Supra down the line.

"As for now, yes. But, if BMW wants to make a coupe, it's their own decision. There is no restriction – for example, if we want, we can also make a open roof Supra. But, this is currently not being investigated. Never say never, everything is possible," said Kai.

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ichitaka05 said:

That's half true. I've talk with Tada-san about this and he told me interesting info. Tada-san and the team got an approval to make an open-top 86. To make it interesting, they wanted to make open-top 86 at Magna Steyr... yes, same place as current Supra is made. BUT sadly it never came to the agreement, so they had to axe the idea of open-top 86. He never stated why and what didn't came to the agreement... so this is MY guess. Price/assembly and Subaru.
1. Price/Assembly: If open-top 86 was made at Magna Steyr and coupe is made in FHI. price between these 2 will be hugely different.
2. Subaru: Don't wanna blame everything on Subaru, but a lot of things Tada-san/Toyota had never came true or isn't equipped in Subaru side (example: 5 axis black box). Subaru prob didn't like that other plant going to make 86/BRZ (less assemble = less job), so they didn't agree on this idea. Subaru do not like the idea of open-top since rumor of open-top (you can google some old article bout this), so all the Subaru staffs shook their head sideway, so Tada-san prob said fuck it and start working on Supra project.

Again, why they didn't make open-top 86 reasoning is my pure guess. Tada-san never stated the reasons, he just told me, it was gong to happened, but couldn't come to the agreement and never happened.

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I don't know why, but very few manufacturers like to build convertibles in-house, whether it's due to low volume or perhaps lack of experience. Many companies have outsourced the convertible versions of their vehicles to Magna Steyr, for a long time (there's also a couple other contract manufacturers in Europe that build convertibles for other companies). So to hear Toyota talk about using Magna Steyr is not surprising to me one bit.

For years there was a company called ASC in the US that made convertibles for the big-3 and other manufacturers. They had a lot of experience with designing, engineering, and manufacturing convertibles.

s219 said:

I don't know why, but very few manufacturers like to build convertibles in-house, whether it's due to low volume or perhaps lack of experience. Many companies have outsourced the convertible versions of their vehicles to Magna Steyr, for a long time (there's also a couple other contract manufacturers in Europe that build convertibles for other companies). So to hear Toyota talk about using Magna Steyr is not surprising to me one bit.

For years there was a company called ASC in the US that made convertibles for the big-3 and other manufacturers. They had a lot of experience with designing, engineering, and manufacturing convertibles.

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iirc ASC is used to make vert for Toyota as well. Sadly, it's gone now...

^ sure did and more than one, but the main one I remember is the Celica.

^^ Yep. ASC (American Specialty Cars or American Sunroof Company) had quite a long history of specialty model trims convertibles or otherwise through the 1980's. Better widely known for their tie up with McLaren back then too (Buick GNX, ASC-McLaren Mustangs and a few other notable models). Seems that today Roush now owns and has absorbed them.

Here's a link to one of the ASC-McLaren Celicas:

https://bringatrailer.com/2015/09/30/asc-mclaren-built-1985-toyota-celica-gt-s-convertible/

Has Subaru ever manufactured a convertible, at any plant whether Gunma or somewhere else? I don't think so. I suspect they would be reluctant to get into it for whatever reason.

s219 said:

Has Subaru ever manufactured a convertible, at any plant whether Gunma or somewhere else? I don't think so. I suspect they would be reluctant to get into it for whatever reason.

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1800GL
Vivio
Rex
360 (iirc)

Saeedali78 said:

How do we demand a manual and a targa top? Through protests??!

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Get fans to go to Plano to demand a manual and a targa

A cut out from Toyota Japan, but just imagine...