Tokyo Auto Salon: New Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept
Toyota is getting attention at the Tokyo Auto Salon today with the unveiling of the updated FT-86 G Sports concept. This is the latest version of the “Toyobaru” joint project between Toyota and Subaru. The G sports concept features a much more track-ready appearance from the outside, including more substantial air intakes and brake vents, and a hard-to-miss rear spoiler.
Power comes from Subaru’s 2.0-L, 4-cylinder Boxer , which has been given a turbo boost. Specs are not yet known, although there is speculation that it could share similar numbers with the Boxer found in Japan’s Limited Impreza R205. Ride height has been lowered by 30mm, compared to the original FT-86, and grip is provided by a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE050s on 19″ rims.
Toyota Prius and Honda Insight get Tommy Kaira Kits
Body kits and tuning are nothing new to fans of Japanese imports, although they tend to remind us of Supras and Civics, rather than the fuel sipping hybrids of the 21st century. Hybrids, by nature, are not the speedy performance machines generally associated with aggressive body styling and over sized rims, so this seems like an unlikely market for tuner accessories.
Toyota Reeling from Record Number of Safety Recalls
So much for Toyota dependability: the Japanese automaker had the most recalled vehicles in 2009.
Of the approximately 4,870,000 vehicles pulled from the road, the vast majority were related to “unintended acceleration.” The exact cause is unknown, but it was initially claimed to be from poorly designed floor mats, though Toyota did push ahead with gas pedal replacements. About 110,000 Toyota trucks were also recalled due to prematurely rusting frames, resulting in Toyota extending its warranty coverage to fifteen years. Before that, Toyota had to settle a case against it over charges of oil sludge buildup within its engines.
Consumer Reports, a longtime supporter of Toyota, was forced to concede its practice of automatically recommending the company’s vehicles would have to cease. Both the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have placed Toyota vehicles under review.
Inside Line’s Wacky Predictions for 2010
We don’t consider Inside Line as the highpoint for automotive journalism–any site that runs a comparo between an old Ferrari 308 GTB and a Korean minivan is likely a waste. But the refreshed (and overdone) Edmunds spin-off has run an oddball list of ten events it sees happening in 2010.
The article was done by someone going under the creative name of “the Mechanic.” Rumor has it he was a former Detroit exotic dancer, sometime salesman, and later editor for The Advocate. Actually, we’re not really sure. Nor do we care.
So here is a summary of Inside Line’s predictions:
The BMW 5 Series GT and Honda Accord Crosstour will be colossal failures.
The Chevy Volt will be a sales flop. Read more
Image Gallery: Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai’s new Sonata clearly looks more creative than the old. The radical styling takes many cues from the Mercedes CLS-class–and we’re not complaining. No V-6 will be available for the Sonata; instead, Hyundai will be pushing ahead with improved safety, interior amenities, and fuel economy. Weight is down to a total range between 3,100 and 3,400 lbs.–an astonishing figure for the growing mid-size range.
The standard engine will hover around variations of a 2.4 L direct-injection unit averaging just under 30 mpg and achieving 190+ hp. Engines will be linked to either a 6-spd. manual or automatic transmission. Interior space and luggage capacity are both greater than their top competitors from Honda and Toyota. Hyundai will be making a “Blue Drive” gas-electric hybrid system available for preview soon after the regular sedan’s release. A more powerful turbo-charged 2.4 will be offered for drivers seeking output in a V-6 range. Read more
Image Gallery: Scion xB RS 7.0
We’re none too thrilled about this drab extension of Scion’s xB. The RS 7.0 is a factory tricked-out package limited to a mere two thousand units, and starting at $18,300 for the manual. What do you get in this “hot” item? A TRD (Toyota Racing Development) exhaust, a new body-kit, lowered suspension, and a spruced-up interior. Read more
Whoops! Toyota’s Still Number One
Looks like the announcement earlier this week that VW was the world’s top-selling automakers was premature. Turns out Toyota still holds the crown. The VW numbers included sales from partner companies, including those which the German giant holds only a small stake in. By using the same standard, Toyota’s overall sales would run at a rate of just under five million vehicles–or a half-million more than VW. Anyone else think this is over-complicating a very simple question: Who’s selling the most cars?
Toyota Becomes a Loser in America
Looks like all that factory money that went into NASCAR didn’t pay off.
Toyota’s US operations, long a bastion of profit, have now sunk to a new low. Toyota is now losing a fortune in its American investment: sales losses for the first half of this year are down 38%. That’s actually three percent more than the national sales average. Even worse, the NUMMI factory, a joint-effort with American industry, may shut down due to the rapid losses the company is suffering.
(Let’s see Thomas Friedman promote Toyota now.)
Lexus to Build IS-F Convertible
Hot off serious customer demand for its IS-Cs, Lexus will be building a convertible version of its high-performance IS-F. The IS-F (just to remind you) is equipped with a 416 hp 5.0 L V-8 and an eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. Suspension is lowered, shocks are upgraded, heavy-duty brakes are standard, and an aero kit adds an aggressive look to the car. The IS-F was widely praised by enthusiast magazines for its excellent handling, braking, and smooth acceleration. We’ll be looking forward to Lexus’s work with the F convertible sometime in the next year.
Diesel Dropped as a Priority for Automakers
For those of you still hanging onto the idea of a diesel renaissance here in the States, there’s bad news: Automotive News has reported that the six of the biggest names in the auto business have halted their diesel development plans for the US.
Honda, Nissan, Toyota, GM, Ford, and Chrysler execs felt the cost in making diesel engines fully compliant with US (and especially California) air standards was too high; in addition, consumer perception was not favorable enough to dent the move towards hybrids.
Honda had been on the forefront among the six, with diesel variants of the Accord, TSX, and TL in the pipeline. One-by-one, management axed the proposed diesels, eventually putting the whole project on hiatus. Plans from BMW and Volkswagen, however, appear to be moving forward.
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