A toyota I would buy.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/10/r...morate-naruse/

Report: Toyota considering RWD hatch to commemorate Naruse

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Aug 10th 2010 at 1:01PM

We see plenty of rumors crop up on the interwebs, but we've rarely wanted any of them to come true as badly as this particular juicy morsel. The crew at Autocar reports that Toyota wants to build a new model to honor its former chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse. Naruse recently passed away in an a collision while testing the Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring. If the whispers are true, the car won't be a badge-job for the Camry. According to reports, Naruse always wanted to see Toyota produce an inexpensive, rear-wheel drive coupe that was affordable enough for the little guys of the world to be able to hop into the driver's seat.

If you're thinking there's no way that Toyota will suddenly jump into the small rear-wheel drive market with not one, but two new products, think again. Autocar reports that the inexpensive two-door will slot below the sexy FT-86 and will be based off of the GRMN Aigo Hot Hatch Concept we saw at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon. That particular concept got its grunt from a Daihatsu 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. More importantly, it rocked a double-wishbone rear suspension and swapped its front-wheel drive layout for a rear-driven arrangement. If the rumors are to be believed, we could see the car in 2012, just slightly ahead of the FT-86.

[Source: Autocar]

[vztrt]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...810-11vxl.html

Toyota plans pocket rocket
RICHARD BLACKBURN
August 10, 2010

Toyota is reportedly developing a two-door hot hatch to complement its new FT-86 sports car.

Toyota is reportedly developing a low-cost, rear-wheel-drive, two-door hot hatch to inject some much-needed excitement into its passenger car range.

Respected British motoring publication Autocar says the pocket rocket is being made as a tribute to former head test driver Hiromu Naruse, who was killed in a recent road accident near Germany's famed Nurburgring test track.

The car, which was previewed as the GRMN Hot Hatch Concept at Tokyo's Auto Salon motor show in January this year, was a pet project of Naruse's.

If it reaches full-scale production, the car is expected to slot in as an affordable alternative to the FT-86 rear-drive sports car being jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru.

It is based on the Toyota Aygo small car, which shares its underpinnings with Peugeot's 107 and Citroen's C1. The Aygo, which is slightly smaller than a Toyota Yaris, isn't available in Australia at the moment, but that won't preclude the hot hatch from consideration by Toyota Australia.

The local operation recently began importing the boxy-looking Rukus to appeal to a younger audience and will follow early next year with the retro-styled FJ Cruiser, which looks like a scaled-down Hummer.

Autocar says the hot hatch will be powered by a Daihatsu-sourced 1.5-litre engine and should weigh less than 1000kg. The magazine says it could sell in the United Kingdom for roughly £10,000 ($17,000), which could translate to a mid-$20,000 price tag Down Under.

The report says the car could be on the road by 2012.

Toyota's racier product plans apparently don't stop with the FT-86 and the hot hatch, though. Overseas reports suggest the company's boss, Akio Toyoda, is keen to resurrect the Supra nameplate.

Toyoda, a racing enthusiast who has competed at the Nurburgring 24-hour race in a Lexus, told reporters in Japan recently that he wanted to see a Supra development program launched soon.

If it gets the nod, the next Supra is expected to be powered by a V6 hybrid engine, with styling similar to the FT-HS concept revealed at the 2007 Detroit motor show.

Reports of a Supra revival have gained momentum with news that the company has re-registered the name as a trademark in the United States.

PICS

[Fled74]

It'd be nice if they resurrected the RWD Trueno AE86 (the last of the rear-drive Corollas). It's become a cult car in the last few years.

[SpoolMan]

It may be my age, that car isn't to my liking at all....the styling is

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

It may be my age, that car isn't to my liking at all....the styling is

agreed! Back later, I have to go puke!

[irlewy86]

Mid 20's price tag, 180ish hp and RWD. I'm not really fussed about the styling.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Mid 20's price tag, 180ish hp and RWD. I'm not really fussed about the styling.

Hahaha same...didn't even look at the styling. But yeah it isn't the best...but dam that car would be fun.

[Rev28K]

I think that they are being a bit opportunistic with Naruse's death and this thing was already in the works.

Hopefully it'll be good I can remember thinking that the Aus Sprinter would be a good thing with an engine transplant when it first came around back in the 80's

[JimNiki]

I'm a big man and I only like driving big cars...not shoe boxes...

[Fev]

FT-86: Love it and i want one. I've been lookin at the progress of this since it was announced

[Ben73]

Looks like crap.
What happened to the RWD coupe toyota were gonna make???