I'm not against Toyota manufacturing green cars. I think they're great no doubt. But why does it have to give up its entire sports performance line. TRD was a very respectable sport tuning line and they just gave it all up. That's what I'm most sad about.

 

as long as they release a bunch every few years...Miatas will be plentiful in 20 years IMO. and S2000's will be somewhat rare, but not too hard to find in 20 years.

Im not worried, i dont buy new anyways (assuming that i will have a job, i probably wont buy new)

 

This is what I heard from another my cousin who is a toyota fanatic and drives an MR2.. Accoriding to toyota, they are primarily focused on Family oriented vehicles so I guess thats why they arent coming out with the new Supra.

 

Toyota is in the business of making money, not making cars for me and you unfortunately.

 

The Lexus IS-F is a pretty nice performance/luxury car and still a toyota

 

+1, Toyota is in it to make money.

Take for example the Scion TC, why continue making the Celica & MR-Spyder when they can just slap a Camry engine into a new chassis and save the extra cost from integration.

I miss the 80s when Toyota used to make all the great Japanese sportscars before Honda's VTEC generation. Either way, with the cost of gas, Toyota is probably not making that bad a transition with their Hybrid future cars.

I can't wait till Hydrogen becomes mainstream and Hybrids will just be a past tense. Hurry up and release your Hydrogen based 3 series already BMW

 

LF-A. do a little research. 500 minimum HP, 5.0 Liter (max) high-revving V-10, RWD. Sounds like a performance car to me.

Toyota's involvement in Formula 1 and Nascar still proves as a testiment to their devotion to performance. Honda + Nissan, nowhere to be found.

From what I've heard through the grapevine, Toyota is teaming up wtih Subaru to produce a RWD performance coupe. I'm sure many of you heard of this; I've been away from the Subaru scene since I've sold my WRX so it takes awhile to hear things.

But, then again, this reply is very biased; the first car I raced was an AE86, and after owning 6 of them, I sold my WRX to jump into another AE86.

 

Scion makes perfect sense on paper. In practice... not so much. Scion was Toyotas way of capturing the youth market for life. Introduce fairly inexpensive entry-level cars and have those customers move up-market in the Toyota family (Camry, FJ, whatever) as they matured, got better jobs, etc. Unfortunately for Toyota that plan isn't working. Scion sales, while respectable have done nothing to retain those customers for the future.

Scion hit it out of the park with marketing, offering 'custom' options and tapping the youth market. They messed up in a lot of other ways, though. Scion is a great brand for the target market. Toyota is a horrible brand for Scion's target market. There is nothing to fill that gap and make the transition logical.

Oh yeah, this thread was about performance. I've been saying since day 1 that the TC should have been RWD. It's more cost effective and easier to manufacture FWD vehicles and Toyota does want to make money. Offering a small run, RWD and 'inexpensive' sports car is likely a thing of the past for any maker. Possibly forever. I see Toyota coming out with more fun models but we'll never have a super cheap, super light AND RWD car again it seems.

Toyota does have a huge dedication to F1 and Nascar as someone else pointed out. They have in no way given up on performance and if anything are just as dedicated. They're doing things a bit differently, but TRD is still alive and kicking. Go into any Toyota dealership and they'll be more than happy to supercharge about any car you're driving. One of the few makers that can boast that. Toyota is still doing performance, just in a different way. The market changes and they adapt.

I might be alone in this, but I believe hybrid technology can offer some amazing performance options. Instant on torque, if used correctly could be just amazing.


/rant

 

Regardless of what Toyota has done on or off the track I have always felt their line of cars have been just flat out non inspirational. Their designs are bland, their engines are boring in every sense of the word. When was the last time Toyota did anything revolutionary since the introduction of the Prius?? I'll give you that they have stayed true to F1 and Nascar but who the hell cares if you can't drive one!! I don't see anything in their product line in the last 10 years that has had any influence from their F1 and Nascar involvement. The Toyota brand lacks passion and innovation in return to make more money. When your the largest auto maker you have plenty of funds to finance at least one car worthy of discussion without badging it a Lexus.

 

You know... I was thinking of the exact same thing. SO what if "TRD is still alive and kickin" when you can't drive anything TRD (except for the tacoma ). +1

 

thats because they have to

pzev

 

i personally believe that toyota is putting out its best looking cars yet.

Not saying they perform, but for good gas daily commuters they look and drive great..

 

If only it didn't have that funky quad stacked exhaust. If toyota puts out another attempt at a serious sports car it will be a Lexus in the states. I just hope they get a good designer for the exterior. The supra hauls but is U.G.L.Y.

 

Like what?? The red headed step child of the 08 WRX sedan(New Corolla). Give me a break. If you think Toyota is making "their best looking cars yet" and are good commuters etc., they are in the same league as KIA and Hyundia then. At least Hyundia is coming out with a two door coupe to battle the G37 and 350/370 Z. Toyota on the other hand...well... isn't.

 

Something is working for Toyota as they're selling plenty. Not a lot of people will be willing to buy anything luxury or performance from Toyota. Hence the reason for Lexus.

At any rate, I also think the cars look good and are well built. These days being compared to Hyundai and Kia isn't the worst thing that can happen to a company.