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In early 2017, former Toyota CEO and President Akio Toyoda issued a company-wide decree: “No extra boring automobiles.” He backed up that assertion with thrilling merchandise just like the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and the Supra. Pictured right here, the GR GT3 idea is all however confirmed to spawn a road-going model, probably with a Lexus badge. Moreover, we’ve been promised the Supra name will live on past the outgoing BMW-based technology.
Akio Toyoda handed the baton to Koji Sato initially of 2023, and thankfully, Sato shares his predecessor’s philosophy. Throughout a press convention tied to the corporate’s newest monetary outcomes, Toyota’s boss reaffirmed his stance in opposition to boring automobiles: “A automotive shouldn’t be a automotive if it is not enjoyable. That’s why we’ll by no means enable our automobiles to change into commodities.” Mockingly, this assertion was made shortly earlier than the brand new RAV4’s debut, which isn’t precisely essentially the most thrilling automobile in Toyota’s lineup. Within the firm’s protection, there’s a GR Sport version with 320 horsepower and suspension and steering upgrades.
The pledge to concentrate on thrilling automobiles was bolstered shortly earlier than Lexus got here out with the IS500 Ultimate Edition, probably the final hurrah for the V-8 sports activities sedan. Nevertheless, it may not be the tip for an eight-cylinder efficiency automobile for the reason that GR GT3 is predicted to characteristic an all-new V-8, probably the final of its variety developed by Toyota/Lexus.
Sato said that gentle design modifications and incremental effectivity enhancements are not sufficient to remain on prime. As a substitute, Toyota is dedicated to channeling the identical “ardour” seen in its Gazoo Racing-branded fashions into its customary automobiles. The CEO goals to “instill this type of mindset in every of our mission groups” to convey extra thrilling merchandise to market.
As for devoted sports activities automobiles, Sato stated they “should be modern” and hinted that extra are on the way in which: “Little question we could have extra alternatives to speak about thrilling automobiles when the time is correct.” He didn’t present specifics, however past the GR GT3, Toyota has dropped a number of hints about reviving the Celica.
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There was additionally an FT-Se concept hinting on the prospects of a small electrical coupe, however a manufacturing model gained’t arrive earlier than 2027. The GR Yaris M Concept we noticed initially of the yr may’ve been an early signal of the MR2’s return.
Circling again to Akio Toyoda, who took on the function as chairman after stepping down from the CEO place, he prefers efficiency automobiles with combustion engines: “For me because the grasp driver, my definition of a sports activities automotive is one thing with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine.”