Quote Of The Day: Toyoda and The Splendid Flavor

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Cars are not a mere means of mobility. They respond to the driver’s will; they turn, speed up, slow down. Naturally, there’s a need for excitement…Of course, eco-friendly cars are a prerequisite for the future, but there must be more than that. Morizo cannot afford to lose. I will tackle the challenge of creating a car with even more splendid flavor than the Scirocco.

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda blogging at his company’s Japanese marketing website Gazoo.com, as reported by Automotive News [sub]. Toyoda’s Scirocco killer? That has to be the FT-86 “Toyobaru” coupe. Interestingly, Inside Line reports that the Subaru version will have about 250 hp, AWD and will cost about $30k. In contrast, the $25k Toyota will be smaller, RWD and only 200 hp. Smaller, lighter and RWD? Sounds like Toyota beat Subaru to the splendid flavor. [Hat Tip: Cammy Corrigan]

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Akitadog Akitadog on Nov 18, 2009

    So the engine is a naturallly aspirated 2.0 in both applications? With 250 hp in the Subaru? Who do they think they are, Honda? Subaru's AWD and the NA 2.0 is ridiculous. Since when do you have to rev the $#!t out of a Subaru to get the power?

    • Kurtamaxxguy Kurtamaxxguy on Nov 19, 2009

      Current Subaru STI's (and the older XT's) tend to be peaky - so so power below 4000 rpm, then WHAM. So says C&D and virtually every mag which has tested one.

  • KGrGunMan KGrGunMan on Nov 19, 2009

    can i get one 250hp rwd version? also can i get an extra side of light weight too? thanks

  • Geggamoya Geggamoya on Nov 19, 2009

    200hp is plenty if it stays RWD, which i would prefer over AWD even though we have snow for almost half of the year. With my luck though we wont get this car at all.. And even if we do it would probably not be any cheaper than the GTI, which starts at about 38k€. I would be plenty happy with 150hp if the price would be about the same as a corolla.

  • Srogers Srogers on Nov 19, 2009

    200hp. Let's look at my recent auto history: 88 Saab 900 Turbo 160hp 87 BMW 325e 120hp 02 Focus SVT 170hp. 200hp sounds like a shitpile of power to me. And RWD works fine, even in snow (ie. BMW 325 with snow tires in Alberta winter)

    • Steven02 Steven02 on Nov 20, 2009

      1988 and 1987 aren't exactly recent auto history. The 02 Focus SVT with 170 hp... interesting that you brought that up. The most recent version of the Focus RS in Europe has 300hp. Again, 200hp in a performance vehicles isn't wonderful unless it is very light.

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