Turbo’d FT-86 Debuts @ Tokyo Auto Salon
Fresh off the pages of FT86club.com: Toyota surprised the crowd at the Tokyo Auto Salon by displaying the FT-86 G's Concept powered by a turbo boxer engine paired with a 6spd MT. Not a bad looking car, but we are still looking at a year or two before a production model is released. Also of interest is that it will include "GPS-Track Day," which was co-developed with Polophony Digital. Basically, it will record you as you race around a real track in your FT-86. All that race data is placed on a memory card which you can then place into your PS3, and ta-da! your real world race data is now accessible through GT5. That's right, you can watch a virtual replay of your time at the track or take on your real world driving by racing a ghost car. Gimmicky? Maybe, but it does sound pretty cool. Coincidentally, Polophony Digital has released another GT5 trailer with the Auto Salon FT-86. Enjoy!
from FT-86 Club
Top Gear and the Lexus LFA
Check out Top Gear's take on the Lexus LFA.
At that price, I think I can settle for an army of GT-Rs. -Tanker
Toyota FT-86 Concept Revealed
Remember back when Toyota and Subaru were working on a coupe together? Well instead of a small sketch we now get a concept car which looks nothing like a Toyota, but sports lines that'll indeed make someone think Nissan or Mazda. The FT-86 is suppose to be the true succesor of the AE-86, which means this thing is going to be a front engine RWD Coupe, that should slot into the affordable range on the market. While Toyota did most of the design of the FT-86, Subaru has added a 2.0 Boxer Engine to the mix and is suppose to build the vehicle in its plants when production starts. This will definitely be one subcompact to watch when it is released on the market in 2011-2012. -Tanker!
Hit the split for more photos!
Never judge a book by it’s cover…
Imagine this hypothetical situation… your cruising in your pretty sweet ride in the middle of a cool summer night. Out of the corner of your eye you spot an “ok” looking supra. You think to yourself, “I bet ya it’s all looks with a stock supra motor…(not like that's anything to scoff at!)” so your friend who’s sitting shotgun pulls out his video cam and decides to record while your friend decides to try to pick on the supra. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER judge a book by it’s cover. Enjoy.
-infamousjj
This is what I’m talking about…
$7k dealer option? Well worth it when it comes to the Tony Stewart Toyota Camry! In honor of Tony Stewart racing a Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a US dealer decided to slap on some decals, add some spiffy NASCAR seats, official NASCAR wheels and some crazy interior/exterior Home Depot Orange trimmings to a Camry. LoL, it'd make a great addition to the Family Car Crew. Dream come true...not really.
From the pages screens of Jalopnik!
SEMA Debut: Toyota Corolla/Matrix
Since my broken leg pretty much made SEMA out of the question, I've been at home ignoring the show in protest. I suppose that's why I didn't get the news that the all new Corolla and Matrix made their American debut at the show in Vegas. Interesting choice for a car debut...especially two cars that didn't stray to far from the previous generations. Both are powered by the Camry I4, a 2.4L engine that pumps out 158hp/162 lb-ft of torque. The non-XRS Corolla models have a smaller I4, mind you. Not exactly mind blowing, but what do you expect from compact cars? Other than that, looks like the rumors of the Blade making it's way to North America as the Matrix came true. Also, in what can be the quickest debut of a new model in the aftermarket, Toyota unveiled a supercharged version of the Corolla and a rally version of the Matrix. Exciting. OK time for some PR pics! Hooray... :-/
Toyota Aurion TRD
I said it before and I'll say it again: I was never a fan of the current Camry...it's lumpy in odd places, making it look like beluga whale. On the other hand though, I wouldn't mind having this version of the Camry - The Toyota Aurion is the Australian equivalent of a Camry we'll never see stateside. The TRD version, which just debuted down under, increases that longing for a better Camry 10x. The Aurion is a beautiful looking car and now has some serious punch to back up it's sporty look. The TRD package adds a supercharger to the 3.5L V6 sitting under the hood which pushes out 340hp and 296 lb-ft of torque. Decent specs till you are brought back to Camry reality as the car still sports it's FWD configuration and 6 speed automatic. Ehhh...I guess you can't win them all with a family hauler.
Hit the split for the long long presser...
Why Mini-Vans/MPVs have gotten even cooler in my book
I must admit, I really am into mini-vans and MPVs. Yes, I know. I was ridiculed in high school for wanting a Previa. It was an awesome little van though...I mean come on, you can't go wrong with two sunroofs! Anyhow, saw this clip over at TheDriftScene and it has again re-ignited my love for all things Previa/Estima. Who needs a 4-door Skyline to take the family out drifting? It's all about using the family van and taking along the grandparents! Love it...shhh don't tell that to my car.
[SOURCE: Youtube via TheDriftScene]
RUMOR OF THE DAY: AE86 to make a come back?
Just like the undying rumor of a Honda CRX return every couple seasons, the Toyota Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno/AE86 has a similar cycle. This time coming from the Japanese magazine, Best Car. The "AE86" is slated for a Winter 2008 debut. Boasting a 120hp engine and under 2200lb weight, this car is set to be an affordable lightweight compact RWD car - the likes of what we haven't seen since the Miata debuted. Interesting note from the article is that the car would sport a RWD system from Heavy Fuji Industries a.k.a. Subaru. Anyone else see the Scion Fuse in the sketch? Hmmmm, I think I'll believe this when I see the car in showrooms. It's only a year away...
[Source: Best Car via Autoblog]
TAKE THE RED PILL!!!
This is the Toyota Blade, introduced in Japan as a bit more upscale Auris with more creature comfort features and a powerful engine. Well Toyota just upped the antee by throwing in a 3.5L V6 in the thing and calling it the "Blade Master." Yup, you heard me right...a freakin' V6 putting out about 280hp to the ground through the front-wheels. Kind of awesome I guess - not quite the looker but hey enough power to get you around and then some.
That's all nice and dandy, but why would that peak the interest of us Yanks? Well, consider the fact that Toyota has made it known a version of the Auris will debut in America in 2009, which will replace our beloved Matrix, which at one point was making waves in the aftermarket world...for like 5 minutes. This Matrix replacement's name? Blade. So there could be the possibility of getting a high-end model with a V6...or if anything, at least we know we could swap a 3.5L V6 in there.
[Source: NihonCar]