Well i was watching my favorite TV show today (the only one about cars in my country >> ) and there was a presentation of the VOLVO S60 R. This is a classic 4 door small to mid size sedan. This car has just about 300bhp with awd and turbo.
Can someone explain this to me. Why Toyota is so damn unimaginative. When Volvo (the most conservative auto maker) gets this into the market, how difficult would be for Toyota to release an equivalent car? Keep in mind that the other companies also have a 4 door supercar in the market as well. (ie. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Subaru Impreza WRX/STI)

Personally i would buy a 4 door Toyota supercar. Smething like a Lexus IS200 with a turbo engine and around 300 bhp would be perfect. Subaru has released the new Legacy which is also an Estate turbocharged awd with 280 bhp and has been making good sales in the last few years with the turbo charged Forrester.

I have a spare 3SGTE engine and i was playing around with the thought of getting a RAV4 5dr 1st gen and bolt that engine right in. What do you think?

you contradicted yourself. you say toyota is unimaginative for not jumping on the 4dr AWD rally inspired bandwagon...

the reason toyota doesnt do that is because that isnt their market.... they market towards the middle or lower class.... if you want expensive then go with another car maker

thats kinda what lexus is about, hitting the uper eschelon of that middle class... offering jaguar/mercedes type cars at a honda price

exactly

Hmmm, 4 door, performance, Toyota? Lets see . . .

Toyota Celsior
Engine: 1UZ-FE (4000 cc, V8, 260-280 hp)
link

Toyota Aristo
Engine: 2JZ-GTE (2997 cc, I-6, TwinTurbo 280 hp)
link

Toyota Soarer
1999 - Engine: 1JZ-GTE (2500 cc, I-6, Turbo, 280 hp)
link
2001 - Engine: 3UZ-FE (4300 cc, V8, 280 hp)
link

Just one of toyotas 'unimaginative' plan for the future:
link

Don't forget the Altezza also had special editions released by TOMS (turbo), TRD (turbo), TTE (supercharged) as well as aftermarket turbo kits being available.

>>

dude, you are in NZ, that doesnt count. we are talking USDM here, where we all get shafted. lol.

BTW, i was talking to a scion rep at the autoshow today. apparently the Scion tC is based on the aristo/Caldina platform. id be interested to see if they left room in its floorpan for a driveshaft >> >>

OH and the lastest on the celica/ no celica debate. i was talking to a toyota rep at the autoshow. and apparently they have no plans as of yet to drop the Celica, but at the same time there are no plans yet for an 8th gen design. and no, "tC" does not mean "toyota celica", when i brought it up to the rep, they said they are completely different platforms, and if they were to replace the toyota celica, they would replace it with a different toyota, not a scion brand car.

-boosted_K2+Jan 19, 2004 - 4:37 PM

-neoklis+Jan 17, 2004 - 11:20 PM

we have the soarer, its a Lexus SC430, we dont have a celisor, the Lexus GS looks alot like the Aristo, but apparently they are different. but reguardless everything we get is majorly watered down.

I see what you mean. Unfortunately the Toyota dealership in my country only bring like 5-6 models. I believe they did not bring even the toyota celica. There are many Celicas though in my country because they were imported as used from Japan. So you have to forgive me if i am not really up to speed with all the models Toyota is making. You see, due to very high import duties and expensiveness of petrol, it is really impossible to get large cars. That is a privilege of the few and they prefer mostly Mercedes and BMWs.

Also, some of the cars mentioned are really in a different category. I was talking more like 4 door sedans like the Lexus IS200 (Altezza) regarding the size and weight.

I did not have time to check out the links but I take your word for it

Are you serious?

I was checking out New Zealand toyota websites and they were flooded with toyota models.

Dude, the TOYOTA CALDINA is a RALLY CAR with the 3SGTE.

Its still in its early stage but evatually we would be able to see it as a 4 door beast that might be able to bring back the old days when toyota would win all the rally races.

Caldina = 4 door WAGON AWD with the 3SGTE engine. Evo and WRX..... fear Toyota

Ok... I'm not going to get into what Toyota should or shouldn't do... nor will I enter into the discussion why they've decided to focus on the upper echelon of society. However, what I will say is this... If you want a new car with performance... look into other reputable companies (i.e. Nissan). Yes, I'm sorta disappointed with Toyota's decisions, but when it comes down to it, I wouldn't hesistate getting a Nissan/Infiniti.

I'm sure that once sales drop, then Toyota may decide on going the performance route. But in the mean time, I think people should let this overly-griped-about-topic come to rest.

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