Notices
Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

Toyota developing cheap RWD coupe

Old Jul 6, 2007 | 08:34 AM
  #1  
GFerg's Avatar
GFerg
Thread Starter
Speaks French in Russian
CL Folding 25,000
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 100
From: What is G?
Default Toyota developing cheap RWD coupe

Toyota developing cheap RWD coupe





Back in March, Winding Road floated the idea that Toyota may be in the process of developing a rear-wheel drive vehicle in the same vein as the Corolla AE86 of the 80s. At the time, it was easy to pass it off as pure speculation. Now, the GTChannel says that its sources in the Land of the Rising Sun have also confirmed that a 2+2, front-engine, RWD vehicle is in the works and that if and when it comes to market its sticker will be "well under [$] 20k" – maybe even $16,000.

Considering that the Scion brand has quickly emerged as a cost-conscious means of stylish transport, it wouldn't be hard to imagine that such a vehicle would slot in nicely within the youth-oriented marque, even if its price would make it a direct competitor to the tC. The only rub is finding a suitable platform to build the new vehicle atop, and the only RWD vehicle that could fit the bill would be the Lexus IS. Granted, the $30,000+ sports sedan's underpinnings might be a bit of a stretch (or shortening, in this case) to make a budget performance car, but the ability to cut costs via platform sharing isn't out of the question. Maybe some of the old IS's architecture could even be used.

In the meantime, we're hoping to see spy shots of a tC-bodied mule making the rounds around the 'Ring, rear-wheels a blazing and powersliding into the Carousel.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/06/w...eap-rwd-coupe/
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 08:47 AM
  #2  
ego_man108's Avatar
ego_man108
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: MN
Default

Sweet! Now that's more like it, Toyota! Just don't ruin it by making an automatic transmission and soft suspension standard.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 09:06 AM
  #3  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I doubt its IS based, the IS is GS based. These damn reporters keep forgetting that.

It sounds like good news, we will see.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 10:01 AM
  #4  
TRDFantasy's Avatar
TRDFantasy
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,285
Likes: 0
From: A better place
Default

It seems like all these rumours, while having sometimes large gaps and differences in information are all talking about the same car, which is the rumoured Supra successor.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 10:49 AM
  #5  
toy4two's Avatar
toy4two
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 0
From: ca
Default

Looks pretty ho-hum. They need something daring to compete with the Sky Redline and GXP. Another MR2 with some ballz this time Toyota.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:18 AM
  #6  
XeroK00L's Avatar
XeroK00L
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: The Bay Area, CA, USA
Default

One word: AE86.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:32 AM
  #7  
Faymester's Avatar
Faymester
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,468
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

Originally Posted by toy4two
Looks pretty ho-hum. They need something daring to compete with the Sky Redline and GXP. Another MR2 with some ballz this time Toyota.
... this kinda looks like the civic coupe ... not really sporty so much as 'cute' maybe? [but i dont even think its really that cute]
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:41 AM
  #8  
Richie's Avatar
Richie
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 19,103
Likes: 2
From: Netherlands
Default

I like the sound of that.
If they make it look good too I'm game.
Reply
ClubLexus Stories

Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe

story-0

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:51 AM
  #9  
plex's Avatar
plex
1UZFE/2JZGTE
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,273
Likes: 76
From: MD
Default

I hope it does come through. RWD FTMFW
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:53 AM
  #10  
XeroK00L's Avatar
XeroK00L
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: The Bay Area, CA, USA
Default

Originally Posted by Faymester
... this kinda looks like the civic coupe ... not really sporty so much as 'cute' maybe? [but i dont even think its really that cute]
I'm almost 110% sure it's just a random chop job from pics of the xD, Celica and RSX.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 01:24 PM
  #11  
MR_F1's Avatar
MR_F1
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,370
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default

Originally Posted by XeroK00L
I'm almost 110% sure it's just a random chop job from pics of the xD, Celica and RSX.
looks that way to me too.

AE86 FTW!!!!!!!

2.0 Direct ignition/Injection Valvematic turbo please?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 01:29 PM
  #12  
xioix's Avatar
xioix
Racer
CL Folding 200,000
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
From: so. cal
Default

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
I doubt its IS based, the IS is GS based. These damn reporters keep forgetting that.

It sounds like good news, we will see.
IS is GS based? I thought the IS was based on the Toyota Mark X, and the GS was own its own, or are the 3 on the same platform?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 01:46 PM
  #13  
mmarshall's Avatar
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,575
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Default

Originally Posted by ego_man108
Sweet! Now that's more like it, Toyota! Just don't ruin it by making an automatic transmission and soft suspension standard.
And what is your definition of "soft" ?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 02:19 PM
  #14  
ElitistK's Avatar
ElitistK
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,638
Likes: 2
From: CA
Default

Originally Posted by xioix
IS is GS based? I thought the IS was based on the Toyota Mark X, and the GS was own its own, or are the 3 on the same platform?
mark x is different from gs. the is is a shortened gs.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 04:03 PM
  #15  
Koma's Avatar
Koma
Lead Lap
CL Folding 25,000
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Default

Give me the FT-HS. I'd pay up to 35k for the FT-HS spec'd out almost exactly as the concept. Things that must stay:

-mostly same body
-"targa"
-3.5V6 mated with Lithium hybrid
-RWD

It would definitely rock an FT-HS over an IS350.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:18 AM.

story-0
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

Slideshow: the 2026 IS 350 isn't all that new, and that's why we love it!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-04 14:35:23


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

Slideshow: 10 most confusing things Lexus has ever done.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-04 09:40:55


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

Slideshow: Our First-Drive Review of the 2026 Lexus ES!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-29 20:30:16


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

Slideshow: 10 Lexus bargain that are cheaper than a new Toyota.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 10:28:20


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

Slideshow: From hoverboards to luxury yachts, these are the strangest projects Lexus has ever attached its badge to.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-16 11:34:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Some luxury cars chase trends, but these Lexus models look better now than they did when they first rolled into showrooms.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-06 17:58:29


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

Slideshow: How to Get the Best Fuel Economy with a Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-05 20:54:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

Slideshow: 10 best Lexus models no one remembers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 17:33:28


VIEW MORE
story-8
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

Slideshow: diving into 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium's pricing, performance, fuel economy, features, and amenities!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-23 13:09:18


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: the 10 Lexus and Toyota vehicles you need to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-23 10:34:24


VIEW MORE