Diesel isn't that dirty. If it is, why no inspections?
Besides, Toyota can't build a diesel (cheaply) so save its Hino ass. Otherwise, a turbo-diesel-electric would be a submarine (you see where this is going?)!
Seriously, Toyota needs to get its head out of Fat Amerikan's asses, and go back to small trucks (HiLux) with smart, turbo-diesel hybrids. Plenty of space under that bed for a tray of batteries.
And for you smug Prius driver's in the left lane, going +70, you are asshats. So much for being green and lean.
I brake only for Prius drivers...and usually I am in front of you :P
I was one of the first people to ever get to drive an MR2 in N. VA, and it was an absolute blast. Redline shifts, cheese wedge styling, completely tossable chassis with plastic-wrap road cling, shit yeah it was a fantastic little car. And in spite of me bombing it like it owed me money, it got over 30mpg.
Now Toyota wants to go all dementor on its soul and leave us with...what, exactly? How can you possible combine Prius and MR2 and come away with anything that isn't a steaming pile of cross purposes? I smell disaster on the wind...and it's cheating its way into the HOV lane!
Well I'm old enough to remember the Pininfarina Ethos which was a sporty car with an eye towards environmentalism. (Whatever happened to two-cycle engine development anyhow?)
However, the Ethos came from Pininfarina. I don't hold the same kind of hope that Toyota will produce anything near as exciting or interesting.
I genuinely don't "get" the immediate negative reactions in these comments! Look, we all know that Toyota has been focused on building unoffensive appliances rather than cars for enthusiasts for going on 10 years now, so I understand everyone's skepticism and sarcasm. Also, the Prius is the antithesis of the "driver's car", so skepticism regarding a hybrid powertrain is also understandable.
However, THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN' folks! It's obvious that the powertrain we all know and love (ICE with manual trans and RWD) is an endangered species. Current "realities" have dictated this, and it's not going to change, no matter how much we enthusiasts bitch and moan (there just aren't enough of us to have a loud enough "voice" in the matter, and in case you've not noticed, having "fun" is now politically-incorrect anyway). This might just be one new product that acknowledges the inevitable shift away from pure piston power yet still seeks to provide an engaging driving experience; if this is true, it's a good sign that Toyota DOES have a pulse and maybe even recognizes that there IS a demand for "fun" cars.
I have seen numerous comments over the months lamenting the dearth of lightweight, high-efficiency, "fun" cars on the market; well, here is one possible candidate and people still complain! I know, I know, everyone wants a 1800 lb. go-cart like the original MR2 or CRX and this is "bloated" in comparison; sorry folks, cars like those will NEVER be sold in the U.S. again because they would never pass current safety standards (it actually has little to do with economy).
I think we are actually on the precipice of a new "golden age". We have lots of new powertrain and other technologies (which of course need refinement before they will be viable, just like the ICE 100 years ago) that are going to radically change the basic configuration of our vehicles in the near future. The fact that manufacturers are developing "driver" oriented cars incorporating some of this new tech. SHOULD be a source of hope for Jalops.
Just think, in 20 years the performance tuning crowd will have an entirely different armamentarium to draw from. Folks will be making battery mods, hacking the ECU, tweaking the motors, and who knows what else rather than installing turbos, cold-air intakes, and performance exaust; it will be just as interesting and challenging as it is now, just DIFFERENT.
Oh yeah, hybrids CAN be plenty "fast". Mash the accelerator in a Lexus LS600h and you WILL feel the almighty hand of God pushing you back in the seat!
In other news, Toyota has announced that the vaunted Supra will return as a Venza-based crossover coupe utilizing the environmentally-unfriendly Hybrid Synergy Drive system.
Combining the pointless ground clearance of the Sequoia SUV and the sexy coupe styling of the Solara, the pseudo-coupe SUV thing with a cramped sloping rooflinewill be perfect for enthusiasts who need a sporty-looking SUV for their active lifestyle activities in today's hip, urban youthful dynamic synergistic versatility.
"We thought it would appeal to those who were big fans of the old Supras," sniveled Luciferous Beezlebubb, a spokesperson from Toyota's Dream-Killing and Puppy-Kicking Department. "Having this badge back will definitely appeal to those seeking active lifestyle activities in...oh hang on, you've already read the press release."
"Did you fancy the fast Supra Paul Walker drove in The Fast and the Furious?" drawled Mr. 'Bubb, even after we told him to put his pants back in. "Or how about wringing a thousand horsepower from the legendary 2JZ engine with a pair of turbos the size of Jordan's tits? Well we can reassure you that you won't be able to experience anything close to those with the new Supra."
"However," he shouted as he was being dragged off by the police for public nudity, "it will get less mileage than you think!"
Other features include 17 cupholders, 3-row seating designed with the cooperation of the Little People of America, and gear selection courtesy of a knob on the dashboard as well as the knob in the driver's seat.
This is about right... Mr2 was born in 1985, so that would put him at what, 24 years old. So now that he's been moved out for a few years, he's experimenting with alternative lifestyles.
Perhaps he'll be happier now and he'll come back into production as more confident and more stylish sportscar. If a little on the dainty and limp-wristed side.
Why, because it's a hybrid, does it automatically have to suck?
I realise that, no, it's not going to have a manual transmission, and that yeah, everyone here has a somewhat irrational hatred of Toyota even though every automaker is a victim of bland, and what's wrong with the FJ Cruiser and the IS-F? Toyota built the MR2 spyder, which handles brilliantly, until 2007, they could do it now. And if it's called the MR2, it's going to be mid-engined.
And you know it's not going to look anything like the picture. That's ridiculous. The '92 MR2 didn't look like a Camry with two doors.
The GS 450h went from zero to sixty in 5.5 seconds, the Accord Hybrid in 6.5s. They didn't sell well because they were expensive, not because they didn't perform. $24000 isn't that expensive, and stop with all the "heavier" shit: you know the Prius weighs only 100 lbs. more than the Corolla, which is considerably smaller? Now you do.
Don't automatically dismiss a car because it happens to have some batteries in it too. This could be great.
03/20/09
Besides, Toyota can't build a diesel (cheaply) so save its Hino ass. Otherwise, a turbo-diesel-electric would be a submarine (you see where this is going?)!
Seriously, Toyota needs to get its head out of Fat Amerikan's asses, and go back to small trucks (HiLux) with smart, turbo-diesel hybrids. Plenty of space under that bed for a tray of batteries.
And for you smug Prius driver's in the left lane, going +70, you are asshats. So much for being green and lean.
I brake only for Prius drivers...and usually I am in front of you :P
03/19/09
I was one of the first people to ever get to drive an MR2 in N. VA, and it was an absolute blast. Redline shifts, cheese wedge styling, completely tossable chassis with plastic-wrap road cling, shit yeah it was a fantastic little car. And in spite of me bombing it like it owed me money, it got over 30mpg.
Now Toyota wants to go all dementor on its soul and leave us with...what, exactly? How can you possible combine Prius and MR2 and come away with anything that isn't a steaming pile of cross purposes? I smell disaster on the wind...and it's cheating its way into the HOV lane!
03/19/09
I think if I buy a AW11 MR-2 as I plant to, I will take off all the Toyota badges and leave only the MR-2 eagle logo:

Plus, it looks a lot more menacing than this abstract design:
03/19/09
03/19/09
However, the Ethos came from Pininfarina. I don't hold the same kind of hope that Toyota will produce anything near as exciting or interesting.
03/19/09
However, THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN' folks! It's obvious that the powertrain we all know and love (ICE with manual trans and RWD) is an endangered species. Current "realities" have dictated this, and it's not going to change, no matter how much we enthusiasts bitch and moan (there just aren't enough of us to have a loud enough "voice" in the matter, and in case you've not noticed, having "fun" is now politically-incorrect anyway). This might just be one new product that acknowledges the inevitable shift away from pure piston power yet still seeks to provide an engaging driving experience; if this is true, it's a good sign that Toyota DOES have a pulse and maybe even recognizes that there IS a demand for "fun" cars.
I have seen numerous comments over the months lamenting the dearth of lightweight, high-efficiency, "fun" cars on the market; well, here is one possible candidate and people still complain! I know, I know, everyone wants a 1800 lb. go-cart like the original MR2 or CRX and this is "bloated" in comparison; sorry folks, cars like those will NEVER be sold in the U.S. again because they would never pass current safety standards (it actually has little to do with economy).
I think we are actually on the precipice of a new "golden age". We have lots of new powertrain and other technologies (which of course need refinement before they will be viable, just like the ICE 100 years ago) that are going to radically change the basic configuration of our vehicles in the near future. The fact that manufacturers are developing "driver" oriented cars incorporating some of this new tech. SHOULD be a source of hope for Jalops.
Just think, in 20 years the performance tuning crowd will have an entirely different armamentarium to draw from. Folks will be making battery mods, hacking the ECU, tweaking the motors, and who knows what else rather than installing turbos, cold-air intakes, and performance exaust; it will be just as interesting and challenging as it is now, just DIFFERENT.
Oh yeah, hybrids CAN be plenty "fast". Mash the accelerator in a Lexus LS600h and you WILL feel the almighty hand of God pushing you back in the seat!
03/20/09
03/19/09
03/19/09
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Wha...really?
GRALPH! BLAWWWCHHH! BLACCCCH!
Now I need a new keyboard. The coffee I spit on it probably could have been rectified; the vomitus is the real issue now.
03/19/09
03/19/09
03/19/09
Combining the pointless ground clearance of the Sequoia SUV and the sexy coupe styling of the Solara, the pseudo-coupe SUV thing with a cramped sloping rooflinewill be perfect for enthusiasts who need a sporty-looking SUV for their active lifestyle activities in today's hip, urban youthful dynamic synergistic versatility.
"We thought it would appeal to those who were big fans of the old Supras," sniveled Luciferous Beezlebubb, a spokesperson from Toyota's Dream-Killing and Puppy-Kicking Department. "Having this badge back will definitely appeal to those seeking active lifestyle activities in...oh hang on, you've already read the press release."
"Did you fancy the fast Supra Paul Walker drove in The Fast and the Furious?" drawled Mr. 'Bubb, even after we told him to put his pants back in. "Or how about wringing a thousand horsepower from the legendary 2JZ engine with a pair of turbos the size of Jordan's tits? Well we can reassure you that you won't be able to experience anything close to those with the new Supra."
"However," he shouted as he was being dragged off by the police for public nudity, "it will get less mileage than you think!"
Other features include 17 cupholders, 3-row seating designed with the cooperation of the Little People of America, and gear selection courtesy of a knob on the dashboard as well as the knob in the driver's seat.
03/19/09
03/19/09
Perhaps he'll be happier now and he'll come back into production as more confident and more stylish sportscar. If a little on the dainty and limp-wristed side.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
03/19/09
03/19/09
I'm all for another Deuce, but this ain't it.
03/19/09
03/19/09
03/19/09
I realise that, no, it's not going to have a manual transmission, and that yeah, everyone here has a somewhat irrational hatred of Toyota even though every automaker is a victim of bland, and what's wrong with the FJ Cruiser and the IS-F? Toyota built the MR2 spyder, which handles brilliantly, until 2007, they could do it now. And if it's called the MR2, it's going to be mid-engined.
And you know it's not going to look anything like the picture. That's ridiculous. The '92 MR2 didn't look like a Camry with two doors.
The GS 450h went from zero to sixty in 5.5 seconds, the Accord Hybrid in 6.5s. They didn't sell well because they were expensive, not because they didn't perform. $24000 isn't that expensive, and stop with all the "heavier" shit: you know the Prius weighs only 100 lbs. more than the Corolla, which is considerably smaller? Now you do.
Don't automatically dismiss a car because it happens to have some batteries in it too. This could be great.
03/19/09
...does it automatically have to suck?
I realise that, no, it's not going to have a manual transmission...
QED.
03/19/09
It isn't really going to be an automatic, either. Constant power delivery.
03/19/09
Let's see...
Yes, especially,/I> a black series, of course not, and "Depends, do I get to be blindfolded until I'm inside?"