http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums News related to the Toyota FT-86 as well as site news. Only Administrators may create new threads in this section. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:30:24 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.ft86talk.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/256-toyota-planning-sporty-car-line-green-lights-grmn-sports-hybrid-concept.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:45:23 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/toyota_grmn_sports_hybrid_concept_images_001-400x251.jpg Toyota is planning...

Toyota is planning to introduce a new lineup of budget-oriented sporty vehicles, but don't get too excited. While it is possible that there's a larger plan for the FT-86/FR-S and a rumors of a rear-drive hot-hatch, it's more likely that Toyota is instead planning "sporty" versions of existing cars.

Earlier this year the Japanese auto giant released the "G Sports" or G's" versions of its Voxy and Noah vans and it that may be the direction they're headed with the rest of the lineup, including a confirmed sports edition version of the Prius.

"We want to offer more cars that are fun to drive and make people think 'Toyota is interesting,'" said Toyota Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada at a recent press event in Japan.

And while Toyota's plans for a true performance-minded budget sports car lineup seem less likely than a new lineup of TRD-style models, Uchiyamada did confirm the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept is headed to production as a spiritual successor of the MR2 – but with a high-tech hybrid powertrain.

More: Toyota Planning Sporty Car Line; Green-Lights GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept on AutoGuide.com ]]> Toyota FT-86 News AutoGuide.com http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/256-toyota-planning-sporty-car-line-green-lights-grmn-sports-hybrid-concept.html http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/254-ft-86-sedan-reportedly-set-join-toyota-lineup.html Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:44:22 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/FT86four_w-400x225.jpg Toyota is reportedly planning to build a sedan based...

Toyota is reportedly planning to build a sedan based on the FT-86/FR-S compact sports car that has gripped the attention of auto enthusiasts since its debut at the Tokyo Auto Show last year.

According to Australian outlet CarsGuide, the sedan model was planned all along as a way to spread the sports car's development costs across a wider group, while also acting as an insurance policy should one of the models fail to catch on in the marketplace.

And as strange as making a four-door out of a coupe sounds, we should remember that the FT-86 is actually based on a sedan (Subaru Legacy) platform.

The FT-86 Sedan would be one of few rear-drive four-doors in the Toyota/Lexus lineup and would be smaller in size than the Lexus IS models.

As for an engine, it would likely share a powerplant with the coupe, although CarsGuide does suggest that in the future it could use with the Subaru 3.6-liter six-cylinder or a new hybrid boxer engine (Sounds kind of like the FT-CH Concept, doesn't it).

More: FT-86 Sedan Reportedly Set to Join Toyota Lineup on AutoGuide.com ]]> Toyota FT-86 News AutoGuide.com http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/254-ft-86-sedan-reportedly-set-join-toyota-lineup.html http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/253-subaru-ft-86-wrx-coupe-spied-hot-weather-testing-death-valley.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:47:32 GMT

It's been a while since we've heard anything about Subaru's version of the Toyota FT-86/FR-S, but the engineers at Suby have been hard at work on the new model. A Subaru bodied version of the car (looking like a WRX Coupe) was recently spied doing hot weather testing in Death Valley.

The photos clearly show a hood scoop, suggesting a top-mount intercooler and turbocharged boxer engine. If that's the case, we could look forward to a solid 265-hp from the more hard-core Subaru version of the Toyobaru. Previous reports have suggested the car will be rear-wheel drive only, although AutoExpress is suggesting an AWD setup will be included. We're inclined to believe that is possible, as the car is based on the AWD Legacy platform.

Toyota is on track to launch its version of the FT-86 (believed to get the FR-S badge in production forum), in November of 2011, so expect to Subaru model to debut shortly thereafter.

More: Subaru FT-86 (WRX Coupe) Spied Hot Weather Testing in Death Valley on AutoGuide.com ]]> Toyota FT-86 News AutoGuide.com http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/253-subaru-ft-86-wrx-coupe-spied-hot-weather-testing-death-valley.html http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/246-driver-error-blame-most-toyotas-unintended-acceleration-cases-report.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:42:01 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/04_10_Camry_LE-400x266.jpg As early leaked reports indicated, Toyota is...

As early leaked reports indicated, Toyota is being exonerated after Congress pushed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reveal the preliminary findings of its investigation into the cases of "unintended acceleration" of Toyota vehicles.

A Department of Transportation investigation of the black box recorders in 58 Toyota vehicles involved in "unintended acceleration" crashes has revealed that in 35 of those cases the brakes were never engaged. In nine other cases the brakes were only applied immediately before impact. In five additional cases no data was recorded, while in five more it was shown that the brakes were applied early on. One incident showed that both the accelerator and brake were pressed.

Toyota did place a recall for a faulty mechanical brake pedal and for millions of vehicles with what could be improperly installed floor mats – the later which is believed to be a cause of the crash in at least one of the 58 vehicles investigated by NHTSA.

"The limited research completed so far has not led to identification of safety defects other than sticking gas pedals or pedal entrapment," reads the report, clearly indicating that faulty vehicle electronics are not to blame.

Results of the NHTSA investigation are not final and the government agency warns that it may still take months to look over all the vehicles in question.

More: Driver Error to Blame in Most of Toyota's "Unintended Acceleration" Cases: Report on AutoGuide.com ]]> Toyota FT-86 News AutoGuide.com http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/246-driver-error-blame-most-toyotas-unintended-acceleration-cases-report.html http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/245-baby-ft-86-fr-s-based-toyota-grmn-fr-hot-hatch-concept.html Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:39:27 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/GRMN-toyota-aigo-concept-front-pl.jpg Several months ago the first reports...

Several months ago the first reports of a "baby" FT-86/FR-S rear-drive sports car emerged and now that project is taking shape. Toyota has reportedly begun the work of building this lower cost alternative to the FR-S as a tribute to chief test driver Hiromu Naruse, who died recently while testing a Lexus LFA in Germany.

The new car would also be a front-engine, rear drive model and will be based on the GRMN Hot Hatch Concept that was first shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year. Based on the Toyota Aygo this concept features a Daihatsu rear-drive setup and a 1.5-liter engine making around 100-hp. That's not much, but the car is expected to weight right around the 2,000 lb mark. The hatch body will be tossed in favor or a coupe profile and to add to the package, Toyota will also maintain the concept's race-ready double wishbone rear suspension. Toyota is said to be targeting a 1.4 million yen price point (roughly $15,000).

More: Baby FT-86/FR-S to be Based on Toyota GRMN FR Hot Hatch Concept on AutoGuide.com ]]> Toyota FT-86 News AutoGuide.com http://www.fr-sforum.com/forums/toyota-ft-86-news/245-baby-ft-86-fr-s-based-toyota-grmn-fr-hot-hatch-concept.html