Report: Toyota FT-86 to Cost More Than Originally Planned

[Administrator]

Toyota's highly anticipated FT-86 sports car might not be as affordable as company representatives initially expected. According to a report by AutoCar, development costs for the 4-cylinder sports car are likely to drive up its MSRP - taking away part of the little coupe's appeal.

When the it was originally shown in Tokyo a company representative told AutoCar that they were aiming for an entry-level price of £13,000 (roughly $20,000). Now the FT could be as much as £13,000 (or $23,000). Apparently much of the cost increase is due to making the car’s Subaru-sourced boxer engine more fuel efficient.

No doubt related to the increased price, Toyota will now also reportedly market the FT-86 to older buyers than originally planned. Initially the FT-86 was to be targeted at 30-year-olds but market research on Toyota’s part has shown that this demographic wasn’t as interested in the vehicle as first though. Instead, Toyota will now look to the 40-year-old group to make up the bulk of sales.

More: Report: Toyota FT-86 to Cost More Than Originally Planned : Auto News at AutoGuide.com

[rdlviper]

Seriously Toyota??? WTF..... this car is being aimed at 40 year olds now???

Man oh man.... how many times can Toyota re-create the Camry. They need a new and exciting car... the FT86.

Please don't water down this car by making it a "fuel efficient 40 year old man's car" ... ugh.

Toyota needs to bring excitement to the lineup.... I hope the FT86 doesn't go the way of the rest of Toyota's lineup - bland, uninteresting, aimed at 40-somethings.

Fire the market research agency - they are messing up your data!!!!

[ft86girl]

I agree. I think that it's the 20 somethings and 30 somethings that are most excited about the FT-86. In a way I knew that the originally speculated price was a bit too good to be true, but now we know. That said, $26,000 for the FT-86 is still within reach for some - we will just have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully they don't raise the price again once they've completed the production models...

[HachiRoku]

I knew it!!! It was too good to be true. Leave it to Toyota to mess things up when they had a good thing going. I hope this is a more realistic final price - if the cost goes up, I'm out. And really, how many 40 year old do you really see potentially driving this car???

[Nemesis]

I went back and read the original article, it says:

"Ballooning development costs will result in a more expensive Toyota FT-86 when it arrives late next year, according to an insider close to Toyota."

that would be late in 2011? This would, atleast confirm our suspicions that it will be available around the time of the Japanese holiday at the end of the year instead of Jan 2012....nothing special, just noticed it and figured I'd make lemonaid out of the lemons we were given...

[Driftr]

If Toyota decides to water down this model sucking away its Horsepower and weaken it by making it more fuel efficient they WILL lose many buyers maybe including me like everyone else says PRICE MATTERS if the price rises again i will not be able to afford it

[ginog]

If they can increase horsepower and yet still make it fuel efficient some way, then I will still grab it even if its 3G more. But I will turn away if the car becomes all show and no go.

[Driftr]

Still bad news but its only 3k more im sure we can handle it guys

[whaap]

I knew it!!! It was too good to be true. Leave it to Toyota to mess things up when they had a good thing going. I hope this is a more realistic final price - if the cost goes up, I'm out. And really, how many 40 year old do you really see potentially driving this car???

What do you think happens to people when they turn 40? If you think no 40 year old will want this car you'll have to change your diapers when you see this 75 year old driving one.

[Paul]

Good catch on the release date Nemesis!!

$3000 is not going to be that big of a factor for me in the long run, I am much more concerned with the target crowd of this car. Has Toyota completly lost touch with its fans and supporters that it can't realize who will buy this car!??! Just come to this forum for an example of what the average age is of fans of the car!!!

I really hope this doesn't mean we will see some drastic changes to the production FT86 making it look more like a Buick than a track ready sports car!

[bigbird]

at this point, i really dont care if they screw this up (dont think they will) cuz i already have my backup play picked out. it could be "good by FT hello GTS".

[Driftr]

at this point, i really dont care if they screw this up (dont think they will) cuz i already have my backup play picked out. it could be "good by FT hello GTS".

CELICA FTW amazing car iv always wanted one and still do haha

[whaap]

Seriously Toyota??? WTF..... this car is being aimed at 40 year olds now???

Stupid but admittedly funny. So you obviously think that when someone turns 40 they want some kind of a "watered down" vehicle. I'm almost afraid to ask but what do you think a 75 year old would want????

[FT86'er]

Good catch on the release date Nemesis!!

$3000 is not going to be that big of a factor for me in the long run, I am much more concerned with the target crowd of this car. Has Toyota completly lost touch with its fans and supporters that it can't realize who will buy this car!??! Just come to this forum for an example of what the average age is of fans of the car!!!

I really hope this doesn't mean we will see some drastic changes to the production FT86 making it look more like a Buick than a track ready sports car!

Haha it won't be a Buick in any form. I am upset that Toyota raised the price already just because I guarantee we will see the price go up again before it actually hits the market. I am heavily starting to think we will have to pay a minimum $30,000 to get this car bought by the time it is released with this newest price jump

[ft86girl]

I am heavily starting to think we will have to pay a minimum $30,000 to get this car bought by the time it is released with this newest price jump

There goes the "affordable sports car" that we all thought we would be able to get Let's hope that the FT-86 remains affordable for some of us...