Toyota's showing in Tokyo was rife with disappointments, none more so than what was over at the Lexus booth. Beyond its LF-Xh hybrid crossover, rumor had it that a revised version of the LF-A supercar would make an appearance. No such luck. Instead, the same show car we've seen over the last year stood alone, longing for refinement.
According to Winding Road's Japan correspondent, the reason for the dismal showing was a shakeup on the engineering side of Lexus' new halo. A number of "key engineers" have apparently been yanked off the project to work on other programs within Toyota, and that, partnered with problems providing power from both a V10 and a gas-electric hybrid V8, along with reaching the 218 MPH targeted top speed, has caused delays in development.
The business plan for the LF-A includes building 26 units per month, and sources suggest that sales are likely to begin in 2009 – the same year Acura will bring its own supercar to market.
[Source: Winding Road]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Joe K. @ Nov 13th 2007 1:44PM
[quote]sources suggest that sales are likely to begin in 2009 – the same year Acura will bring its own supercar to market.[/quote]
Amazingly, also the same year I will lose the last of my remaining interest....
John P. @ Nov 13th 2007 1:45PM
For me, Toyota and Lexus have both been big disappointments in their designs lately. That thing above is just another example. Lexus should stick to sedans. Let Toyota, who actually has some motorsports history, do the sports cars.
cirquo @ Nov 13th 2007 1:56PM
Oversized Toyaita Celica
416Hammy @ Nov 13th 2007 2:03PM
@cirquo
If you're going to say something stupid, at least you can spell it correctly.
"Toyaita"... sheesh
J.Crew @ Nov 13th 2007 1:48PM
Time to bring on the Toyota/Lexus haters... lol
Tool @ Nov 13th 2007 1:56PM
Toyota has completely overloaded itself, hence the engineers being reassigned in a back-to-basics push to get QRD fixed.
A great article about Toyota's problems in the most recent Economist:
A Wobble on the Road to the Top
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10097827
FLR @ Nov 13th 2007 4:19PM
Thanks for posting that article.
I knew Toyota had a lot of recalls....but dayum...they've had something around 6 million + in USA and Japan in the past 3 years.
The article made a point that I've often repeated myself....people buy Toyota's due to perceived quality, when that is gone what reason is there to buy a Toyota?
J.Crew @ Nov 13th 2007 7:25PM
Great article! Thanks for the link, it summerizes all of the real issues that Toyota lovers do not want to accept as truth. Although there was no mention of the old sludge problems...
naggs @ Nov 14th 2007 2:33AM
its true, if toyota's are not high quality then there is absolutely no reason to buy one.
compare this to say BMW, where even when people know that it will not be the most trouble free product they could possible lay their hands on, they still want one. now if bmws started to drive like toyotas, then bmw would be in the same boat.
you only have to look at ford to find out what happens to a brand that has no standout reason or overriding philosophy that shapes the product.
Killenmedpirogen @ Nov 13th 2007 2:05PM
What else is new?
Autoblog keeps hating on Toyota like some rabid monkey on crack.
John P. @ Nov 13th 2007 2:14PM
I don't think it's Autoblog hating on Toyota, I think it's car enthusiasts disappointed with Toyota. I doubt there's one vehicle Toyota or Lexus currently makes that you couldn't find a better alternative elsewhere if you are into cars or trucks and enjoy driving them. Oh, I guess they do have the Prius. LOL
This site is for people into cars after all. Sometimes it looks like Toyota has crossed over into the washing machine business, making competent machines that work well enough, but aren't exactly lustworthy. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Joe K. @ Nov 13th 2007 2:32PM
Rabid Monkeys on crack hate Toyota?
Killenmedpirogen @ Nov 13th 2007 2:42PM
Yes I agree there are alternatives to driving Toyotas like Hondas or Mazdas or some Europeans even.
I also agree that the domestics make cars for inbred baboons LOL.
Lots of LOL.
John P. @ Nov 13th 2007 3:03PM
I guess that makes me and a few others inbred baboons then. Sheesh, you need to lighten up just a bit.
Killenmedpirogen @ Nov 13th 2007 3:27PM
I got carried away there my bad.
I just think there needs to be some kind of counter balance here and a little more objectivity in the "News" reporting.
I love autoblog thought.
Bring us more mustang news please autoblog there are not enough versions of that bloated tractor and its v8.
Phoenix @ Nov 13th 2007 3:31PM
You want counter balance yet you spew insults.
AltairDusk @ Nov 13th 2007 3:36PM
"Yes I agree there are alternatives to driving Toyotas like Hondas or Mazdas or some Europeans even.
I also agree that the domestics make cars for inbred baboons LOL.
Lots of LOL."
You complain of bias and ask for objectivity then make your own extreme bias obvious for all to see... make up your mind.
naggs @ Nov 13th 2007 3:56PM
"Lots of LOL"
so thats what lol stands for!
Maestro1 @ Nov 13th 2007 2:34PM
+1
But I think that if Toyota can't get it right, they should keep it off the market until they do and stop pilfering us with the same prototypes and news bites over and over again.
Plus i'd like to see some affordable sports cars from Toyota again/
Damon Lavrinc @ Nov 13th 2007 2:38PM
We're all about reporting the news -- nothing more. That said, from a personal perspective, the low point during my time at the Tokyo Motor Show was the Toyota/Lexus press conference. Little was revealed and what did come out was wholly underwhelming. You'd think that Toyota would bring out all the stops for its home-town crowd, but it fell flat. Not just my opinion -- it was a bone of contention among many of the media on hand.
All we care about here is good cars. As for me, I own a 3rd gen. MR2 with a 2ZZ swap, so I've got nothing against Toyota -- I just want them to finally bring some excitement. We know they've got the resources, but their focus is obviously lacking.