REPORT: Toyoda says Lexus LF-A on time and headed for America, reconfirms Toyobaru
Lexus LF-A Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
There's a new sheriff in town at Toyota, and he's wasting no time in making his presence felt at the World's Largest Automaker. Fortunately, that finally means a return to building fun-to-drive cars after years of offering virtually nothing to tempt the enthusiast market. We can only hope that some of that sporting DNA finds its way into the rest of the automaker's staid lineup as well.
"The severe drop in the economy and auto market has created some of the most challenging times Toyota has ever faced," says new Toyota Prez Akio Toyoda. "I aim to take us back to what made Toyota successful for many years – making high-quality products at an affordable price."
According to Toyoda, two of the most eagerly anticipated (non-hybrid) vehicles from Toyota in years are moving ahead at full steam. First of all, the seemingly forever-delayed Lexus LF-A sportscar is back on track and headed Stateside. Secondly, Toyoda reconfirmed earlier reports that the planned affordable sportscar made in partnership with Subaru is on its way within the next few years. Finally, change we can believe in!
Gallery: Lexus LF-A Concept
[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
dwightB 8:03PM (8/06/2009)
In before requisite Autoblog Lexus hate.
Reply
zamafir 9:33PM (8/06/2009)
I'm actually thinking lexus did a smart thing with FR layout. There's pretty much no competition in that exact segment save the ZR1, 599GTB, and a few others. If they're quicker than either, I'm sure they'll get what they're asking.
fixitfixitstop 10:29AM (8/07/2009)
firsties still suck.
Autblogist! 8:14PM (8/06/2009)
This car is so long in the tooth, it's like I've seen it in a previous lifetime.
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JDM Life 11:12PM (8/06/2009)
Supra maybe?
Brandon 11:36PM (8/06/2009)
No longer then it took for the Camaro to be released and that wont have the tech the LF-A will.
requiem 8:21PM (8/06/2009)
Toyoda...?
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dwightB 8:26PM (8/06/2009)
Yes, Toyoda. Akio Toyoda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Toyoda
BTW, reading comprehension > you
leunamme 8:26PM (8/06/2009)
yeah, as in president Akio Toyoda
requiem 8:38PM (8/06/2009)
Okay, I admit it: I skim my news. What an entirely improbable name.
Franz 8:55PM (8/06/2009)
It's not improbable, the company founder's name was Kiichiro Toyoda... Akio's grandfather.
Smeagle 8:56PM (8/06/2009)
The name Toyota is derived from the name Toyoda, as in the company founder Kiichiro Toyoda. I think the name was changed because of the number of characters (in Japanese) to write Toyota was a lucky number. Something like that.
requiem 8:58PM (8/06/2009)
Fair enough. I apologize for skipping Toyo{d,t}a 101 before reading.
Nateb123 11:58PM (8/06/2009)
@smeagle
The difference between ta and da isn't a character's length. They're the exact same character in fact, da just has what looks like a quotation mark on the top right of it. Same for chi and ji, tsu - zu, te - de, to - do. So alas, that tale you heard is rubbish.
jurm 1:29AM (8/07/2009)
@ Nateb123
which is true if you're speaking specifically of the katakana or the hiragana. However, names are typically written with kanji (with hiragana characters being added only when necessary); which makes the number of characters quite unpredictable to anyone not intimately familiar with Japanese.
In other words, the story may very well be true.
neutralgear 5:47PM (8/07/2009)
@ Jurm
In the case of Kanji, that is even more untrue. Each character in Kanji typically has one character representing a syllable. Never has one syllable been represented by two kanji characters ever.
sid 8:27PM (8/06/2009)
I want this car success solely for the reason that I want Honda executives to be kicking themselves for not producing an NSX replacement. I hope they get injured.
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cjjtahoe 8:38PM (8/06/2009)
I second that, sir!
Azrael4h 9:04PM (8/06/2009)
I want BOTH cars to be a success. But mostly, the small, RWD 4 banger car. Especially if they can turn a healthy profit off of it.
We need to get rid of these FWD lumps plaguing the world.
fixitfixitstop 10:32AM (8/07/2009)
Well, Acura still hasn't learned their lesson by not adequately replacing the Legend and Legend coupe.