A new compact Toyota sports car priced around $20K
A small two-door rear-drive coupe is being developed to slot beneath the 86 at a price of around $20,000.
According to sources in Japan,
Toyota's mini-coupe – codenamed 69DZ – will employ a 97kW 1.5-litre
engine and tip the scales at around 980kg, giving Toyota another rival
for Mazda's new-generation MX-5.
The 69DZ will pay homage to the Toyota 800 — the car that revolutionised the company's sports car program back in the late 1960s.
“The new coupe’s exterior look was inspired by the Toyota Sports 800 of 1965, but reinterpreted for the 21st Century,” he said.
Some of the 800's key design cues were cleverly reflected in the GT86 Style
Cb (which stands for Cool Beauty) — a concept car that was penned by an
all-girl design team and debuted at the 2013 Tokyo motor show, before it
landed in Japanese showrooms in limited numbers in late April.
“That’s why you will see roundish headlights and a large, signature grille on
the new coupe, The finished product looks like a brother to the Cb
the 69DZ will also employ a
uniquely revised 1.5-litre 2NR-FKE in-line four-cylinder engine based on
the less powerful petrol four seen in Japan's facelifted Corolla.
Direct injection and a revised port design will boost power output by 20
per cent, from 81 to 97kW. Rather than resort to a CVT,
Toyota will offer the mini-coupe with six-speed manual and six-speed
automatic transmissions -- both Aisin units borrowed from the 86. the test driver who will be
responsible for fine-tuning the coupe’s handling is none other than
former World Rally Championship star Tommi Makinen. Well known for his success with
Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution, Makinen has recently been developing cars
with Toyota and the Gazoo Racing 4WD GT86 is the latest model to
benefit from his handiwork, which bodes well for fans of affordable
driver's cars.
Expect the Toyota's ‘69DZ’ baby coupe to go on sale by early 2018, for around the same starting price as the Corolla.
The Iconic Toyota Sports 800
post edited by Ray-MR2 - 2015/05/16 01:47:45