Today we received the most convincing news yet that Toyota is seriously considering a return to its rear wheel drive roots. We thank dear reader Buddy J, who informed us that an unnamed lead project developer at Toyota has contacted Moto Miwa, founder of Club4AG, to ask his readers what they’re looking for in a revived compact sports car. If you haven’t been keeping up with this saga, catch up via this post.
While it’s clear that everyone would like to see a responsive, lightweight, RWD sports coupe, some people want it all. Let’s face it, Toyota will not be able to toss in VVT-i, a 6-speed transmission, LSD and keep the price at a “reasonable” level. In 2008 dollars, a 1985 Corolla GT-S should cost almost $25,000 today.
Frankly, we’d be more than thrilled with a simple, lithe FR sportster that takes styling cues from the AE86 (or first-gen Celica, if it will be badged as such). Weigh in at Club4AG.
VVTi is probably in- base Yarises have it now…
YES, I can finally smell it on the horizon. When Toyota goes this far to help develop a car, it is going to happen. I just hope that they truely listen to the faithful owners of AE86’s and other vintage Toyotas, this is cruical. Unless they give us what we ask for in a resonable package that can be built under modern requirements, they it won’t bring us back to the dealership. If they do build it like that, I may have to plan on seeing the dealer for some possible car payments.
nlpnt – very good point. We should have clarified what we meant by “reasonable.” People on Club 4AG were demanding all those things and a price tag of under $20,000. That would be impossible in today’s dollars.