Toyota Corolla Axio GT

Since the demise of the Celica and MR2, it has become all too easy to criticise Toyota for the distinct lack of anything of interest to the keen driver within its vehicle portfolio. While Celicas from the 70s, Hachirokus from the 80s, and Supras from the 90s are now revered as collectors items, it is almost unthinkable that any of the offerings within Toyota's current line up will garner the same level of affection from the automotive community in years to come.
Despite the current unprecedented state of affairs which sees Toyota facing its first operating loss in 71 years - and what a loss it is expected to be, at 400 Billion Yen ($4 Billion) - there are signs that something of a quiet revolution may be taking place at the company; a revolution which could see some of the desirability and excitement restored to its product line. The first glimmer of hope comes in the form of Toyota's soon to be inaugurated new president, Akio Toyoda, an inveterate petrolhead, who has not only participated in the Nürburgring 24-Hours, but who has also taken a lead role in the development of Lexus' performance derivatives, the IS-F and LF-A.

There are however more palpable signs of the sea change currently afoot within Toyota. While other Japanese manufacturers race to extricate themselves from their global motorsport commitments, Toyota continues to push ahead with plans for a full season of worldwide motorsport in 2009. One could even go as far as saying that Toyota is expanding its motorsport presence in 2009. Indeed, when the Japanese Super GT Championship kicks off later today at Okayama International Circuit, the dated and unsightly Lexus SC430, which has competed in the GT500 class since 2006, will be joined on the grid by Toyota's new challenger in the GT300 class - the Corolla Axio apr GT.

This is not however merely motorsport for motorsport's sake. There is growing evidence to suggest that this increased motorsport activity is filtering back into Toyota's road car line-up, for, slipping imperceptibly under the radar in February, Toyota launched its new Corolla Axio GT, directly influenced by its new GT300 challenger and aiming to revive the lightweight, sporting spirit of the Corolla, not seen since the days of the AE86.
On paper and aesthetically the GT certainly seems to herald a return to sporting form for Toyota. Its 1.5l powerplant has been breathed on by TRD (Toyota Racing Development), and now includes a custom turbo and intercooler unit, in addition to a revised ECU. These modifications help to push power up to 150ps, while torque stands at a not inconsiderable 196Nm. Meanwhile, the GT's handling should prove to have been suitably ameliorated by way of a full TRD sports suspension, damper and anti-roll bar package. Visually, the car is distinguished from its inferior brethren by a somewhat menacing black mesh grille, imposing front spoiler and 17-inch alloy wheels. For those of you that remain unconvinced, delving into the options list enables the transformation of the GT into an even more extreme sporting proposition, with the addition of a mechanical LSD, high response exhaust and ostentatious TRD graphics.
The word on the ground is that the Axio GT is a worthy rival to the Honda Civic Type-R, despite the Toyota's obvious deficiency in the area of power output. Regardless though, the GT certainly represents a step in the right direction for Toyota, however small that step may be.

Celica & MR2: New Entry Level Sports Cars in the Works at Toyota

Toyota MR-S V-edition Final Version

With production of Toyota's seventh generation Celica having ended in 2006, and with its stable-mate the MR-S (MR2) currently coming to the end of its tenure in Japan with a limited run of 1000 "V-edition Final Version" models, Toyota's vehicle line-up is currently void of any entry level sports cars, with the notable exception of the Scion tC in the North American market.

However, this paucity of sports-orientated product, which seemingly runs counter to the image Toyota is trying to promote with its strong presence in Formula 1, is rumoured to be in the process of being rectified, with plans currently afoot to introduce successors to both of Toyota's legendary entry-level sports cars, the Celica and the MR2, both of which are scheduled to debut in 2009 at the very earliest. However, while the new Celica is expected to be a natural evolution of earlier models, duly adhering to the sporting philosophy of its predecessors, the MR2, although maintaining its guise as an open-top vehicle, will move away from its origins as a driver-focused, mid-engined sports car, to become a slightly softer introductory open-top sports car, aimed at a much wider target audience.

The 7th Generation Celica

The new Celica, at 4420mm in length, 1785mm in width, 1415mm in height, and with a wheelbase of 2700mm, is dimensionally very similar to Scion's current tC, making the probability of the new Celica sharing its platform with the next generation of the tC relatively high. Meanwhile, it is expected that the new Celica will be offered with a choice of two petrol engines: a normally aspirated 2.4litre (2AZ-FE), and a newly developed 2.5litre 4 cylinder DOHC Turbo unit equipped with valvetronic, and producing 300bhp. These engines are likely to be coupled to the next generation of Toyota's SMT, sequential manual transmission, although it is also anticipated that a standard six-speed manual transmission will also be on offer.

With the current third generation MR2 (MR-S) approaching the end of its life after eight years of service, it appears that plans are already progressing at Toyota with regards to a replacement. However, with a change in approach for the new model duly seeing the MR2 shift from enthusiast-orientated mid-engined roadster to more populist, user-friendly open-top sports car, mating a four-seater layout with a retractable metal roof, it seems more than likely that the new model will be released under a new moniker to reflect this shift. Indeed, with MR2 denoting "Mid-ship Runabout 2 Seater" and the new model lacking both a mid-ship engine layout and a two-seater configuration, further scrutiny thus suggests that the MR2 nomenclature stands only the slimmest of chances of finding its way onto the rear of the new model. This new entry-level open-top sports car will be aimed primarily at the North American market, and it is currently anticipated that the new vehicle will share its underpinnings with the Japanese market Mark X sports saloon, duly placing the new car's dimensions at somewhere in the region of: 4450mm(length), 1780mm(width), 1380mm(height), and 2730mm (wheelbase). The new four-seater open-top sports car is also expected to share its 2.5litre V6 powerplant with the base model Mark X, which should endow Toyota's entry level sports car with approximately 230bhp. Prices are anticipated to be somewhere in the region of 2,800,000 to 3,000,000 Yen ($23,500 - 25,000).

Toyota's Mark X Sports Saloon - The Basis for Toyota's Entry Level Open-top Sports Car?

With both of these new Toyota sports cars not scheduled for release until at least 2009, fans of Toyota's more reasonably priced sporty offerings may be in for something of a wait, while Toyota must bide its time before reaping the benefits of the sporting kudos bestowed upon it through its involvement in F1.