Toyota Cheap RWD Compact Coupe in the Works (GTChannel.com)

Toyota Cheap RWD Compact Coupe in the Works (GTChannel.com)


sorry, couldn't find a bigger picture...

http://www.gtchannel.com/content.php?cid=4243

"Toyota can thank the crazy exchange rate for its premature rise to number one. With that the company seems to be making more aggressive decisions, surely to increase the distance between its number one spot and GM. Its latest move seems to be going away from its bland vanilla image and into something a little sexier. We’ll concede that Toyota makes great, affordable and reliable vehicles, but anything is better than the company’s current image.

Japanese sources have indicated that Toyota is seriously considering selling a cheap rear-wheel drive sports coupe. Maybe the advent of drifting and rebirth of rear-drive cars has slapped Toyota squarely in the face to make an affordable FR car.

By “cheap” we’re not talking in the realm of the Nissan 350Z or even Mazda RX-8. Toyota is talking about introducing an FR, four-seater sports coupe for well under 20K, how’s about $16,000 USD sound? Yes, that’s insane as the Scion tC is already at that pricepoint with a front-wheel drive platform. Even Kei cars cost more than this in Japan.

The tC could be used as a test vehicle for an upcoming FR car, but it might be more work than its worth. What would be the chosen powerplant and transmission? Unless the vehicle loosely based on the IS platform, there’s no donor cars for this cheapy RWD coupe. Let’s see how much fat Toyota can cut out of a car that tops out near 50K, fully loaded.

And the price has to stay down. This vehicle is aimed directly at younger buyers who want into the sports compact market. Can Toyota produce a profitable rear-drive coupe within this range? We aren’t certain, but we do know that it appears Toyota may be trying to rekindle the fun factor of the mid-‘80s Corolla sh*tbox."

I don't think that site likes Toyota too much...

would it really take that much money to convert the TC to a RWD car?

It'll be built on a modified Subaru platform according to the latest rumours i've read...

95% of automotive sites/reviewers/television shows/magazines don't like Toyota. I personally think Motor Trend is funded entirely by GM, lol.

I still haven't heard anything regarding this car via any of my fairly reliable sources. I know more about who the likely candidate will be when it comes time for a diesel Tundra than I do any Toyota branded RWD car.