2011 Tokyo Auto Show: Toyota 86 Trying to Revive the Drive

Akio had me the moment he said "I like the smell of gasoline and sound of an engine" the 86 is the best thing to happen to Toyota since Akio. when toyota inevitably goes back to making only beige cars in the future well all speak fondly of the Akio era.

I think I prefer the more shark-like face of the Toyota/Scion. The two troughs (not sure what else to call them) that run from the bottom of the headlights down to the lower grille help to make the nose look pointer somehow. Who knows. Maybe it's just me. I wouldn't kick either out of my garage, and I really excited to finally be able to go for a test drive.

"He's worried that today's kids are more interested in their phones than they are in their cars."

As if Mr. Akio Toyoda didn't contribute to this problem...

Akio Toyoda > Your CEO
BD

'Tis a worthy goal, but that's really the least they could do since the non-drivers they pandered to and nurtured and even encouraged to be non-drivers were responsible for the unintended acceleration debacle, which prompted politicians to call for more electronic nanny mandates, encouraging people to be even more removed from the driving process as a result. On the other hand, I can think of a certain other manufacturer that has been fighting the good fight without ceasing.

The 86 and its not-in-any-way-badge-engineered-clones are a good first step and indeed sound like a very good car(s?) but that is all they had better be, a first step in Toyota's return to making actual cars to drive.

I love it - except the rear bumper. Desperately needs a wing. My departed '00 Celica GT-S had the same fat bumper offset by a rather large spoiler. Celica's w/o the spoiler look just plain wrong and out of proportions.