Toyota considering a RWD Corolla again

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Toyota considering return of rear-wheel drive AE86?

Source: Autoblog

Our pals at Winding Road just passed along a note that Toyota might be considering re-releasing the driftastic Corolla Sport. The endearingly tossable rear-wheel-drive AE86 platform was known by many names around the world: Corolla Levin, Sprinter Trueno, Corolla GT and of course the Corolla Sport in the States. Particularly in GT-S trim, it was one of the few sporty models to make its way into Toyota dealerships, alongside the Celica and Supra, and eventually the MR2, which essentially replaced it. But it was fun and cheap, and that set it apart. Available from 1983-1987, it was one of the last affordable rear-drive cars that could take a pounding, making it a favorite of budget street racers and the emerging drift scene in the '80s and '90s.

It looks like the suits at Toyota are close to greenlighting a new version. Apparently the idea has been floated several times over the years with mixed reaction, but it seems to be gaining some momentum lately. There is reportedly some disagreement within the corporate ranks over whether or not it would actually sell, but a few officials appear to be backing it strongly. Must be some Initial D fans up in there. A modernized Hachi-Roku would have to find a suitable rwd platform, but would be a blast to see in the lineup again. Of course, we've had access to AE86 in games like Need For Speed for years now, but getting our hands on the real deal would be sweet. We'll keep our fingers crossed on this one.
 
Sorry, but until the Celica, MR-2, and Supra come back, I refuse to believe they'll build a new RWD Corolla.
 
Until the 'Day of Yahwh' and the reversal comes, I simply cannot see the people at Toyota doing a small 2+2 RWD car ever again... It simply goes against everything that the company stands for these days, particularly their stance against 'fun' in every sense of the word...

If you were to tell me that Nissan was considering a follow-up to the 510, I'd be more likely to believe you...
 
I don't know, it could end up being a Scion model since they are marketing those to young people.
 
Sure, Scion is supposed to be a youth-oriented brand, but why is it that every time I see one it is some AARP member and their Corgi? Scion has turned out to be nothing but a marketing machine for the company, and has only had marginal success in different markets. The updated xB and the new xD attempt to be more 'youthful' than their predecessors, but those 40 and 50-somethings are still going to buy them like hotcakes... And then leave their left-turn indicator on in the fast-lane while doing 40 in a 55...

...And the tC? Yeah, and that was actually supposed to be a good car. Right. Remind me again why that one turned out better than the Cobalt Coupe and hell, even the Civic coupe? Yeah...
 
Something like this though might bring young people to the brand. I know I would consider a cheap 2+2 with RWD that isn't a 2dr Blazer.
 
My guess would be that the only way Toyota would ever consider doing something like this would be if GM greenlighted the Nomad concept for production. It has been my understanding that they have been talking about building some small RWD products, presumably based on smaller versions of the Zeta/VE chassis, or a variation of the Kappa body beneath the Sky/GT/Solstice.

...If the number one automaker does it, chances are, the number two one will do it as well...

That said, BMW would probably be interested in selling you a 128ci in the near-future, but I can't guarantee that it will be "cheap."
 
So why is it all these car companies have it in their head that no one wants small, cheap, RWD cars these days? Other than the Miata, Sky, and Solstice, I can't think of any new cars that fit that bill. They all have it in their heads that small + cheap + cool = FF.

What's the deal?
 
And the Miata, Sky, and Solstice aren't exactly cheap. If a company built a four seat, RWD car, for under 20 grand it would sell just fine....as long as it wasn't called a Mustang and didn't have a live rear axle.
 
It's a great time for Toyota to create a car like this (aforementioned Miata, Solstice/Sky, etc.), but it's highly unlikely Toyota would "lower itself" to create another small, fun car. Besides the fact that they no longer speak "fun"....
 
pwnexplode.gif
 
YSSMAN
...If the number one automaker does it, chances are, the number two one will do it as well...
Click to expand...

Heh, Toyota didn't exactly follow suit when it was time to make shoddy quality cars and shed billions of dollars each year ;). But I will admit GM's on a turnaround (hopefully), and this is a market that needs a revival. Everything else 80's is coming back, anyways.

Race Idiot, I'd agree with most of that except that I don't see how airbags are bad. That and I wouldn't call the MR-S a failure except if I'd like to think in the American mind-frame of more power = better car. A lot of the Euro reviews of the car loved it because the balance and didn't mind missing out on the super-peaky GT-S engine. I personally would love one, but I'm positive they weren't sold here :(.
 
Could be interesting... I doubt anything can ever get as good as the 86 or 510 though. Part of me wants to say it's too easy.
 
It would be nice to see something RWD in their line-up again but seeing the car line-up for the past years? Nnnnnnnope...
 
Actually, a source at my work says it's code-named HPT25, and shall ride close to the ground for a tighter turning radius, perhaps for more fun on switchback roads. It will move those boxy Corolla memories away with ease, and it's quite lightweight.

It's also rumored to have the best of Toyota's safety and performance features; quick-lift pump unit, overload protection valve, fingertip control of all functions, and solid steel, fixed pushrods as a throwback.

More after the jump...
 
Could they adapt the Altezza...the last Altezza...in some way, ALA Chrysler 300C?
 
Actually, the Altezza idea isn't too bad.

Some additional reinforcement to the old chassis, and voila! A modern RWD Toyota!

I do believe Toyota could make one, though, because of this:
Avanza_Front.JPG


It's not the most sophisticated vehicle, and, yes, it's based on a Daihatsu, but this mini-MPV is a unibody, rear-wheel drive vehicle weighing just over a metric ton. Use the platform as a starting point and graft a sedan body onto it (maybe the upcoming Corolla, for better crash-survivability), and you'd have a 2 liter five-door compact weighing in between 1000 kgs to 1200 kgs.

The price, after the additional crash-safety equipment, could be well under 20,000 dollars, considering the donor vehicle is sold for absolute peanuts (it's cheaper than a Yaris). The only problem is the rear suspension is very tight, relying on a beam axle and ultra-compact mounting for economical packaging, but you could probably make something from the AWD Corolla/Matrix rear end fit.
 
^ Hah, hah, the Avanza (aka. the Vios wagon)! That a good one pare! But I will still prefer the Jazz (aka. Fit) w/ a K20. But I do like the Innova thou. (:

BT-> It will be good that Toyota will bring the Hachi-Roku back, but I will doubt that it will come here in the US, maybe in Europe, Japan or Asia. Because all the safety crap that US are implementing are getting ridiculous. It will be another "wonder cars" that won't arrive here in the US (just like the NSX-R, the RX-7 Spirit-R, RS4 Avant, 130i, etc.). :grumpy:
 
We checked the car out at the local launch... I was probably one of the half-dozen or so non-Toyota / non-celebrity attendees who got to drive the Prius there (not really impressed... cool computer display, though) but I didn't get my shot at the V6 Camry (my rep must have preceded me... :lol: ).

At first, we thought the Avanza would be Echo/Yaris/Vios based, just like most small Toyotas. Was shocked to see that it was rear-wheel drive, with a different engine architecture. Even more shocked to see that it was unibody. The car, as is, might not pass US safety laws, but I can imagine that the floor would hold a good sedan body built to US safety standards and a bigger engine without broaching the 1,300 kg limit.
 
I suppose it is about the time of year for this rumor to show up and do a full circle. Once Toyota makes a new car instead of 3 diferent concepts, I'll believe they're gonna try and tap this market.

Face it, if Toyota wanted to make a new GTS, they would have already.

Though, I had a thought. Let's say they did make this thing, who agrees with me they'd market it as a Scion in the states?
 
niky
At first, we thought the Avanza would be Echo/Yaris/Vios based, just like most small Toyotas. Was shocked to see that it was rear-wheel drive, with a different engine architecture. Even more shocked to see that it was unibody. The car, as is, might not pass US safety laws, but I can imagine that the floor would hold a good sedan body built to US safety standards and a bigger engine without broaching the 1,300 kg limit.
Click to expand...

^ Toyota might be toying that Avanza frame and will be the next "AE86", due to its very compact dimensions, uni-body frame, RWD-ready, and very light due to its similar weight characteristics as the original AE86. There might be a glimmer of hope for the next Hachi-Roku. :)
 
Toyota hasn't made a fun car in over 5 years (arguably 2), and a new fun car in over 8. This, while quite technically production feasible, has all the chance of happening as there is of Doug buying a Saab 9-5.
 
Toyota? Sports car? Hang on, my eyes just went cross...

Now then, this story is bollocks. I'll believe Toyota can still build a proper sports car when I see it.
 
I'm getting sick of seeing this story plastered all over the internet.

IT.

WON'T.

HAPPEN.

</doug>
 
Wolfe
I'm getting sick of seeing this story plastered all over the internet.

IT.

WON'T.

HAPPEN.

</doug>
Click to expand...

Pretty much a summation of my feelings in general. I mean, yes, Toyota may play with the idea after growing a pair and finally building some 'super' Lexii, but lets get serious for a moment... We're talking about Toyota. They aren't as bi-polar as Nissan, they aren't as committed to performance as Mazda, and they certainly aren't about basic driving goodness as they are at Honda. Its Toyota. Its the land of the old, and the home of the bored, plain and simple.

...And even if they did build a rear-wheel-drive small-car, it is so likely to be burdened with an outrageous amount of safety equipment and other 'driving aids' that it wouldn't be likely that the car would be allowed to do anything 'fun' at all...

(BTW: The Lexus IS-F? Fun? It should have about as much feedback as the GFP wheel you use on your Playstation, and I'm not sure that will work out well in a class dominated by the RS4, M3, C63, and CTS-V...)
 
<.<

Is toyota in trouble financially?

Why would they change from the boring doddering vehicles that have made them the second largest car company around?
 

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