A diminished Tokyo auto show had much less wackiness - instead, our favorite concepts were two small sports cars solidly grounded in reality.
Toyota FT-86
Toyota's long-anticipated joint venture with Subaru, reported dead not long ago but now evidently back on track, is supposed to generate a boxer-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe for each brand. The FT-86 concept is a boxer-engine (2.0 liters, four cylinders), rear-wheel-drive sport coupe. Coincidence? We think not. At 163.8 inches long, the FT-86 - whose name references the mid-1980s AE86 Corolla coupe - is more than half a foot shorter than the last Celica but is an inch wider and slightly lower. Toyota's brass knows that sports cars are the company's great deficiency. Interestingly, although the megabucks Lexus LFA had its debut at the same show, that car was shunted off to a dark corner while the sleek FT-86 concept basked in the spotlight. Introducing the FT-86, Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda recalled some of the company's previous sports cars, adding: "The fact that none of these vehicles is still being produced makes me, a serious car fan, really sad." Based on what we see here, when production of Toyota's new sports cars begins at Subaru's factory in late 2011, Mr. Toyoda's frown will turn upside down.
Toyota FT-86
Toyota's long-anticipated joint venture with Subaru, reported dead not long ago but now evidently back on track, is supposed to generate a boxer-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe for each brand. The FT-86 concept is a boxer-engine (2.0 liters, four cylinders), rear-wheel-drive sport coupe. Coincidence? We think not. At 163.8 inches long, the FT-86 - whose name references the mid-1980s AE86 Corolla coupe - is more than half a foot shorter than the last Celica but is an inch wider and slightly lower. Toyota's brass knows that sports cars are the company's great deficiency. Interestingly, although the megabucks Lexus LFA had its debut at the same show, that car was shunted off to a dark corner while the sleek FT-86 concept basked in the spotlight. Introducing the FT-86, Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda recalled some of the company's previous sports cars, adding: "The fact that none of these vehicles is still being produced makes me, a serious car fan, really sad." Based on what we see here, when production of Toyota's new sports cars begins at Subaru's factory in late 2011, Mr. Toyoda's frown will turn upside down.
Honda CR-Z
The Honda stand featured everything from an EV-Cub to a butane-powered garden tiller, but the bright spot both for enthusiasts and environmentalists was the CR-Z Concept 2009. Name notwithstanding, the CR-Z is very close to what we'll see in production come fall 2010. Featuring a 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder paired with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist, nickel-metal-hydride batteries, and a six-speed manual, it promises to be the most engaging green vehicle on the market this side of a Tesla Roadster. Styling for the two-seater (or two-plus-two in Japan) hews closely to that of the 2007 concept, but the wheelbase has been shortened to improve handling. The original concept's swoopy interior has, predictably, been largely replaced with parts found in the Civic and the Fit. The car won't be a straight-line rocket, but we nevertheless expect it to offer all the cheap thrills of the original CRX. Look for the actual production model at the Detroit show. Enjoy the CR-Z, because it's likely the only sporty product we'll see from Honda in the near future.
The Honda stand featured everything from an EV-Cub to a butane-powered garden tiller, but the bright spot both for enthusiasts and environmentalists was the CR-Z Concept 2009. Name notwithstanding, the CR-Z is very close to what we'll see in production come fall 2010. Featuring a 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder paired with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist, nickel-metal-hydride batteries, and a six-speed manual, it promises to be the most engaging green vehicle on the market this side of a Tesla Roadster. Styling for the two-seater (or two-plus-two in Japan) hews closely to that of the 2007 concept, but the wheelbase has been shortened to improve handling. The original concept's swoopy interior has, predictably, been largely replaced with parts found in the Civic and the Fit. The car won't be a straight-line rocket, but we nevertheless expect it to offer all the cheap thrills of the original CRX. Look for the actual production model at the Detroit show. Enjoy the CR-Z, because it's likely the only sporty product we'll see from Honda in the near future.
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