Google up the Supra HV-R. Instead of batteries it uses lightweight capacitors that recharge quickly and weigh less than lithium ion batteries. I think this technology could be used with a sports car in mind. I don't, however, think it'll help much at all with getting fuel consumption.

 

Just take the IS-F drivetrain, throw in a 6 speed manual, tune it, and get a sporty looking body and sell the car for $50k.

 

Exactly do the same thing Nissan done with the G and Z car. It don't have to be 50k.
Make it on the same platform as the IS with a 6-speed manual or a 8-speed auto. Use the IS-f suspension and sell it between 35-40k. That would bring a lot of 25 to 35 year old males to the show room floor.

 

That would suck. The fact the car would be a V8 would make it harder and more expansive to modify than a turbo car.

 

Cuz what are you talking about the IS don't have no V-8. The Z don't have a V-8 and I've seen a ton of them modified.

 

I say just put as much R&D into the LF-A and target Aston Martin, Ferrari, AMG, etc. and see how the market reacts. They are bound to get a piece of the market share and from the way it appears they aren't having problems in any other line.

 

I think a highly tuned v8 would be very good, it would be the first v8 powered Japanese sports car and would get tons of respect. Toyota does not have any 6 cylinders that would be good to turbo as they no longer make an inline six and their current 6 cylinders are aluminum v6 that are not good candidates for FI. The only 6 cylinder that would make a good turbo engine would be either a brand new inline 6 or flat 6 strengthed for FI or to use the Subaru flat 6 as they have been talking of sharing parts with Subaru. They could turbo a v-8 which would be the best of both worlds but Toyota is way to conservative to do something like that.

 

IMO, Even if its tuned to produce 350HP or even 400HP. It will be a mistake for Toyota to offer an MK-V Supra that doesnt have a turbo option.
Lets face it, The F & F generation will need to be Toyotas primary target audience .....And they will expect to see a turbo.

 

You have to remember what really put the Supra (Mainly the MK4) on the map was its seemingly ealy and cheap performance enhancement. You could pull a vaccum hose line and pretty much gain 100 HP by increasing the boost. Comapred to the cost to turbocharge a V8 the I6 in the Supra seems cheap. If you go the V8 Turbocharge route, not only will the initial cost be higher, but the performance enhancement cost also goes up making it less desireable. Cars like the LF-A, Ferrari, NSX R8 and those that attempt to compete in that class can get away with high initial cost and high aftermerket cost because those cars aren't really meant for aftermarket tuning (At least cheaply). Cars like the Supra, RX-7, GT-R and such are meant for the tunner crowed especially if you are talking about keeping the cost around $40K that some here are wanting.

 

toyota really needs something to compete with the 350z and Infiniti G coupe.

it just needs a killer 2 door coupe in the 30 to 35 thousand range. The solara is just not cutting it and the SC430 is a convertible and out of the price range.

The infiniti G coupe has basically monopolized the mid priced sports luxury coupe market.

 

The current GTR is a aluminum v6 bi-turbo design and produced 480hp. You don't think Toyota could engineer its GR series to match?

 

Yes, but the LF-A is the $100k+ market, not a big market.

a sub $50k is a much bigger market (and hopefully that's what the
Full Time High School will be filling)

I agree that the z/G35 basically owns that segment now.

 

Yea but the only way they can own the Z/G35 segment is by making a hybrid because they can't shift away from being green. I just don't think Lexus should interfere with that market, for an example the past MR2 was a joke FROM THE FACTORY but it had alot of aftermarket potential.

 

Nissan spent a very long time and alot of money to get the V6 to reliably handle the power, several years, I believe they sent it to Cosworth to tune it and help with handling the power. They were having problems all along as the engine was not well suited for FI and not able to handle the power reliably and were debating whether to use the Infiniti v8 in higher tune especially for the American market. It is still not certain as to whether this will be a reliable powerplant and it is pretty much certain it won't be able to handle the aftermarket high hp tuning like the last cast iron I6.

I don't think Toyota would go through all the trouble to get their engines to be able to handle the horsepower as they just are not interested in performance cars anymore, only sales numbers and how practical all the effort is and whether its going to pay off. They would much rather just build another SUV, crossover, pickup to fill another small gap in their already ridiculous crowded lineup of SUVs, crossovers, and trucks and it will be bought in droves from the masses who are not interested in high performance sports cars.

 

I read that the ECU looks out if it senses a mod. I guess it all makes sense now.