Toyota has built a reputation for producing some of the most reliable cars on the road. Cars like the Corolla have sold in record numbers not because it offered something different, but because people just felt that it was the safe and bulletproof choice.
Lately, however, the Japanese carmaker started putting some emotion into its offerings. Mainstream models like the Corolla, Camry, and even the Vios began to have a bit more styling flair. And then there is the 86, which is considered a practical sports car that takes after sporty predecessors like the AE86, Celica, and the Sports 800.
Taking its cue from these nameplates, Toyota just announced that it will be unveiling a sports car line through an event slated for next month in Japan. While the Japanese carmaker declined to provide any further details, reports by Automotive News say that this division will take after the Lexus F Sport high-performance line.
Toyota is no stranger to offering sporty cars, despite its no-nonsense ways and lineup. As mentioned above, the brand has offered such names as the Sports 800, the Celica, MR2, and the Supra. The Supra is set to make a comeback before the year is up, presumably at this year\s Tokyo Motor Show in October. Then there is the MR2, which is rumored to be re-incarnated in the same guise as the S-FR concept of 2015.
Then there is Toyota Racing Development or TRD to you and me. It has been turning everyday Toyotas into sportier high-performance machines for the road and track. And of course, who can miss Gazzo Racing by Meister of the Nurburgring or GRMN. Paying homage to Toyota’s entry into the exciting 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Rally Championship, its latest offering is the limited-run Yaris GRMN hot hatch with a 1.8-liter turbocharged motor that procures 205 horses.
So yes, Toyota does have a sporty side. And we’re about to see it even more once the division is revealed next month. Stay tuned to this space for more details.
