According to the Automotive News Toyota has dropped the successor to the Supra from its product plans due to the high mpg requirements in the US.
In addition to the death of the Supra it looks like the FJ Cruiser will only be around for one generation. Toyota only has plans to continue producing the 4-Runner, which the FJ Cruiser shares its platform with. Expect the FJ Cruiser to only continue out its current lifecycle which is only a few more years. The 4-Runner will be new for 2010.
In other Toyota news, Toyota is going to unveil an all-new Prius next January that will launch in the Spring as a 2010 model. The next-gen Prius will feature nickel-metal hydride batteries. Toyota is still working on the lithium-ion batteries, so there will not be a plug-in Prius when the new hybrid launches. The Prius will get a bump in power by ditching the Yaris' 1.5L four-cyl for the 1.8L that powers the Corolla.
The Camry is expected to get a refresh for 2010 and a full redesign for 2012. The (ugly) Camry Solara coupe is expected to be dropped by the end of the year, but the convertible will continue for at least two more years.
Toyota's upcoming sports coupe that is being built in conjunction with Subaru is expected to feature rear wheel drive and all-wheel-drive as an option. Subaru is going to provide the engine and basic platform for the coupe that should be here by 2012, at the earliest.
In regards to Toyota's truck and SUV lineup the Tundra and Sequoia will get a new 4,6L V8 to replace the older 4.7L. The engine features 30 more horsepower and about a 2 mpg improvement on the highway. A heavy-duty diesel version of the Tundra has been put on hold.
The all-new Venza crossover, which is based on the Camry platform is going to launch this fall with a 2.7L four-cyl engine. A hybrid Venza is planned for 2012. The Highlander is also going to receive this engine for 09' due to demand for more 4-cylinder models.
Lastly the Sienna minivan is going to not see a redesign until the fall of 2009 as a 2010 model. A hybrid version is expected for the 2012 model year.
Full Story: eGMCarTech
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Comments (31)
first
Posted by first | August 15, 2008 3:45 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 15:45
An import fan somewhere just peed himself
Posted by haha | August 15, 2008 4:38 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 16:38
secundo
Posted by jettto | August 15, 2008 4:41 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 16:41
wait, was the FT-HS the "next gen Supra" or was that a different car (cause the img is the FT-HS..)? Cause this is pretty disappointing -
"We're not making a next gen Supra, but you can experience the awesomeness of the Venza in its place!"
I know that it takes time to design and test new cars, but come on, Toyota, how about releasing some of those awesome concept cars sonner, especially the Sports Coupe?
Posted by Eddie | August 15, 2008 4:42 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 16:42
second? why are we counting and who's keeping track?
Anyways, by the time Toyota is ready to introduce the next Supra we might be using jetpacks or something to get around. Seems like they're killing of a lot of their iconic models just to make a statement. I really don't think anyone is going to buy a Toyota just because they have most fuel efficient fleet... unless said person was buying one of each Toyota model.
Posted by Jason | August 15, 2008 5:09 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 17:09
Any chance the FJ Cruiser will be a collectors item 10 to 15 years after its dead?
Posted by Tim | August 15, 2008 6:11 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 18:11
Well in general Toyota is pushing toward a very efficient and lean selection of vehicles. Think of them focusing on having cars people buy like the domestics did with suv's.
Yeah Toyo has some iconic models out there, so does/did every company. Nissan had the 300ZX twin turbo up against Supra twin turbo...and the list could go on and on. But like most companies all the "good" cars are in the past.
No one really goes, oh hell yeah I want an 80's or 90's model domestic (with maybe the exception being Mustang, Camaro, and Corvette) (which 2 of are cheap for the power). Until the market and world stabilizes I think Toyota is best off keeping to what people will want in the foreseeable 1-3 years (or off loading things to other companies like Subaru :-).
Posted by Brian | August 15, 2008 6:37 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 18:37
Thank God they decided not to produce the next Supra. That's all I needed to see on the streets, a drivable Dyson Vac....
Besides Toyota has been slipping in the quality department for years now, so why bring out an iconic name brand just to have to plagued with problems.....
BTW, if some Toyota lovin freak didn't pee their pants at the title, they surely will pee themselves after reading my comment!!
Posted by Andrew | August 15, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 18:39
Jason, you give them too much credit. It's not to make a statement, the news & the leftsided weenies do that for them. They don't want to make too many low volume cars, because it's not profitable. That's all, it's about money. I know all you Japanese-blind will doubt, but it's the truth. Whatever happened to the Corolla coupe, the all-trac celica, the celica for that matter.
Money, it's all money...
Posted by argumentative | August 15, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 18:39
Toss the MR2 in there as well.
Of course on the flip side they did create Scion...and while that's probably a "division" or something they could spin off if need be it still takes resources.
And frankly outside of the Tc (which is nothing more than a body kit for a Camry) they seem lack luster at best. I do see the occasional Xb rolling around, but very few Xa and Xd's.
(though I would have loved to see an Xa with the 2zz-ge engine out of the Celica GTS)
Posted by Brian | August 15, 2008 7:04 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 19:04
Why cancel the FJ? I see tons of them around here... ah, well.
A shame they're canceling any chance of fun for Toyota in the future. What can ya do?
Posted by Joan of Arc | August 15, 2008 9:12 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 21:12
If that was it I'm glad.
Posted by RX-7 Guy | August 15, 2008 9:53 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 21:53
no supra ... you bastards.
Posted by TrainRekS | August 15, 2008 10:56 PM
Posted on August 15, 2008 22:56
@ argumentative:
i agree with you 110%... its always about the money. there is very little room for models that don't make a profit. one reason why the US doesn't get any cool hatchbacks and diesels... too many dumb americans won't buy them.
i do take offense to the leftsided weenies comment though. i'm more of a liberal than a conservative but i love fast cars. i hate that alot of car companies are eliminating their performance mdoels... but everything comes and goes with time i guess.
Posted by anon | August 16, 2008 8:50 AM
Posted on August 16, 2008 08:50
@anon:
"one reason why the US doesn't get any cool hatchbacks and diesels... too many dumb americans won't buy them."
Americans can't buy what isn't there. In the past that may have been true, but now with fuel prices so high I believe a lot of Americans would buy diesels -- if there were any!
I am amazed at the number of diesels that I see on Top Gear (UK). And the funny thing is that they pay a premium for "petrol" engines while in the U.S. we pay a premium for the (very, very few) diesels. If car manufacturers sold diesels for the $2-3k less like in the UK, I don't think dealers would be able to keep them in stock.
Posted by Icester | August 16, 2008 9:15 AM
Posted on August 16, 2008 09:15
I want to make love to the tail pipes!
Posted by lowest iq | August 16, 2008 9:19 AM
Posted on August 16, 2008 09:19
I have already documented my disgust for M3 drivers on this site, well, let's just say I have a similar feeling against Supra drivers. I am so glad there won't be a new version for that damn car. Something about these car's (supra, M3) fan boys and owners that annoys the hell out of me.
Not to keep it limited to my Supra and M3 disdain, but any driver with a garbage can size tail pipe on his car needs to go you know where. And, any car with a 747 size rear spoiler can go there as well.
Posted by SlowandMellow | August 16, 2008 10:06 AM
Posted on August 16, 2008 10:06
@ anon
If you like fast cars, you're not nearly left enough for me to be talking about you. It also appears to me that you have a hypocrite-free streak going (by the ability to tell the truth about your car-habit). I'm sure you actually talk about cars in facts not 'common knowledge'.
In fact, I can't think of any regular poster to whom I am referring (watch, one will remind me now...)
Posted by argumentative | August 16, 2008 6:26 PM
Posted on August 16, 2008 18:26
Dont think this vehicle does well in pedestrian collisions with headlights like that. Looks like they would tear a mans leg off. :P
Posted by ...!!!... | August 16, 2008 6:47 PM
Posted on August 16, 2008 18:47
@icester
true... you can't buy what they don't offer. however, they do offer diesels and hatchbacks from time to time but no one buys them... hence the statements earlier about "it's about the money". a car company is not going to sell more diesels and hatchbacks if they do not sell well. why would they want to offer a full range of these products if no one is going to buy them? the cars would just sit in the lot looking pretty.
Posted by anon | August 17, 2008 7:33 AM
Posted on August 17, 2008 07:33
I thought they will make sport car and they don't so...everything else just i don't care about.
Posted by Luka | August 17, 2008 9:14 AM
Posted on August 17, 2008 09:14
@SlowandMellow:
i don't think you can compare a twin turbo supra with a clapped out honda civic with a 4" exhaust tip... they aren't even on the same planet. same goes for a 300zx... even the m3 is in a class unto itself. just because there a a few [relative to the total population of m3 owners] a**holes that own the car does not make it a bad car. i know plenty of a**holes driving toyota corollas, nissan versas, honda accords, etc. it's funny how people like to stereotype people with the car they own or drive. i know plenty of nice, thoughtful people driving chevy tahoes and polite, responsible people driving twin turbo 300z's. on the same token, i know people who are the complete opposite driving the same cars.
just remember, there are enough idiots in the world to make anything look bad :)
Posted by anon | August 17, 2008 11:24 AM
Posted on August 17, 2008 11:24
@ anon
"just remember, there are enough idiots in the world to make anything look bad".
You said it!
Posted by argumentative | August 17, 2008 12:52 PM
Posted on August 17, 2008 12:52
So I guess the rumors of making the next gen supra a hybrid were just that.. rumors. I think they could somewhat easily make a lighter weight model that was still decent (for a sports car) on gas. The 4th gen supra was a real porker at 3505 lbs, so it needed big HP numbers to make it fast. The supra was 10.95 lbs per hp. If they could make a 2200lb car with 205 hp it would have the same power to weight ratio. I know making a 2200lb car isn't trivial or cheap, but 2700lbs and 250 hp would also make the same power to weight etc. Lotus can't be the only car company in the world that can make a lightweight car that passes government crash standards!
Posted by Paul | August 18, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on August 18, 2008 10:05
Grats all you SUV haters who supported recent CAFE changes, you just killed the next Supra.
Posted by Chris | August 18, 2008 11:11 AM
Posted on August 18, 2008 11:11
It's too bad that Toyota can't come up with a way to compete with a car that has a 60 year old engine design and a 200 year old suspension design.
Posted by Darmok | August 19, 2008 7:00 AM
Posted on August 19, 2008 07:00
There is a mistake in this article. The 4cyl Venza won't be released until 1st quarter 09.
Posted by sp00g1 | August 19, 2008 12:07 PM
Posted on August 19, 2008 12:07
the fj is awesome i see tons of themits the best competitor to jeep toyota will ever get but maybe they will decide to keep it automakers change their minds a lot
Posted by kelly | September 15, 2008 3:31 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 15:31
the fj is the best competitor to jeep that toyota has so why would they cancel it but maybe they wont automakers change their minds a lot
Posted by maddie | September 15, 2008 3:33 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 15:33
the fj is the best competitor to jeep that toyota has so why would they cancel it but maybe they wont automakers change their minds a lot
Posted by maddie | September 15, 2008 3:34 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 15:34
the fj is the best competitor to jeep that toyota has so why would they cancel it but maybe they wont automakers change their minds a lot
Posted by maddie | September 15, 2008 3:34 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 15:34