Last summer Toyota decided to kill the slow-selling Camry Solara Coupe, but continued production of the drop-top version. Production of the drop-top Solara stopped in December, but Toyota had hoped to restart production.
"I think there was some hope that eventually during the spring/summer months the market would bear a need," says TEMA spokesman Rick Hesterberg. "We kept the tooling, just waiting to see, but that never came to fruition."
It was originally planned that the Solara Convertible would remain in production for another two years since Toyota did not have any other convertibles in its lineup. Apparently there were also some buyers that still desired the car.
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Comments (13)
Toyota neglected it, not giving it the 3.5 V-6 from the 07+ Camry, nor did they restyle it in 07 to match the Camry's muscular new looks..
Posted by Noya | June 11, 2009 1:14 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 13:14
The 1st gen Solara 5spd V6 was an awesome car, especially equiped with the TRD Supercharger, lip kit, and wheels.
The 2nd gen turned into a bloated boat with automatic only. They should have just slapped a buick label on the back, marketed it to 70 year old women and call it a day.
Posted by Ravicai | June 11, 2009 1:21 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 13:21
@Ravicai: My grandma drives a WAY cooler convertible than a Solara... give those 70 year olds some taste credit :)
@Noya: agreed. Perhaps if they had used the Lexus IS platform, which can do RWD and AWD, they might have had a decent sporty convertible. The current model is way too bubbly for my taste.
Posted by Paul | June 11, 2009 2:03 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 14:03
It was a lukewarm seller at best here in the Northeast. And the 2'nd Gen was horrible for sure, which probably didn't help sales. Everything behind the doors on it is not pleasing to the eye. I see far more Mustang and Audi convertibles from the same years.
Maybe Toyota decided that sales numbers wouldn't cover the costs of a real re-tooling, and went with the cheap massage. Too bad, now flop top buyers have fewer options. Ford and Audi leading the pack i'm guessing.
I'm a bit surprised Hyundai/Kia hasn't released a ragtop. It's been a while since America has seen an econo-convertible.
Posted by Trooper Bri | June 11, 2009 5:39 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 17:39
Now Toyota has no two door coupe - (except for the Yaris hatchback). No wonder their cars skew old -- unlike Honda's Accord and Civic coupes, and Nissan's two door Altima.
They need an edgier design team. Aside from their trucks and SUVs, if you want a sportier car, I'd go to the aforementioned competitors.
I remember reading (on this site) that the new Corolla was going to have a coupe version. Whatever happened to that?
Posted by mike | June 11, 2009 6:00 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 18:00
Now Toyota has no two door coupe - (except for the Yaris hatchback). No wonder their cars skew old -- unlike Honda's Accord and Civic coupes, and Nissan's two door Altima.
They need an edgier design team. Aside from their trucks and SUVs, if you want a sportier car, I'd go to the aforementioned competitors.
I remember reading (on this site) that the new Corolla was going to have a coupe version. Whatever happened to that?
Posted by mike | June 11, 2009 6:03 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 18:03
Now Toyota has no two door coupe - (except for the Yaris hatchback). No wonder their cars skew old -- unlike Honda's Accord and Civic coupes, and Nissan's two door Altima.
They need an edgier design team. Aside from their trucks and SUVs, if you want a sportier car, I'd go to the aforementioned competitors.
I remember reading (on this site) that the new Corolla was going to have a coupe version. Whatever happened to that?
Posted by mike | June 11, 2009 6:06 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 18:06
Whatever happened to hitting the post button only once? I know I'm a tool.
Posted by Noya | June 12, 2009 4:45 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 04:45
@Noya: there seems to be some sort of scripting bug on TR. When you post, sometimes you get either a blank screen, or an error. If you hit refresh, it seems to post again, and again etc
Don't hit refresh, and reload the main page, and you seem to only post once.
Posted by Paul | June 12, 2009 8:13 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 08:13
@ Paul: Touche! hehe
Yeah, the reply script is definitely fubar'ed. I usually just hit 'reply' and leave the window open and keep browser on another window. After like 5 minutes, the post finally goes through =P It's been like that for a few months.
Posted by Ravicai | June 12, 2009 12:47 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 12:47
@NOYA
"the camrys muscular new looks"????????? hahahahaha thats hilarious! wow..... what has the world come to?
Posted by Phil | June 13, 2009 7:14 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 07:14
No surprise, Toyota's ugly car..
Posted by Think | June 15, 2009 11:45 AM
Posted on June 15, 2009 11:45
The first Generation Solara was a dead on hit. This second generation Solara tried to borrow to many ques from Infinity and lost its way inside and out.
I agree that the Muscular Camry of today would have translated into a perfect Monte Carlo Fighter for Toyota but they dropped the ball. Giving up the Nascar Fanatic and Casual Fan.
Posted by Vengance | June 22, 2009 8:51 AM
Posted on June 22, 2009 08:51