Toyota Press Event Hints at More Radical Lexus Platforms

Toyota recently held a press event in Japan to show off a couple rolling projects they’ve been working on behind the scenes. As you may remember, over the summer, Toyota hinted at bringing back the MR-2 and Celica with an all-new Toyota-designed 2-liter turbo. Now the MR-2 & Celica weren’t there… but here’s what WAS…

The Toyota 2-liter turbo…

And – it was stuffed into a current-model Lexus IS. We’re talkin’ the new, high-output 2.0-turbo making 400hp! In the Lexus IS demo car, the engine was mated to a quick-shifting 8-speed auto. But that’s not all…

There was also a Toyota Hilux (Tacoma) in attendance…

The Hilux had a 300hp variant of the 2-liter turbo AND it was mated to a manual transmission. It seems to be Toyota’s way of showing what we already knew, that manual transmissions have a home in Toyota’s diverse future. And here’s my favorite part…

Lurking in the shadows…

Not part of the event, but also not completely concealed, was a 2nd Lexus: A Lexus RC boasting a 600hp version of the new Toyota’s 2-liter turbo. What’s more? This Frankenstein Lexus RC had a MANUAL TRANSMISSION! Toyota claims the Lexus RC was built for motorsports. But c’mon – stick-shifts have become virtually obsolete in modern/professional racing. Unless this was a one-off project for Akio Toyoda or Koji Sato… I’m not totally buyin’ it. And you know what? I don’t think they necessarily want that story fully bought. Rather, I think they’re urging the underground to read between the lines here. So let’s do that…

I think there’s a solid chance some sauce is on the horizon for Lexus…

Unless (devil’s advocate) Toyota only used the RC because it’s a front-engine RWD platform… similar to what the new Celica would be. Why else would they be messing with manual transmissions behind Lexus badges, behind closed doors? On a similar topic, I talked to a Lexus Motorsports exec last year. And I ended up slipping into a rant about how the 90’s/2000’s tuner generation has grown into the Lexus demographic/age-bracket. And that lot of us feel a sense of loyalty towards Toyota’s leadership in a lost automotive industry. We just wish the Lexus brand would loosen its tie a little bit! To put it eloquently – I was saying that Lexus should flex some muscle & drag BMW’s d!ck through the dirt. And as I’m ranting-away, the Lexus-man’s nod, eyes, & grin are virtually completing my sentences as he says, “Just wait… it’s coming.”

It’s still mad-scientist lab work at this point…

But this is a strong indication that future Lexus models might also come with the high-horsepower 2-liter turbo. And fingers crossed that we’ll see manual transmissions grace Lexus platforms once again. One of the people hosting this event put the new 2-liter turbo at the same table with the legendary 2JZ. Meaning, they believe in the potential of this one. It’s energizing to see Toyota / Lexus working with this kind of fire.

As a car nation, we’re out here, waiting for a revolution over applianced automobiles. Car enthusiasts stand behind Toyota & Lexus. They’ve earned our admiration. We want new vehicles like these… we just have to find a way to bring these cars to market at a price that doesn’t fizzle demand & ability. It’s time for the masses to get re-exposed to the pure joys of driving.