Porqupine82
New member
You'd be surprised what Toyota/Lexus is considering/ignorant/not interested in doing...
For example it appears that the new Toyota CH-R is dropping the diesel option and the representative they spoke with admitted that Toyota is considering reducing their diesel options as time goes on. Toyota/Lexus is more invested in hybrids than anything else these days, they don't seem to realize or care that they have really the only mid-sized BOF SUV left in the market and if they adjusted their planning and execution a little they could stand to take advantage of a niche market that will only grow as lack luster unibody crossovers pollute the market. Rather sad really.
Forgot about the RX-L, that I believe is what they decided to go with rather than start a new TX line if I remember the conversation I had last year with an FTS about it.'
I think when the new Supra comes out an ends up being a hybrid or similar concession like the NSX was it'll be further evidence that Toyota is... hasn't been an innovative brand in a long while.
To be honest, Toyota isn't innovative, because they don't need to be. North America is about 1/6th of their total sales. They want to continue producing things that people buy and if you ask anyone, including people who have never owned a Toyota, who makes the most reliable car, the answer will nearly always be Toyota. They have, for my whole lifetime (26 years) undoubtedly held the reputation of most reliable (be it true or not) auto on the planet. To help show you what I am talking about, here is the most sought after vehicles, by country on the continent of Africa, which is also the poorest continent. Their whole desire is something low maintenance, and reliable. Toyota is interested in what's going to make money in the next decade, and that my friend, is hybrids. People who prefer BOF are a dying breed, nobody needs it, or cares if they have it. You can't blame Toyota for catering to the majority, because we are just a drop in their bucket. They're in the business of making money.