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And just when you thought that the largest Japanese car manufacturer would die in politically correct automotive boredom, it goes “boom” and “bang” and the Toyota GT86 comes onto the scene. Even if the word “driving fun” is a German word – “driving fun” in itself is not an invention from Germany… right?
Driving pleasure in Japanese
Boxer engine, 200 hp, rear-wheel drive and a fair price of around € 30.000 - the driving pleasure savior is ready for a wide range of driving pleasure addicts. In my blog I described how much fun the GT 86 makes driving.
And fortunately, Toyota, in addition to the sustainable and the environment-friendly hybrid vehicles, has yet to reflect on a second property. And so spoke the CEO, Akio Toyoda in his own words:
“If it’s not fun, then it’s not a Toyota.”
The GT 86 is just the most obvious variant of the “driving fun offensive” from Japan. The Japanese manufacturer also remembers old virtues with the other models.
1.) The GT86 - he has to drift
Admittedly, the drift on the wet circular plate doesn't make much sense. But all the more fun Turning in, accelerating, counter-steering. That's the theory. But the slight slope of the circular path and the changing road surface make the exercise more difficult than initially thought. While the rear axle of the GT86 builds up enough grip on dry asphalt and you can only initiate a drift using brute force, the watered concrete slab allows moody drift angles. While the instructor is bored after the 33rd lap in the drift and moves away from the little hat circle with a slight twist, you can recognize the drift novices by their impulsive 180 ° turn. Once, twice and with a little talent, the third attempt is good for the first half round of the cones.
On the third attempt, I manage the full lap before the changing grip conditions pull me out of the controlled transverse drive. Towards evening and with a dislocated neck, I lock my ambition in the trunk and give up. Despite countless attempts, it won't work for me to drift in a circle for more than a full lap and a half. Before the GT 86 waves the flag, because I want to keep it drifting with new experiments, I leave the colleagues behind the wheel.
2.) Lexus GS - Elk test for advanced users
Turn the rotary switch to “Sport”. Electronic driving programs, isn't that just a placebo for the driver's brain? On a slalom course between the usual red and white cones you can easily experience the benefits such a small “switch” can have. The large GS from Toyota subsidiary Lexus is not known for its unnatural hardness and pseudo-sportiness and if you leave the switch in Comfort mode, the lavishly motorized GS pushes outwards over the whining front wheels early when changing direction quickly. Driving fun is different. A turn of the selector switch, Sport+ and a deactivated ESP suddenly reveal completely new talents. No, this doesn't make the GS any lighter, but the dynamic damper adjustment shows that the discipline of "handling" has not been forgotten and at the push of a button the wild pylon tango is fun again in the large GS sedan. In contrast to the drifting excursion with the GT86, the learning effect here is much more direct: the GS does not have to fear an elk - on the contrary, the Lexus would drive circles around this Nordic bovine.
3.) Auris - changing lanes for professionals
The stiffer the body, the more active the car. A good suspension is not everything, because if the body winds, then the damper of the chassis can still give so much effort, the driving behavior is indirect and spongy. Compared with old to new Auris you notice the development step. What does not come out in the normal test drive, namely the new, more direct reaction to steering commands and the associated more agile roadholding, which can be compared very well compared to old. Of the new Auris Compared to its predecessor, it changes lanes much more agilely and provides better feedback. This work hidden behind the bodywork is also one of the basics of making cars “a joy to drive”.
4.) RAV4 - all-wheel drive for more driving pleasure
SUV models have a design-related disadvantage. Due to the ground clearance and the high body, their center of gravity is significantly higher than that of sedans. This ensures more body roll and more severe load change reactions. However, agile driving behavior can be achieved using tricks. In the new RAV4, Toyota technicians have upgraded the all-wheel drive to a “driving dynamics manager”. The system, called IADS, not only controls the distribution of drive torque between the front and rear axles, but also includes the steering angle of the front wheels, the electric power steering and the ESP control in its control mechanisms. In addition to the normal fuel-saving front-wheel drive, the driver is also able to activate a more dynamic power distribution with more load on the rear axle. Although it all sounds quite complicated, the annoying understeer when driving dynamically can be reduced to a minimum at the push of a button.
These four examples clearly show what goal Toyota is pursuing. Away from “just an eco-hybrid manufacturer” towards a car company that offers vehicles that are ecologically sustainable - but above all are fun to drive.
And I'm glad to be able to agree with Mr. Toyoda - that was driving fun in Japanese.