The link on my post goes to the official Toyota Global Newsroom's dedicated 2017 Tokyo Motor Show page (again,
http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/tms2017/ ). Said page, at the time I wrote that contained 9 boxes along the left and center columns. One of them had a picture of the Toyota Crown Concept and the other 8 were black with white lettering that reads "STAY TUNED FOR MORE...". At present, 4 of the boxes are filled in (with photos of the Tj Cruiser, GR HV Sports concept, Century and Crown) while the other 5 boxes still remain blank. Hence, my comment that the page hints at 9 global debuts.
Thanks, I couldn't figure out where to find it before.
I can, bearing in mind that each one would involve a collaboration with another carmaker. Here are my thoughts:
MR2
This is the iffiest of the trio, but not totally out of the question. Don't, however, expect a rear-mid-engined sports car like the previous 3 generations. With Toyota now owning a 5% stake in Mazda, and the two broadening their alliance and joint projects, it isn't much of a stretch to picture a production version of the S-FR sports coupe sitting on the latest ND Mazda MX-5 Miata platform. Said platform is front-mid-engined (yes, every bit of the engine sits behind the front axle line, unlike pseudo-front-mid-engine architectures such as Nissan FM or Toyota/Lexus GA-L), so the MR2 badge would be justified.
Arguments against this scenario? For one, Toyota hasn't (as of this writing) renewed the MR2 trademark. Also, I was at that "FRS/BRZ Roundtable here in Miami a couple of years ago with Tada-San" and, even then, the "S-FR as Miata derivative" rumors were around. I asked him about that, but he denied any connection between the two, and at least one other published report echoed the denial Tada-san told me face-to-face. In fact, some published reports have suggested that the production S-FR project is dead.
Then again, the original 86/FR-S/BRZ was such an on-again/off-again project subject to numerous false rumors and off-base renderings (not to mention conflicting reports of how similar or dissimilar the Toyota and Subaru versions would turn out to be). My point? I wouldn't rule out a production S-FR/MR2 yet. There are still 5 unrevealed Toyota debuts for the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Whether or not one of those 5 is a new S-FR or MR2 concept will be telling...
Celica
Toyota just renewed this trademark. My suspicion (or personal hope?): that this badge will be applied to the second generation of the joint Toyota/Subaru "middle" sports car. Though some feared that this would be a one-generation wonder, numerous reports suggest that there will be a second generation, and not a denial in sight. I always felt that Celica was the most appropriate badge for this, even ahead of the original's launch, and here's hoping it happens for its successor.
Supra
Obviously, Toyota's top-of-the-line sports car, a fraternal twin to BMW's 3rd-gen Z4 roadster. My fear here is that too much BMWness in the mechanicals would mean that Toyota's vaunted reputation for bulletproof reliability would take a hit.
Ultimately, though, the Supra test mules I've seen look closer than expected in size to the current 86. And a production S-FR/MR2 couldn't be too much smaller than the 86. Maybe it is overkill to make such a trio of closely-spaced/sized sports cars in a crossover SUV-mad world.
Sorry about my being overly pedantic, but compared to last year, it looks like they've gotten to a point where they are strictly running complete prototypes and no longer mules mixed with non-production-intent pieces. The new concept at Tokyo, is very likely the fascia of the next GT86. Mag X reported on a rendering well before debut, that matches what Toyota is showing with the G...#%& Concept (can't remember name; edit GR HV).
Some people are speculating it will be named SPX. I don't believe that and assume it's an internal BMW acronym in German, starting with Supra or Sport. Anyway, I might like my luxury and tolerate hypercars without manual, but not so much a bonafide sports car.
It is laughable the claims of how Toyota will only use a ZF 8-Speed shared with BMW and B58 I6. A manual transmission should be offered. This is not a Lexus, let alone large LC. I'll wait and see, then later congratulate who turned out to be correct at any stage of speculation.
Remember that I am someone, that was born during the middle of A80 development, likely some 6 weeks after the A80 design freeze nearly 3 decades ago. There are those of us under the age of 30 with enough money to buy a new Supra and likely favour what the last generation offered. We grew up seeig the MKIV as the only contemporary Supra during our formative years. I would hope they avoid what Acura did with the new NSX and have not lost the plot.
I won't consider a Supra with only an automatic. If Chevrolet (Corvette), Ford (GT350), and Porsche, offer a manual transmission, I don't see why Toyota once again struggles to do it. It is not to be priced like a Viper, so how can they not?
What I do find odd about the development of this car, is how they already had a final production design approved back in Fall 2014. Yet, this car will come out in early 2019. That is unusally excessive and reeks of programme collaboration mismanagement.
It should not take them that long to ready a
production design for Job 1. Even the LFA throughout its many changes, in the end, managed to enter production in December 2010 some 28-29 months after design freeze. This car should be much further along than it is. Remember that there is still time spent well before design approval, which would be closer to 2012 (when both FT-1 started at Calty and BMW collab)
Some "insiders" I wonder how connected they are to all aspects of the programme. Even for X360 XJ programme at Jaguar, I didn't even know 100% everything, let alone the whole brand and that of Land Rover.