One thing I've noticed, anecdotedely, is that Toyota (Lexus) has a history of outsourcing engines.
Yamaha, for example, seems ubiquitous in a lot of well-known engines across Toyota and Lexus. For example, the 2 liter Turbo in the MR2 was designed, I think, by Yamaha. The current 5 Liter V8 is also Yamaha designed. Not sure about the older V8s, like the 4.6 through 4.0, but it wouldn't surprise me if Yamaha wasn't involved in those either.
Which brings me to my point: Toyota has lost touch with engine and power train development, relying instead on third parties for a number of important engines.
In the old days, when engine cycles lasted much longer, this was probably fine and that's why they got away with it. Today, when competitors are constantly pushing out improvements (I.e., HP gains, fuel efficiency, etc.) on a much, much, much faster cycle, this strategy falls on its face; they can't keep up and that's why almost every engine found across the board is old and dare I say kind of pathetic.
It's not uncommon for competitors to make constant incremental improvements. For example, Audi's 4.0 liter V8, went from 420 to 450 HP four years after it was introduced. Likewise for MB and Benz.
Maybe this strategy (laziness) is coming back to haunt them. They can't innovate.
When it comes to cars, numbers do matter and they're behind. 0-60, HP, torque, all make a difference when someone is spending $50k to $100k+.
Another thing that bothers me is that Toyota overstates their 0-60 numbers, badly imo. It's not reality. Why they actually can't make a smooth, quiet, powerful car like the A8 4.0 or S550 is beyond me. Those cars are typically faster than manufactured-stated numbers.
I'll believe the 0-60 LS numbers when I see a third party do it. Until then it's all BS.
Yamaha, for example, seems ubiquitous in a lot of well-known engines across Toyota and Lexus. For example, the 2 liter Turbo in the MR2 was designed, I think, by Yamaha. The current 5 Liter V8 is also Yamaha designed. Not sure about the older V8s, like the 4.6 through 4.0, but it wouldn't surprise me if Yamaha wasn't involved in those either.
Which brings me to my point: Toyota has lost touch with engine and power train development, relying instead on third parties for a number of important engines.
In the old days, when engine cycles lasted much longer, this was probably fine and that's why they got away with it. Today, when competitors are constantly pushing out improvements (I.e., HP gains, fuel efficiency, etc.) on a much, much, much faster cycle, this strategy falls on its face; they can't keep up and that's why almost every engine found across the board is old and dare I say kind of pathetic.
It's not uncommon for competitors to make constant incremental improvements. For example, Audi's 4.0 liter V8, went from 420 to 450 HP four years after it was introduced. Likewise for MB and Benz.
Maybe this strategy (laziness) is coming back to haunt them. They can't innovate.
When it comes to cars, numbers do matter and they're behind. 0-60, HP, torque, all make a difference when someone is spending $50k to $100k+.
Another thing that bothers me is that Toyota overstates their 0-60 numbers, badly imo. It's not reality. Why they actually can't make a smooth, quiet, powerful car like the A8 4.0 or S550 is beyond me. Those cars are typically faster than manufactured-stated numbers.
I'll believe the 0-60 LS numbers when I see a third party do it. Until then it's all BS.