news

Toyota Boss Brings Curtain Down On Mega Australian Test Drive

Toyota’s global boss Akio Toyoda has made a special visit to Australia this week, as the Japanese carmaker’s ten-week test program comes to an end. Mr Toyoda was on hand to drive the final leg of Toyota’s mega 20,000km test drive, whi


Toyota’s global boss Akio Toyoda has made a special visit to Australia this week, as the Japanese carmaker’s ten-week test program comes to an end.

Mr Toyoda was on hand to drive the final leg of Toyota’s mega 20,000km test drive, which concluded on a rally special stage near Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.

Known for his ‘hands-on’ approach to development, Toyoda drove a specially-prepared Toyota 86 rally car; known to Toyota engineers as ‘GR86X’.

The rally-special 86 features a roll-cage, sequential gearbox and all-wheel-drive.

The 86’s performance was also boosted by a turbocharger - a feature some Toyota fans have been calling for on the road-going 86.

Four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen had a hand in the GR86X’s development, despite winning all of his world titles at the wheel of a Mitsubishi.

Makinen is a personal friend of Mr Toyoda, and acted as co-driver while Toyoda was completing the rally special stage.

MORE:Toyota Showroom
MORE:Toyota News
MORE:Toyota Reviews
MORE:Search Used Toyota Cars for Sale
MORE:Toyota Showroom
MORE:Toyota News
MORE:Toyota Reviews
MORE:Search Used Toyota Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent