Toyota: Moving Forward Slower

[Variance]

Toyota: Moving Forward Slower

Remember how Toyota said they are delaying the launch of the Tundra amid quality concerns? Well, that ain't the only one they're going to take their time with.

The next Sienna, Solara and Avalon are models that could be subject to longer development time in order for Toyota to ensure they get it right the first time. The extra development time could delay the launches of these products by two to three years.

Do you think Toyota decided to take heed of my words? (See "Toyota: Moving Forward...Entirely Too Fast" for elaboration.)

Read "Toyota may delay launch of new models" @ Yahoo

[Flybrian]

The Sienna makes sense to put extra work into. The Solara looks like crap in '07 form - how bad can you screw that one up? As for the Avalon, well, fourth time's a charm?

[SableStyle]

As for the Avalon, well, fourth time's a charm?

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While the outside of the Avalon is offensive, the inside is pretty nice, and while the engine isn't the best it is pretty solid. Getting the crease out of the outside profile would work wonders.

They can afford to wait on the Sienna; it won't look outdated until Fairlane and the new DCX minivans. The current Sienna looks better than the Odyssey IMO, and the Quest refresh didn't make it look much more modern than Toyota's van.

The Solara should come first here, though I don't want to see a Camry/Yaris style grille on it!

[Northstar]

I thought they wwere dropping the Solara?

[Drew Dowdell]

I thought they wwere dropping the Solara?

184736[/snapback]

no, they need it for nascar

what, you'd want to see a bunch of camries on the track? pffft!

[Dsuupr]

Makes sense, but does adding 2 years add quality?

[zhawk]

I saw...Toyota Moving Slower... and had to laugh

Dang Dyslexia

Anyway, sounds like they are a big gunshy about getting more recalls and bad publicity. Only time will tell if they get their issues under control.

[Robert Hall]

Go, go Godzilla!!

[Drew Dowdell]

This is better "breathing room" for GM than Toyota raising prices.

Gives the 900's a head start.

Puts the new Sienna out to 2010 or 11... at which time the Lambda vans should be out.

Puts the new Avalon out to 2010 or 11... at which time the Zeta Lucurne should be out.

Even the reported delaying of the Corolla could prove to be a boon for GM. Cobalts MCE is coming up soon, no?

[Paolino]

Well, so much for their 18-month turnaround time they wanted to have.

[Robert Hall]

no, they need it for nascar

what, you'd want to see a bunch of camries on the track? pffft! 

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I think it was already announced the Camry is their NASCAR label..

[SableStyle]

Makes sense, but does adding 2 years add quality?

184797[/snapback]

yes. that's a lot more time to test vehicles and prevent recalls and other reliability issues.

[Chicagoland]

no, they need it for nascar

what, you'd want to see a bunch of camries on the track? pffft! 

184796[/snapback]

News articles stated that Toyota's NASCAR cars will be called Camrys, and pictures of their 'stock car' showed no 'Solara' stickers.

Solora is 'up in the air' for now. And no they do not 'need a 2 door'. NASCAR isn't stock bodies anymore.

[Sixty8panther]

A Camry by any other name is STILL a Camry.

Adding a "Camry Solara" emblem will not make

it somehow NOT a Camry wiht rear door delete. NASCAR

is already not my cup of tea but now that Toyota will be

participating it will be extra lame. Actually one thing that

may be fun will be to see a Camry (Solara) get wrecked

by a Chevy & Dodge tag-team.

[Flybrian]

SMART can enter NASCAR if they wish for all I care. Its all marketing anyway.

[ellives]

Yeah -- funny about that. They announced the 18-month target when GM's woes were starting to make the headlines. A little MORE piling on by Toyota? Nah - they don't play that way do they?

Well, so much for their 18-month turnaround time they wanted to have.

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