Toyota May Fund TMG to Be Performance Sub-Brand

ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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President Akio Toyoda claims to like sports car, despite the company that he runs relatively staid image. But things are changing slowly at Toyota. It has returned to world-class racing, released the GT86Toyota GT 86 Gen.1Japan, 2012 > present14 versions
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, shown the Yaris Hybrid-RToyota Yaris Hybrid-RJapan, 2013 > present and is working on some sort of hybrid supercar with BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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. It is also at least considering spinning of TMG, its European motorsports arm, into a performance sub-brand for road cars. 

According to Toyota Europe President Karl Schlicht, the company is “currently discussing sport lines for Toyota models” and sees “an appetite for Toyota to do credible performance cars."

TMG first managed Toyota's rally team, then its Le Mans efforts in the 90s and its Formula 1 program. When the program shut down in 2009, Toyota Motorsports GmbH was left without a mandate, and it began developing the the 641hp twin-turbo TS-650 from a Lexus LS. Even though the company is now running Toyota's TS030Toyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
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program, it has continued to develop the car into the version today that could theoreitcally be sold.

Like every major automaker, Toyota is working on its own modular platform that will underpin multiple models. It will debut on the fourth generation PriusToyota Prius Gen.3Japan, 2010 > present52 versions
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in 2015. 

“Beyond the cost-saving benefits, you’ll also get a more rigid chassis and you’ll be sitting lower in the car," said Schlicht about the new platform.

Source: Auto Express

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