Akio Toyoda has achieved much during his relatively short time as Toyota CEO. He was the driving force behind Toyota's affordable 86 coupe and the Lexus LFA hypercar, and he pushed hard for the Lexus RC and RC F coupe, and the world’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell car, the Mirai.
Now, according to a source close to Toyota, his company is planning a shocking surprise for the Tokyo motor show in October, in the form of a radical three-seat, open-wheel sports car concept inspired by the Lotus Seven.
What's more, the source says that if it gets the thumbs-up from the press and public, the world's biggest car-maker will seriously consider building it.
It goes without saying that Toyoda is fully backing this unusual departure from Toyota’s standard model line-up, which like the 86 continues Toyota's attempts to stimulate Japan's youth into becoming the next generation of car buyers.
“Such cars must grab kids’ imaginations and hopefully give them an interest in owning and driving cars in the future,” says our insider.
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