Interview with Teresita van Gaalen on how a - Autolive.co.za

Subscribe for free @www.autolive.co.za Page 14continued from previous pageToytoa parentage, but not in Toyota passenger carssince the days of the old rwd Corollas, and the 1980sCressida in its passenger line-up.Thinking back, it should be no surprise that theToyota 86 has one of the crisper steering responseswe’ve experienced in a long time. Because the LexusiS200 had just such a crisp turn-in, and in fact hadimpeccable handling manners too.There is nothing harsh about the way the 86soaks up bumps and ruts, but it is decidedly “reactive”to every input on the wheel, and initially itcould be thought to be a little nervy.That concern soon dissipates as you realise thatit handles in the way classic rear-wheel-drive sportsToyota’s 86 in its natural habitat.car should behave. The handling sharpness was infact honed over many laps at the Nurburgring, underthe watchful eye of the 86’s project chief TetsuyaTada. The car is fitted <strong>with</strong> a VSC traction controlsystem that is able to be switched off in stages, frommoderate tail-out mode to full let it all hang-out, nosafety-net mode.The steering uses an electric power assist, andproves that these systems can provide the requireddriver feedback for a sporty, in-touch driving experience,if calibrated correctly. Part of the 86’s charmis that it uses comparatively modest rubber, the carrunning 215/45 rubber on 17-inch rims. This meansthat grip is not enormous, and this was part ofTada’s dictum for the car, that it should not be overtyred,as he believes many modern sports cars are.The cabin is snug and well-trimmed, but notover-stuffed <strong>with</strong> gizmos. It has a muted no-nonsenseflavour, and very supportive seats, coveredin leather on the high-trim variant (which all automaticmodels are), but coming <strong>with</strong> cloth seat trimfor the base model.Toyota are proud that they haveachieved a shift response timeof less than 0,2 seconds for itssix-speed automatic gearbox.Toyota are proud that they have achieved a shift responsetime of less than 0,2 seconds for its six-speedautomatic gearbox. Sadly, I didn’t like the automatic‘box at all. I found it far too over-reactive and proneto dropping down two ratios instead of one at theprod of the accelerator. Sure, there will be buyerswho like an automatic ‘box in a car that looks likethis, but for me that is missing the whole point.The car weighs in at just over 1 200 kg, which isnot too bad in this modern day and age of cars laden<strong>with</strong> so much safety and infotainment and comfortequipment. I love the fact that Toyota have donethis car, and I hope it’s a spirit that will rub off onits “cooking” models sooner, rather than later. Weall know that Toyota is well capable of producingcars that are not only trouble-free, but feel rewardingin a dynamic sense. Yes, what it has done <strong>with</strong>the Prius is very commendable, but we need its basicmodels to feel more durable in areas of cosmetictrim, as they were in decades past and look easieron the eye.The 86, and the FJ launched early this year isproof that Toyotas can be visually exciting too. Andas for price, the 86 proves that sports cars don’thave to be over-priced. The base model comes in atR298 500 and the High-line Auto at R346 500. ■simplifyingCOMMUNICATIONSWilken Communication Management wasestablished in 1997 <strong>with</strong> the major focus ofitÕs operations being the South Africanmotor industry.Over the years it has developed into a onestopcommunication and marketing serviceprovider specialising in this industry.It is staffed by some of the mostexperienced people in the marketing andcommunications environment of the SouthAfrican motor industry.WCM can provide services from strategicplanning, to product launches, media brieÞngs,event management, ßeet vehicle management,and ongoing public relations campaigns. It alsohas a publishing arm which can producenewsletters, magazines and coffee tablebooks.For more information contact: Jacques Wilken- jwilken@mweb.co.za237 Rigel Avenue Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, 0181 Tel (012) 460 4448 Fax (012) 460 4514 www.wilkencomm.co.za