NZV8s

[Swedish Brick]

Might as well start a new topic.
MRX announced this morning they have received a deposit on another TLX chassis.
No word as to what make.

[NZSTfan]

Good on ya Brick for starting this thread....good idea.

I hear thru the grapevine that Lexus may be on the cards as well as Nissan.

If true then the class would comprise Holden, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and Lexus

[Swedish Brick]

Was some rumours about Nissan. But I guess time will tell.
I guess a Lexus is possible. Could well be possible to build a Lexus V8 so may not need the TRD power unit. Or maybe they use a different TRD unit, say NASCAR base.
I wouldn't put money on that however!

[NZSTfan]

Its that good ol rumour mill! I agree that a lexus 'flavoured' TLX could be relatively easy as the lexus v8 is quite a common motor isn't it?
One would imagine the IS 250 or 350 H model would be a fairly simple conversion?

[HProject]

Andrew from AWS spat this piece of fried gold out the other day - regarding Lexus. No doubt you've seen it. Thumbs up from me if they ran with a JPSish looking livery like this.

[NZSTfan]

Cheers HP. That to me suggests it is on the cards seeing as the flyer mentions RTM.
looks quite cool I reckon and better than the camry, in my view. It rhymes too. Martin Short in an F sport!!

[Swedish Brick]

MRX have put up several concept renderings, Lexus, Nissan, Cadillac!!
One could be accurate, or they all could just be dreams. Wish I had more hints/rumours/ideas but I have no idea.

Agree with HProject, that Lexus is the coolest thing since the JPS Capris!

[HProject]

I thought it was a bit strange (almost mean) of the Toyota guys to not run the slick looking livery AWS did for them on their cars. Hopefully if they do get some Lexus's they put a livery of substance on them - instead of just leaving them refrigerator white.

The Cadillac rendering is class as well.

[Dav1s]

Originally Posted by HProject

I thought it was a bit strange (almost mean) of the Toyota guys to not run the slick looking livery AWS did for them on their cars. Hopefully if they do get some Lexus's they put a livery of substance on them - instead of just leaving them refrigerator white.

I have to say, that Camry that ran this year looked like a primary school child had just stuck stickers on it.

Richards Team Motorsport have put some pretty average pictures up on the line, and their posters etc were below par too.

Not a very well marketed operation, lets hope Lexus comes on board and ups the game a little.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by NZSTfan

Its that good ol rumour mill! I agree that a lexus 'flavoured' TLX could be relatively easy as the lexus v8 is quite a common motor isn't it?
One would imagine the IS 250 or 350 H model would be a fairly simple conversion?

Lexus is just a toyota, used in america to fool them. No difference in a lexus or toyota v8 apart from the badges.

[DX20VT]

Originally Posted by Blackpearl

Lexus is just a toyota, used in america to fool them. No difference in a lexus or toyota v8 apart from the badges.

Yeah cant see them redesigning another toyota/lexus v8 when they already have one in the series which is already proven and has parity.

And if you say cost then why would they have not started with something else in the first place.??

[NZSTfan]

Yes I am well aware of that BP
Makes you wonder why they didn't go for that option first as a v8 powered lexus is actually a road car while a rwd v8 camry doesn't exist, whereas a commodore or Falcon obviously does

[smokin'joe]

Originally Posted by HProject

Andrew from AWS spat this piece of fried gold out the other day - regarding Lexus. No doubt you've seen it. Thumbs up from me if they ran with a JPSish looking livery like this.

i hope they are gonna shoot flames like that too !!
might need a twilight race so we can see them, which wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Blackpearl]

Originally Posted by NZSTfan

Yes I am well aware of that BP
Makes you wonder why they didn't go for that option first as a v8 powered lexus is actually a road car while a rwd v8 camry doesn't exist, whereas a commodore or Falcon obviously does

It didn't seem it in the the you worded it, simple awnswer is most people wont know a lexus, they know them as toyotas and camry, people know. I am unsure if richards team hold a lexus dealership so i cant see why they would run under that brand.

[Swedish Brick]

Also a whole new ball game with sponsership/marketing etc with Lexus.
Although with Lexus's aim of being a bit more sporty, maybe they would be ok with it.
I dunno. But I'd be surprised if having just built two Camrys, they then went and did a Lexus. But I don't know how deep their pockets are.

Also there is more difference between Lexus and Toyota today. They have learned that having a Toyota model of a Lexus devalues the Lexus rather fast. See ES300 and Camry for that one!

[promax]

didn't a Toyota dealership owner sell their Falcon TLX last month. would he be interested in buying one of the Richards Toyotas.. if in deed the Richards team are looking at building a new Lexus. or is the former Falcon TLX owner looking at the TR 86 series.. or planning on taking a break from racing all together? will one of the Toyota be rebodied as a Lexus? or is the Lexus just a concept pic.. and the car isn't actually being built?

[Dav1s]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/spec...-621736799.htm

Have we missed this, it appears Ethan Coleman has bought a TLX. Dont know much about his pedigree, but I see there are some pictures of it being built up as what looks like a VE on Facebook. Is this the new car that has just been purchased or have I missed something here?

Davis

[promax]

nope.. different car

the new Coleman VE was mentioned several weeks ago

[Alpina107]

Originally Posted by Swedish Brick

Also a whole new ball game with sponsership/marketing etc with Lexus.
Although with Lexus's aim of being a bit more sporty, maybe they would be ok with it.
I dunno. But I'd be surprised if having just built two Camrys, they then went and did a Lexus. But I don't know how deep their pockets are.

Also there is more difference between Lexus and Toyota today. They have learned that having a Toyota model of a Lexus devalues the Lexus rather fast. See ES300 and Camry for that one!

Perhaps they think that building a Lexus race car would be a more accurate representation of the road car on which it is supposed to be based. Afterall, no Camry on the world market has a V8, or a manual gearbox or rear-wheel-drive.

[Dav1s]

Originally Posted by Alpina107

Perhaps they think that building a Lexus race car would be a more accurate representation of the road car on which it is supposed to be based. Afterall, no Camry on the world market has a V8, or a manual gearbox or rear-wheel-drive.

Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday.

Except in this case, I would never be caught buying a Camry!

I have been eying up an ISF though. V8, RWD.

That would make an attractive looking race car, based on the rendered image a few posts back.

Let hope it happens!

Davis

[Swedish Brick]

You can buy a V8 RWD Camry in the US. Bit dodgy on R/H though I hear

[GHOGH]

Fairly logical to have a Lexus F-Sport as a TLX version for promoting the brand.

http://www.lexus.co.nz/Models/ISF/IS...ifications.htm

Did I read that Toyota are looking for a new car for the TRS series which will take a few sponsorship dollars?

[Alpina107]

Originally Posted by Swedish Brick

You can buy a V8 RWD Camry in the US. Bit dodgy on R/H though I hear

Are you sure?

These all look like front wheel drives with 4-cylinder, V6 or hybrid engines and all auto - basically, the same as NZ. http://www.toyota.com/camry/features...2532/2546/2540

[Swedish Brick]

Was a joke referring to NASCAR, hence the dodgy r/h comment

[GHOGH]

There have been a few custom Camry cars made with a v8 and converted to rear drive, price tag is a little steep. Lexus will be on the test drive list next time even if it is a used one to have a rear drive car. I prefer being pushed rather than pulled around corners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXSHb-7BPMA (Toyota road car)

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...er-videos.html