Sports car development is like Ise Jingu’s Shikinen Sengu ceremony.
…
In 1967, Toyota brought out many sports models, including the 2000GT and 1600GT.
One of the junior mechanics working on these cars was Hiromu Naruse.
Forty years on, Naruse-san is now the master craftsman, passing on his skills and expertise to young engineers, mechanics, and drivers.
Rather than abandoning development because “times are bad,” I think it’s vital that, even in times like these, we look to the future and continue to pass on our skills and technologies.
Of course, the LFA contains many technologies that did not exist 20 years ago.
There have also been various technological breakthroughs, including carbon materials, functional components, and technologies that allow a car to turn or stop safely even when driving at speeds of 300 km/h.
Considering that these advances will now be incorporated into all kinds of vehicles, I see no reason to stop developing.
(“Ise Jingu’s Shikinen Sengu,” from GAZOO feature “Morizo’s Driver Journey,” May 29, 2009)