The search for continuous improvement. Evolve to be better with small changes that go, very little by little, perfecting the product by touching the sick. These are the Kaizen philosophy bases.
The name, in fact, perfectly represents what tries to explain. It cannot be more explicit since it uses the Japanese terms kai (change) and zen (good). Along the way, it is about applying a series of strategies to eliminate the most inefficient processes, correct errors as soon as possible by applying immediate solutions or promote collective participation.
But there are two other pillars that define perfectly what we are going to talk about next. Kaizen philosophy tries to optimize times and resources while having an open mind to apply small changes that make the product evolve and take it to a new stadium.
The latter was key when one of Toyota’s most mythical cars was born: the supra.
We would not have Toyota supra without celica … and without Kaizen philosophy
When he talks about Kaizen philosophy, in Toyota they have a lot to say. In fact, it is your way of explaining What is a Takumi And why they have figures in charge of simply feeling cars to discover small irregularities to correct during the production process.
It is that idea of combining small changes, very small, that when adding and one takes distance to see the complete result, it realizes that it has created a completely disruptive product. It is, in fact, what happened with the Toyota supra.
To understand the origin of the Toyota Supra we have to look back. Specifically half a century to go to the 70s. Then, Toyota began to manufacture the Toyota Celica. It was 1970 and the new Japanese sportsman was born from the base of the Toyota Carina to which the possibility of being able to choose between a 1.4 or 1.6 liter engine and two types of gearboxes (manual or automatic) was added.
The car was born as a Coupé 2+2 To enjoy relaxed, combining good performance but without sacrificing the comfort comfort. Very soon the car had a redesign that accentuated the Coupé forms, leaving a single door to each side and a huge back gate that facilitated access to the trunk and its load.
The reception was so good that Toyota gave continuity to Celica just a little later. In 1977 a second generation already had on the market that already opted for the three -door body and that, again, was defined by the Carina platform. And aware of the car’s sports potential, in 1979 the word supra appears for the first time.
The supra was a special finish for the Toyota Celica. It was called, in fact, Toyota Celica supra (MKI). He lengthened the body a bit and added some most expensive finishes such as the four disc brakes or independent suspensions. But, above all, he added a six online cylinders and 2.6 liters delivered 110 hp. That power jump and that engine were those that marked the future of their future.
Taking advantage of the second generation of Toyota Celica, in 1982 the Toyota Celica supra would be launched in its second generation. The forms were now much more sharp and design decisions were included that would later be fully identifying, such as the sneakable headlights. The six -cylinder engine was maintained but the power rose to 145 hp.
Although he added more centimeters along, the battle was shorter than that of his predecessor. Now, yes, he earned agility and, therefore, in sports sensations. The car had taken a qualitative leap in this regard. The qualitative success was received with open arms.
Japanese industry in the 80s flew. American intervention after World War II helped the nation to be a country razed to One of the most leading countries of the world technologically. Potential clients earned so much money that everything accelerated and the Japanese car lived among product generations of just four years.
Currently, a car has a commercial life of about seven years but at that time it was about putting a car on the market in less than a five years. Young people were looking for fast and powerful cars in which spend money. The bubble also provided cash for a fashion that took strength in the 80s, the Touge Street Racing.
He Touge Street Racing or tōge They were illegal races that took advantage of the large mountain roads of the country to ascend or desce continued in the 90s. This is what we can see in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift but that became popular to the point of become its own culture, Anime included and with space in numerous racing video games.
The perfect ingredients had entered the cocktailboard for Toyota to hurry the deadlines and in 1986 he launched the first completely independent version of the Toyota Supra. He returned for his fueros, with a six online cylinders that, this time, reached 200 hp of power. Later he would raise this power to 230 hp adding a turbo.
The car was very fast but growing in size and power had begun to take forms of great tourism, a car with which to travel could be very quick but not as dynamic as you once. The solution went through giving it a little more spicy. How much? Transform it into a supercar.
In 1990, Honda had launched the Honda NSXa car with which he intended to rival the best and at the same time positioning a car of very high benefits Without all those young people who had the money for punishment. Toyota’s response came in 1993 with Toyota Supra A80its most remembered generation.
The Toyota Supra left its angular shapes behind and opted for the curves, with a huge rear axle and a spoiler that falls in love. Under the hood he kept a six online 3.0 -liter cylinders that in its biuturbo version reached 324 hp and that delighted the trainers. Because the car became a laboratory with wheels, suffering the best and worst of Tunning novelty and the early 2000s.
The car would also keep a greater halo of mysticism because it did not receive a new generation until 2018 when it returned to life with a collaboration between Toyota and BMW that left us a new BMW Z4 And a Toyota supra that again, he returned with his six online cylinders.
Photos | Alexandru Ivanov and Chris Demers
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