Although the Toyota Aristo was Japans ’sports lexus’, it was still a luxury saloon in needing of tuning to make it harder.

The Lexus IS-F on the other hand comes ready to rock with 6-pot brakes, 400hp and ducts to cool the brakes.

Debuting in 2009 everywhere, it has to be an BMW M3 challenger to watch for.

Numbers of these great cars are diminishing fast.  Little is seen of them outside tuner circles and now the influx of cheap Nissan Skylines is exclipsing the Supras for definite.

I occasionally see a boosted/bodykit model which has obviously been imported from Japan. 

Any maintenance issues usually eclipse the purchase price - a new gearbox or engine might mean you would be better off buying a new car.

The new Supra is 2009…we wait anxiously…

My new Lexus RX300 2001 model is a fine Toyota vehicle - but examing the vehicles receipts, I am unsure about Toyota reliability.

The main catalytic convertor has been replaced at cost of £500

The oxygen sensor was replaced in January 2007 - and now has failed again.  Fortunately Lexus are replacing it without quibble.  And in fairness Denso make the O2 sensor.

Other faults include the flakey aluminium roof bars - I have some aluminium paint to fix that.  A known fault with the RX models.

And finally the big gear box debate - some people have gearboxes failing 60,000 or 100,000.  Although I have seen reports of cars as high as 129,000 still on original gearbox.  Most Toyota’s like Hilux should run for 200,000 miles min.

So Toyota is not without it’s faults.  A friends IS200 recently had corrosion to the door panels and they had to be replaced under warranty - very strange.

It seems Toyota have really embraced hybrid technology as eco-friendly seems to be a buzz word used a lot.

They’ve put together a website to explain their Hybrid mission and to help the environment - how politically correct!

Essentially the battery is charged by a turbine during petrol use and takes over during low-acceleration use.  In the new Supra, it in fact increases hp with both are used together.  Very clever.

Toyota’s hybrid cars have now hit 1 million sales.

Hybrid cars seem to be the electric/petrol alternative, with the battery side of the car adding more power to the petrol engine when driven simulatenously.  When you are cruising, the engine idles and shuts down letting the batteries do all the work.

It seems to be working, extending the mpg of many cars yet giving petrol performance.

The new Toyota AYGO is proving popular in the quest for cheap to run, economical, reliable and easy-to-park cars for families/women.

Starting at £6845, it certainly is low cost motoring with Toyota reliability - traditionally Toyota’s are more expensive because of their reliable rep, particuarly second hand.

The AYGO is brutally slow - 14 seconds to 60 in petrol or 16.8 seconds in diesel.

But this translates into low insurance group and 61mpg for the petrol or 69mpg for the diesel - pretty amazing economy.

If you’re looking for a really economical car and don’t play on over-taking any cars, cyclists or stationary objects, this is the car for you.

If there ever was a saloon that had kudos but you never heard of, it’s the Aristo V300

Basically a Lexus GS mk.2, it has a few hidden extras not available in the US/Euro models - 4 wheel steering, F1 gear shift and the piste de resistance - 2JZ-GTE twin turbo engine and Supra auto gearbox.

The car comes as 280hp standard, but easily tunable to 450/500hp on standard engine and standard turbos with the use of fuel/boost controller.

Many Supra parts fit this car - brake calipers, engine parts, turbo parts, differential.  In fact the Aristo and Supra Mk.iv share many of the hardcore power parts within the car including engine ECU.

If you like want a super comfortable car that can be tuned to a potential 1500hp, then this is one very good choice.

 4 months in Italy were spent on the styling of this car - with it’s objective to be as desirable as reliable.

As Toyota have cracked value for money, reliability and fuel economy, the target market is those who require style from their Japanese car.

All the toys you would expect come with this car - 1.8 litre engine, electric windows, dual airbags.  But the price point is around $20K US making it pretty affordable.

Toyota just demand my respect.  Almost impeccable reliability, the Toyota Landcruisers are used exclusively in the Ozzy desert where there are no garages for 1000’s of KM.  My own Toyota has been thrashed at racing circuits and still works 100%.

JD power survey says the same too.

The new Toyota Supra will be here in 2008.

Rumours indicate it’ll be 400hp hybrid, straight V8 with no turbo. It’ll need to be tasty to compete with the new M3 400hp V8.

Let’s hope the keep the same amazing reliability as the old Supra and offer a tiptronic gearbox.