What is it?
Toyota Matrix Race Car Concept
What's special about it?
Following on the heels of the Matrix debut at the 2001 North American Auto Show, Toyota decided to take it one step further and build a full race-ready version to show off the performance potential of the sporty new hatchback crossover.
Developed at Toyota's Technical Center in Michigan, this Matrix race car boasts beefy 13-inch Brembo four-piston brakes with cross-drilled rotors and steel braided brake lines. Eighteen-inch wheels wrapped in 245/40R18 Dunlop racing slicks provide the grip, while a lowered suspension and coilover adjustable shocks give it razor-sharp handling.
The interior received the full race treatment with a padded rollcage, MOMO carbon fiber seat and steering wheel, Simpson five-point harness, four-panel rearview mirror and tachometer with shift light.
"The Matrix will be active, accommodating and as the Matrix Race Car illustrates, adaptable," said Don Esmond, Toyota Division senior vice president and general manger. There's no doubt that the Matrix is a great platform for modification, but whether or not import enthusiasts will embrace it like so many of Honda's bread and butter models remains to be seen.
Why should you care?
Toyota is obviously well aware of the huge market for affordable sports cars that appeal to the huge number of young import-car tuners. With only one current model (the Celica) that caters to this crowd, the company's not going to miss the opportunity to exploit the "tune-ability" of the new Matrix crossover. Although it's unlikely we'll see any of the Matrix Race Car components on any production Matrix models anytime soon, you can be sure that Toyota will release plenty of go-fast goodies through its Toyota Racing Division (TRD) parts unit to capitalize on this recent trend. --Ed Hellwig
Toyota Matrix Race Car Concept
What's special about it?
Following on the heels of the Matrix debut at the 2001 North American Auto Show, Toyota decided to take it one step further and build a full race-ready version to show off the performance potential of the sporty new hatchback crossover.
Developed at Toyota's Technical Center in Michigan, this Matrix race car boasts beefy 13-inch Brembo four-piston brakes with cross-drilled rotors and steel braided brake lines. Eighteen-inch wheels wrapped in 245/40R18 Dunlop racing slicks provide the grip, while a lowered suspension and coilover adjustable shocks give it razor-sharp handling.
The interior received the full race treatment with a padded rollcage, MOMO carbon fiber seat and steering wheel, Simpson five-point harness, four-panel rearview mirror and tachometer with shift light.
"The Matrix will be active, accommodating and as the Matrix Race Car illustrates, adaptable," said Don Esmond, Toyota Division senior vice president and general manger. There's no doubt that the Matrix is a great platform for modification, but whether or not import enthusiasts will embrace it like so many of Honda's bread and butter models remains to be seen.
Why should you care?
Toyota is obviously well aware of the huge market for affordable sports cars that appeal to the huge number of young import-car tuners. With only one current model (the Celica) that caters to this crowd, the company's not going to miss the opportunity to exploit the "tune-ability" of the new Matrix crossover. Although it's unlikely we'll see any of the Matrix Race Car components on any production Matrix models anytime soon, you can be sure that Toyota will release plenty of go-fast goodies through its Toyota Racing Division (TRD) parts unit to capitalize on this recent trend. --Ed Hellwig
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