Toyota Aygo Crazy: Concept Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 16/June/2008

London, England— Ever since Toyota started TRD (Toyota Racing Development) in Australia and instructed Lexus to add a performance division and to build a full-on super car, the Japanese company has returned to its performance roots.

The latest super-powered model to hit the scene is the Aygo Crazy. 

This one-off concept car will make its debut at the 2008 British International Motor Show in London, but unlike some concept cars this one is "built to be driven, not just for show" according to Toyota.

As well as a play on words, the heavily modified Aygo Crazy (I go crazy) - a vehicle smaller than the Toyota Yaris or Echo - is a tiny vehicle with a big heart.

The first change was the engine. The 1.0-litre, 40kW engine was ditched and a 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine was installed in the rear of the vehicle.

The transmission was also ripped out and replaced by a 5-speed manual gearbox that delivers power to the rear wheels. Yes, that's a Toyota compact car doing a burnout in the photos.

Peak power from the 1.8-litre turbo engine is 147kW (200hp) @ 6700rpm while peak torque of 240Nm @ 3400rpm ensure the rear wheels can burn rubber to put on a good show.

Toyota explains the Aygo Crazy "packs more muscle with its custom-made body, 17-inch alloys and beefy Goodyear 225/45 rubber" and that there is a link to Toyota's motor sport history because the "Aygo Crazy's carbon fibre rear wing is a part taken directly from the 200mph race cars in the American Champ Car series".

With a bold touring-car inspired wide body kit that includes a front spoiler and twin rear exhaust pipes, the fanciful look could inspire street tuners in Europe to modify their own Aygo cars.

Toyota's engineers have also adapted a large front-mounted intercooler to cope with the new engine's increased heat buildup, which in Toyota's own words is "ideal for those endless, tyre smoking, crowd pleasing donuts".

The 'shopping super car' has had all its driving and safety aids removed to give the car honest, old-fashioned feedback through the road. 

"Owing more to the spirit of Group B rallying rather than D1 drifting, this is a car that is all about the joy of driving: with no electronic handling aids, no power steering and no ABS, it is like a kart with doors and a roof," revealed Toyota.

With a zero to 100km/h time of just 5.7 seconds, it's quite a bit quicker than the standard Aygo which completes the benchmark dash in 14.2 seconds.

A top speed of 204km/h (127mph) means that the wheel-spinning Toyota Aygo Crazy is a speedy little car and with upgraded Brembo brakes it's also possessed of strong deceleration.

Weighing 1,050kg, the Aygo Crazy gets upgraded suspension. 

Borrowed from the Toyota MR2 Roadster, the Aygo gets MacPherson struts front and rear with adjustable Tein dampers for precision handling.

Inside the red hot concept car are race-ready sports seats with four-point safety harnesses and even a full roll cage to improve safety and body stiffness. 

Coachtrimmers O’Rourke were hired to fit out the interior with all new features, which also includes sports steering wheel, a large rev counter and coloured coded trim.

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