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Toyota F1撤退。

お早うございま〜す。清々しい朝です。が、目覚めて一番最初のニュースはTOYOTA F1撤退。ずっと来季のドライバーを契約しない所をみると、怪しいなとは思っていましたが、発表を聞いて本当にがっかりです。

Good morning! Wonderful day here in LA. But woke up and the first news I saw was the Toyota's withdrawal from F1. I was suspecting something bad to happen when they haven't signed any driver yet...but am really bummed to see the news.

っていうか、撤退発表の時だけ大胆にニュースとして取り上げる、日本のメディアもどうなのかと思ってしまう今日この頃。だったら、普通にレース結果もニュースにしてくれぃ！！

Having said that, I not impressed with the major Japanese media outlet when they only cover bad news about F1. Why don't they at least show some race results! I'm sure that will give more attention to the people and might have changed the decision for Toyota's pullout.

いや〜しかし、レースを撤退するのは、経費節約もありますが、やはりエコマインド的の方が大きいのかな？TOYOTAはLexus LF−AやFT−８６コンセプトを発表したりして、スポーツカーには活気的に取り組んでいただけに今回のニュースは本当に残念。

As for Toyota, I'm sure that they needed to cut the costs/expense and had no choice. At the same time, I think all this eco-driven marketing strategy is not helping the racing world. Having said that, I was real impressed when Lexus has announced the LF-A and also the Toyota FT-86 concept at Tokyo Motor Show since they still looked enthusiastic about sports cars therefore I was really disappointed about the news.

それ以上に、今は日系のクルマメーカーがハイブリッド車に力を入れている事がメチャメチャ心配です。確かにエコ的な部分では大事なことですが、なんとなくハイブリは短期的な解決案にしかすぎないような気がしてしまいます。逆にハイブリッド車に専念している事によって、クルマが本来ある姿から離れていき、若者もクルマ＝足というイメージになっている所が本当に寂しい。

And as for Hybrid cars...I am not a big fan. I think it's just a short term solution for eco driven world. By making Hybrid cars, it is changing the dynamics of the car and I have yet to come across a hybrid car that was fun to drive. Most importantly people are started to think car as a tool to get around places, and are not looking at it as part of culture, fashion, identity. Especially the young people in Japan has no interest about cars anymore...and all they car is if it moves!?!

だからこそ、日系メーカーには頑張って欲しいなと思います！ドライブを楽しませてくれるクルマをもっと出して欲しいなと思う今日この頃です。

Therefore, I really hope that Nikkei Manufacture would step up the program and make a car that is fun and cool to drive!!