Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept (2008)

Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept

Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept is the perfect antidote to all those wild concept cars that look great on the show stand but never turn a wheel. It is a unique machine that has been developed from the start to deliver no-holds-barred maximum driving pleasure, an unforgettable, fun experience.

Making its public debut at the British International Motor Show in London, Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept is a one-off model, a "shopping supercar" that takes Aygo's essential qualities to the limit. 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.

Recognisably an Aygo, it clearly packs more muscle with its custom-made body, 17-inch alloys and beefy Goodyear 225/45 rubber. There is even a direct link to Toyota's sporting heritage as Aygo Crazy's carbon fibre rear wing is a part taken directly from the 200mph race cars in the American Champ Car series.

Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept is fettled with the Toyota 1.8 VVT-i unit that powered the final generation Celica and MR2 Roadster, rear-mounted and driving the rear wheels through the Roadster's five-speed manual gearbox. The addition of a Toyota Motorsport turbo conversion kit boosts power output to 200DIN hp and torque to 240Nm.

Compare the performance to the 68 DIN bhp and 93Nm mustered by the standard road-going Aygo and you gain some idea of just what a different kind of machine this is.

To cope with the greater engine performance, a bespoke cooling system has been designed, with a huge, front-mounted aluminium radiator - ideal for those endless, tyre smoking, crowd pleasing donuts.

Weighing in at just 1,050kg, Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept is capable of 127mph (est), but speed is not its defining quality: this is a machine that exists to be responsive and alive to the driver's commands, to put smiles on the faces of those inside and outside the car.

The suspension is from the MR2 Roadster, with MacPherson struts front and rear. Adjustable Tein dampers sharpen dynamic performance and the front and rear track are one inch wider than on a standard Aygo.

The cabin, finished by specialist coachtrimmers O'Rourke, features purpose-built sports seats with four-point safety harnesses and a full roll cage.

With its bold Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept decals and T2 4YGO (turbocharged, two-seat Aygo) number plate, Toyota Aygo Crazy Concept will be hitting the show circuit - and the open road - this summer, proving that while this Aygo may be crazy, it's a memorable madness.

PERFORMANCE

• Max speed: 127 mph (est)
• 0-62 mph: 5.75 s
• Max. power: 200 hp @ 6,700 rpm
• Max. torque: 240 Nm @ 3,400 rpm