No. The work on the tC is done. Over. They're probably going to start rolling off the line any day now. Too late to do any work on the final design.

Anyway, Japanese companies bring over vehicles all the time to do commercial shoots. A little while back there was a big hoopla because someone photographed a JDM Odyssey on the streets of some city in California. Turns out they were just shooting a commercial. Could be the same situation with the Avensis you saw.

Toyota is the most secretive company on Earth. No spy shots, very few leaks, and if there are leaks, they're usually not very helpful.

However, it would be cool to see either (or both) the Caldina and Avensis here. I saw the new Avensis when I was in Spain, and I was very impressed.

I just hope we get some news soon if they do indeed intend to bring them over (so I don't regret buying a tC).

 

toyota should of made the matrix that way is right, i would of bought one and you wouldn't have to deal with me now. Damn, I like that car, Bill

 

Only problem is once it gets there, U.S. customs will not release it to you for use on the road until you can:

1) Pass US EPA emissions
2) Replace all window glass with DOT approved glass (good luck doing that on a non US model)
3) Replace headlights with DOT approved headlights (same as above)
4) Replace bumpers with 5 mph U.S. bumpers (which do not exist for non US models)
5) Provide at least two extra cars so they U.S. DOT can crash test and certify it
6) Replace all gauges with mph instead of kmh
7) You can keep it RHD though, most of the legally imported Skylines are RHD

That's just what I could remember, there may be more. If it were just THAT easy, don't you think you'd be seeing JDM cars all over the place?

The federal government killed the gray market in this country in the early 1980s with these stupid regulations designed to protect Detroit automakers. It adds expense and complexity for any company wanting to import a car here and makes it impossible for you to do so unless your a billionaire.

The only exceptions are when a registered importer takes care of these things for you, which is the case with the Skylines, or if you are a foreign diplomat or head of state or you are a foreign national living in the U.S., in which case you can bring any car you like for a period of ONE year, then it has to go back or be destroyed. It is illegal for you to sell it or rent it to anyone while you are here.

Ah, you can also import a car for "research" if it is only going to drive a very limited number of miles on public roads. I remember a university in Michigan, I think, brought over a Volkswagen Lupo 1.0 turbodiesel for fuel economy research that way.

Sorry.

I don't know why this company even advertises because I can promise you once the car gets here, customs is not going to allow you to have it until you meet these criteria.

One other way you could sneak a car in though, is if you brought it in in pieces. Parts are legal. So if you had someone get you a Toyota Crown there and dismantle it and ship the pieces over, you could reassemble it here.

Of course then you have a VIN that no DMV in the country will recognize and you won't be able to get a title or license plates and it will be illegal to drive it on public roads.

Gotta love America and our freeedom huh?

Over in "socialist" Europe, this is not an issue. People in the UK import JDM models all the time.

 

hey ive parked one of those before. i valet in socal and about a year ago a customer of mine was driving one, he works for lexus design studios, car was nice, but i can think of other jdm rides id rather have

brent

 

Man that is a sweet ___ car