Toyota has confirmed reports that its chief test driver, 67-year-old Hiromu Naruse, has has been killed in a head-on collision near the Nurburgring. Naruse was driving the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition when he collided head on with a BMW. The German car’s test driver and his passenger were seriously injured.
Reports from Germany say that the prototype Lexus (said to cost 1.5 million euros) veered into oncoming traffic. Police are investigating the crash and have yet to determine its cause.
Naruse joined Toyota in 1963 in the Vehicle Evaluation and Engineering Division, and had been involved with Toyota Motorsports since 1970. He was heavily involved with the Lexus LFA project, the classic Toyota 2000GT from the 1960s and all sporty Toyotas in between. His death will be a big loss to Toyota, including chairman Akio Toyoda, who had Naruse-san as his personal on-track driver.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments on the blog post predominantly express condolences and sadness over the death of Toyota's chief test driver Hiromu Naruse in a LFA crash, emphasizing his dedication and passing during a test run. Many acknowledge the tragedy as a significant loss to Toyota and the automotive industry, with some highlighting that safety features like airbags were present and functional. Several comments discuss the crash circumstances, including the narrow road near Nürburgring and the possibility of driver age or error contributing. There are debates about car safety, prototype testing, and the difference between sports cars and family sedans. Off-topic remarks about other car brands, general safety, and Malaysian driving culture appear, but the overall sentiment recognizes the heroism and passion of the driver, with many paying respect and offering condolences.