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Reinventing the rules

Could Shu-ha-ri have something to do with the Lexus LFA project?

Toyota and its satellites have played the car game strictly by the rules for the longest, longest time but now the company is reaching full maturity and some of its senior staff are being encouraged to find new ways to do things.

One of them is Haruhiko Tanahashi, who told me about Shu-ha-ri this week. So, what does it mean and why is it important? According to Tanahashi, the translation from Japanese into English goes something like this: "Know the rules, break the rules, then re-invent the rules."

We will all understand the importance of what he is saying by the end of next month, but I cannot reveal exactly what we were discussing or why we were together in Germany. But he is the boss of the Lexus LFA project . .

Paul Gover is a former CarsGuide contributor. During decades of experience as a motoring journalist, he has acted as chief reporter of News Corp Australia. Paul is an all-round automotive...
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