Hiromu Naruse
- June 23, 2010
- 66 years
- car crash
About Hiromu Naruse
Hiromu Naruse, 66, Japanese chief test driver for Toyota Motor Company, car crash.
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Full Biography
|Hiromu Naruse (成瀬弘, Naruse Hiromu) (1942 – 23 June 2010) was the Japanese chief test driver and chief test engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation and chief of the Gazoo Racing team. Naruse had been a test driver for the Toyota team for 47 years (1963–2010). He was also noted as the chief test driver of the Lexus LFA supercar. During his time at Toyota, Naruse became known by the nickname "Meister", and colleagues at Ferrari called him the "man who knows all the world's roads." Naruse also logged more hours at the Nürburgring test track in Germany than any other Japanese driver.
Career
Naruse joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1963 as a certified auto mechanic, and was initially assigned to the company's Vehicle Evaluation and Engineering Division as a temporary employee. Because he also held a level-2 abacus certificate, Naruse was also considered for a position in the Accounting division. Naruse worked his way up in the company, earning a reputation as one of its top test drivers.
As a company mechanic, early models which Naruse worked on included the Toyota Sports 800 in 1965 and the Toyota 1600GT in 1967. He also helped create the Toyota 2000GT in 1967, Japan's first supercar, and following promotion to chief mechanic, helped produce the company's first custom-built racer, the Toyota 7, in 1970. After ten years with the company, Naruse was placed in charge of motorsports development.
In 1970, Naruse headed the formation of Toyota Motorsports, working in Switzerland as Toyota initiated Japan's first entry into Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps racing. That year, he also worked as chief mechanic on the newly introduced Toyota Celica. Naruse would go on to be involved with the development of each Celica generation produced. In the 1980s and 1990s, as a test driver, Naruse helped the development of the Toyota MR2 and the Toyota Supra. By the late 1990s, Naruse had assumed the title of master test driver, heading Toyota's entire test driving staff.
As master test driver, Naruse had input on multiple Toyota company products, ranging from the second generation Toyota Prius to the Toyota MR-S and the Lexus IS. His final development project was the Lexus LFA supercar, which he test-drove extensively, and headed its participation in the 24 Hours Nürburgring from 2008 to 2010. Naruse had suggested the LFA enter the race to obtain feedback for fine-tuning the vehicle for production. In 2010, the LFA won its SP8 class at the race.
During and after the LFA's Nürburgring races, Naruse continued to drive the LFA and other prototypes in Europe and elsewhere. Although nearly 70 years old, he remained active in test driving, and also tackled hillside roads on weekends in Japan. He remained aware of the risks and rewards, stating that:
When we raced the LFA in Nardo, Italy, I thought I might not return to Japan alive. The purpose of this 'test' was to evaluate the car's durability at 200 mph for a long period. The race was in the dark with no lights on the track, plus there were birds flying at me. And imagine if a tire burst. We created the final LFA through these kinds of test experiences.
— Hiromu Naruse, early 2010
By the late 2000s, Naruse was advocating the development of an inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupe for driving enthusiasts. This would later be considered by Toyota in hatchback form to honor Naruse's legacy.
Death
On the afternoon of 23 June 2010, Naruse crashed his Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition prototype frontally into a BMW production car near the Nürburgring, Germany. Both cars were a total loss. He was 67.
The LFA veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a BMW 3 series on the L94 road at Boos, near the Nürburgring. The BMW was also a test vehicle, and both occupants were injured, one critically. All three test drivers wore helmets. The left hand drive Lexus had been photographed previously with a driver wearing a white helmet.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiromu_Naruse
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Hiromu Naruse's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year was Hiromu Naruse born?
- A.1967
- B.1963
- C.1970
- D.1942correct
The biography states that Hiromu Naruse was born in 1942.
Source: introduction
2.What was the total number of years Hiromu Naruse served as a test driver for Toyota?
- A.50 years
- B.40 years
- C.47 yearscorrect
- D.30 years
Hiromu Naruse served as a test driver for the Toyota team for a total of 47 years, spanning from 1963 to 2010.
Source: introduction
3.What nickname was Hiromu Naruse known by during his time at Toyota?
- A.The Road Master
- B.Meistercorrect
- C.The Toyota Legend
- D.The Speed King
During his time at Toyota, Hiromu Naruse became known by the nickname 'Meister'.
Source: introduction
4.What certificate did Hiromu Naruse hold that caused him to be considered for an accounting position at Toyota?
- A.A level-1 accounting certificate
- B.A mechanical engineering certificate
- C.A business management certificate
- D.A level-2 abacus certificatecorrect
Hiromu Naruse was considered for a position in the Accounting division because he held a level-2 abacus certificate.
Source: career section
5.Which of these vehicles did Hiromu Naruse work on in 1967?
- A.Toyota MR2
- B.Lexus IS
- C.Toyota 1600GTcorrect
- D.Toyota Celica
Hiromu Naruse worked on the Toyota 1600GT in 1967 as a company mechanic.
Source: career section
6.What was Hiromu Naruse's role in the formation of Toyota Motorsports in 1970?
- A.He was the lead designer for the team headquarters.
- B.He served as a lead accountant.
- C.He worked as a consultant for European racing.
- D.He headed the formation of the group.correct
In 1970, Hiromu Naruse headed the formation of Toyota Motorsports.
Source: career section
7.In which country did Hiromu Naruse work when Toyota entered the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps racing circuits?
- A.Germany
- B.Italy
- C.Japan
- D.Switzerlandcorrect
Hiromu Naruse worked in Switzerland as Toyota initiated its first entry into Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps racing.
Source: career section
8.Which specific Toyota model did Hiromu Naruse contribute to in every generation produced?
- A.Toyota MR2
- B.Toyota Supra
- C.Toyota Prius
- D.Toyota Celicacorrect
Hiromu Naruse was involved with the development of each generation of the Toyota Celica produced.
Source: career section
9.What title did Hiromu Naruse hold by the late 1990s?
- A.Master test drivercorrect
- B.Gazoo Racing Founder
- C.Chief Executive Officer
- D.Head of Engineering
By the late 1990s, Hiromu Naruse had assumed the title of master test driver, heading Toyota's entire test driving staff.
Source: career section
10.Which of these vehicles was part of Hiromu Naruse's work as a master test driver?
- A.Second generation Toyota Priuscorrect
- B.Toyota Sports 800
- C.Toyota 2000GT
- D.Toyota 7
As master test driver, Hiromu Naruse had input on multiple products, ranging from the second generation Toyota Prius to the Toyota MR-S.
Source: career section
11.In what year did the Lexus LFA win its SP8 class at the Nürburgring?
- A.2008
- B.2010correct
- C.2009
- D.2007
The Lexus LFA won its SP8 class at the race in 2010.
Source: career section
12.During the test of the LFA in Nardo, Italy, what speed did Hiromu Naruse mention the car was evaluating for durability?
- A.180 mph
- B.200 mphcorrect
- C.220 mph
- D.150 mph
Hiromu Naruse stated the purpose of the test in Nardo was to evaluate the car's durability at 200 mph.
Source: career section
13.What type of vehicle was Hiromu Naruse advocating for in the late 2000s?
- A.A heavy-duty pickup truck
- B.A high-end luxury sedan
- C.An electric city car
- D.An inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupecorrect
By the late 2000s, Hiromu Naruse was advocating the development of an inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupe for driving enthusiasts.
Source: career section
14.What was the date of Hiromu Naruse's death?
- A.23 July 2010
- B.15 May 2010
- C.10 June 2010
- D.23 June 2010correct
Hiromu Naruse died on 23 June 2010.
Source: death section
15.What type of car did Hiromu Naruse crash into during the accident that caused his death?
- A.A Toyota Celica prototype
- B.A BMW production carcorrect
- C.A Lexus IS sedan
- D.A Ferrari supercar
Hiromu Naruse crashed his Lexus LFA prototype frontally into a BMW production car near the Nürburgring.
Source: death section
16.Where did the accident involving Hiromu Naruse take place?
- A.On a private test track in Switzerland
- B.On the L94 road at Boos, near the Nürburgringcorrect
- C.At the Toyota factory grounds in Japan
- D.In the city center of Nardo, Italy
The collision occurred on the L94 road at Boos, near the Nürburgring in Germany.
Source: death section
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