Toyota/Subaru sports car details - Update! Confirmed.

[SilentRacer]

* Update - Just the other day we told you about the rumours concerning Subaru’s plans to co-develop a new rear-wheel drive coupe with Toyota. Well, today the two Japanese automakers made it official by announcing that they are to jointly develop a, affordable, compact rear-wheel-drive sports car that will be marketed by both Toyota and Subaru.

According to Toyota and Subaru’s official statement, the compact RWD coupes will be based on an all-new platform with power coming from a Subaru’s range of horizontally-opposed (boxer) engines. The market introduction of both coupes is targeted for the end of 2011, while production is to take place at a new plant that will be built at Fuji Heavy Industries’ (the maker of Subaru cars) Gunma Manufacturing Division in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. * - carscoop



A test mule has been spotted running around Toyota's test track in Toyota City, built off a shortened Subaru Legacy chassis and powered by the firm's SOHC two-liter flat-four. Although the mule's underpinnings are currently derived from the Legacy's (with about 200mm lopped off), it's expected that a version of the Impreza 15S's platform will be used instead. This gives credence to the idea that the new coupe will send power to the rear wheels, as the AWD chassis could be modified to be exclusively RWD. Currently, the test car is running the all-wheel driveline with the front drive shafts removed.

Subaru's 108 HP 1.5-liter boxer (EL15) is likely to be used to power the new coupe, apparently due to the rear differential's fragility and Toyota's aim of making the coupe as fuel efficient as possible. While barely cresting the 100 HP mark won't set the spec sheet ablaze, the fact that the vehicle will tip the scales at 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs.) should make it a competent performer in the same way as its AE86 forbearer.

If Toyota can keep the weight down (a constant challenge), while keeping the price below 2,000,000 yen, it's rumored that we could see the coupe make its debut sometime next year, with sales beginning later in 2008.

-7tune

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/02_toyobaru_spypics_450-op.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/05_toyobaru_spypics.jpg

[Mr. Sociable]

I like the sound of it, hopefully it looks better than the FT-HS (or w/e it was called) concept.


That and it mates two of the best car brands ever.

[Sarra]

:smt104 Wait a minute... The "new AE86" is going to be built on a legacy/impreza chassis, with a H4 motor in it? :smt042

Honestly, it's better than I would hope for from Toyota...

[97LGT]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/09/toyota_subaru-1.jpg

"A few weeks back, Automotive News reported on a new project to build a small, low-priced sports car undertaken by Subaru and its benefactor Toyota. Here's the latest: Japan's Best Car, as translated by 7tune, reports the new Toyota Lightweight Sports Car will be based on a shortened Impreza 15S platform, with a "rear wheel drive friendly" double-wishbone rear suspension. An early test mule has been running a 2.0-liter SOHC engine and a all-wheel-drive. But for production, the talk points to a 1.5-engine, dubbed "EL15," a DOHC flat-four that produces fewer emissions the larger, SOHC powerplant. Use of the 1.5 makes weight reduction of particular importance, thus the project's titular emphasis on bulk. Best Car says the optimistic money is on the Toyota Lightweight Sports Car hitting the market by late 2009 or early 2010."

Taken straight from Jalopnik.

[Huffer]

Looks like a Scion tC.

[97LGT]

Looks like a Scion tC.

I didn't notice until you mentioned that.

[deadlydave]

Looks like a Scion tC.

Definitely, in terms of body shape. That nose is unmistakably yaris though. So, it's as if they had a kid.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Again, again about the sheetmetal! The AE86 was arguably fugly, that's not why people loved it. It was a light, tossable, fun car!

I'm more concerned about the weight, and if it ever makes it over here.

[deadlydave]

I dunno, that 1.5L engine is weaksauce, LSD or no.

On the plus side: Finally, something we can swap a 1.8L impreza engine into! Those things are so easy to find.

The idea of a lightweight sports car worked really well for mazda, let's hope SubYota doesn't screw the pooch.

[MCarp22]

A 1.5L, 100hp sports car would need to be under 2000lbs to catch my interest. If it was a 150hp 2L or something like that i would take notice.

[SilentRacer]

bump for update

[Huffer]

If they rear mount the H4 engine it'll sit low enough to really give the car some scootability.

Course, they could go GT-R fashion and have a front-engine RWD platform for reasonably even distribution too.

I'm looking forward to it!

[ConnertheCat]

I already know someone who wants to buy it.

[BE-Fresh]

....................Gay

[GTDrifter]

i read a car and driver mag last week...they are shooting it for AT LEAST 2011 but there is no definite the earliest it will come out is 2011 but it may take longer

[mranlet]

100hp and 2000lbs will be about as stout as a stock CRX DX, and with that sort of aenemic performance, I doubt it will sell in the US in significant numbers with the weight-ignorant American public.

I'm sure there is a lot more to it than "removing the front drive shafts" to make it RWD. Despite what Kumakubo writes in SubieSport, you can't just pull the axles and *poof* RWD, but nonetheless it is good to see that they're testing the handling characteristics of a FR layout.

Give this little car 130-150hp and it ought to outsell the Miata and GM Kappa platform - Toyota reliability with Subaru performance at Hyundai prices, what more could you want?

[Sarra]

Something better than Toyota Reliability?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Something better than Toyota Reliability?

Yeah, because it's sooooo bad :roll:

I'm pretty sure the only reason Toyota's overall reliability has dropped a touch is because they're investing so much into big V8 trucks. It's not like they're far inferior to Honda or Subaru, which IIRC are the 1 and 2 performers.

[SilentRacer]

pics of test mule added to first post, this is obviously not what the final car will look like.

[2.5GT]

hm....i was looking for more of a hatch version. this test mule doesn't sit right with me....its just another legacy to me :-?

[Wiscon_Mark]

pics of test mule added to first post, this is obviously not what the final car will look like.

Yeah, that's a BL.

[SilentRacer]

From the back yes, from the front....no idea.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Look at the grille shape. And the headlights are slightly covered up, but they look Legacy too.

[Huffer]

There was a really interesting article in Car & Driver recently about the guy that makes the masks for the test cars... sometimes they get requests from car manufacturers to make test cars look like competitors vehicles, or to put in reflective tape to look like lights that don't exist, or to make you think there's a window where there isn't, etc.

It's all blackops stuff. :lol:

[2.5GT]

and what are those triangles on the doors!??? :lol:

[birukun]

I would welcome a RWD car like this - can you imagine adding a turbo to the 1.5 ltr? Not to mention you may be able to bolt up a 2.0 a la the CRX / 2.2 VTEC combo. Pure, unadulterated fun. Unless the EPA/FED rules make it an underpowered econobox.

I am surprised it is taking so long - how hard could it be coupling a Toyota tranny with an EJ motor?

[Bohemian_Funk]

I think I might just be persuaded to buy this myself, actually. I've been yelling for a new coupe from Subaru for a couple years now (as have thousands of other people, I'm sure), and the inclusion of supposed light weight and RWD just add to that for me. That and I'm almost certain the engine bay will still be big enough to swap in a 2.0L for track weekends... It'll be a nice change of pace for the EJ20* engines to have the upper hand in low end torque on a Subaru again.

That and I like MOST of Toyota's visual designs as of late (except the Scion tC... that face just can't be loved, not even by its own mother), just not their lack of a proper sports car.

My 2 hundredths of a dollar.

[rougeben83]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/car_photo_264426_25_450-op.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/suba ... g-in-2010/ (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/subaru-impreza-coupe-coming-in-2010/)

I'd hold your breath before buying a toyota...

[Bohemian_Funk]

Well yeah of course the Subaru version is going to look better :lol:... that goes without saying. It'll probably just end up being a choice of whichever's cheapest, which will probably end up being the Toyota, I think. Either way if there does end up being a 1.5L version, I'd snap that up in a heartbeat over the sportier versions (for swap reasons). Between the JDM 2.0L engine and the USDM 2.0L NA/2.5L Turbo engines, I'd rather have one that's made for more high end power :wink:. Especially if I'm expecting it to be like a modern-day AE86.

[1-3-2-4]

There was a really interesting article in Car & Driver recently about the guy that makes the masks for the test cars... sometimes they get requests from car manufacturers to make test cars look like competitors vehicles, or to put in reflective tape to look like lights that don't exist, or to make you think there's a window where there isn't, etc.

It's all blackops stuff. :lol:

I love how some of them cover up the car so much it's still SO easy to spot what it is...

Like the new Subaru 7 Pax car... the front end and all... I mean come on now..

[Bdubs]

If they market the new coupe with both toyota and subaru name plates, I'd be willing to be the Toyota version would sell better.

[1-3-2-4]

If they market the new coupe with both toyota and subaru name plates, I'd be willing to be the Toyota version would sell better.

lol Subaru still wins if they are saying "I wont get the Subaru version" lol

I rather get the Subaru version anyways..

[Bohemian_Funk]

Now that I think about it, I'd probably get the Subaru version if only to show my respect to the brand. That and because it's the brand I know best.

Now the real question is whether or not the Toyota version gets put under the Toyota or the Scion name :lol:. Hell let's all get crazy and say it'll be a Lexus for a true entry-level luxury coupe :roll:.

[edit] now that I think about it, if you like the looks of the Toyota version more than the Subaru version, but would still rather it be a Subaru, you could always just get a Subaru badge for it... heh, "badge engineering" indeed!

[Wiscon_Mark]

If the article is anything accurate (which it probably isn't) then Toyota won't be releasing it under their name in the US - the only place that Scion exists.

[Bohemian_Funk]

Yeah. Not really surprising, considering all of the Scion's are just rebadged "JDM-only" Toyota's with slight differences here and there. It only makes sense that a sport coupe that costs less than 20,000USD (supposedly) would be under the Scion marque.

Now that all this speculation has arisen, who wants to take a stab at the name? I'm at the very least going to give it a nickname: The Imp! I can only hope that nobody calls it the "Subaru Hachi-roku". [edit] I will freely admit, however, that if I purchased the Toyota/Scion/whatever version of it, I would totally give it a two-tone white/black "Panda" color scheme, just for laughs.

[2.5GT]

Yeah. Not really surprising, considering all of the Scion's are just rebadged "JDM-only" Toyota's with slight differences here and there. It only makes sense that a sport coupe that costs less than 20,000USD (supposedly) would be under the Scion marque.

Now that all this speculation has arisen, who wants to take a stab at the name? I'm at the very least going to give it a nickname: The Imp! I can only hope that nobody calls it the "Subaru Hachi-roku". [edit] I will freely admit, however, that if I purchased the Toyota/Scion/whatever version of it, I would totally give it a two-tone white/black "Panda" color scheme, just for laughs.

i would seriously get one and paint it that 2 tone for reals..

[Bohemian_Funk]

Yeah, I bet :wink:... just look at your avatar :lol:.

[2.5GT]

yeah i love hachi rokus :lol: :lol: :lol: ..i almost came so close of getting one too.. :cry:

[Bohemian_Funk]

I have a neighbor (kind of) that has a blue (oem paint, I think) Corolla GT-S notchback