RWD Impreza coupe/AE86 reborn

[fordgt84]

from: http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/232133/

Toyota and Subaru are joining forces to develop a sensational new sports coupé together, shown above in an Autocar image. An inside source revealed top-secret sketches, showing that the car’s brief is to be compact, lightweight, rear drive and fast. Although the Subaru and Toyota versions of this coupé will look different from one another around the front and rear, both will be powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre flat four engine, making this the first time that a Subaru boxer engine has powered a Toyota. A naturally aspirated version of the petrol boxer engine with 175bhp is being considered for the base model, and there is potential for a hot 2.5-litre turbocharged model later. This will be a car inspired by the classic rear-drive AE86 Toyota Corolla GT coupé from the 1980s, a car known for tail-happy handling. Yet beneath the skin we can expect a reworked Impreza, shortened, lightened and with a bespoke coupé body. Subaru’s trademark four-wheel drive system will be ditched to save weight, complexity and cost. However, if the standard model is a success then later plans could include a spiritual successor to the Toyota Celica GT4, featuring the 2.5-litre turbo boxer engine and four-wheel drive. Affordability is the priority for this so-called ‘Toyobaru’. Costs will be driven down thanks to technology sharing between the two car makers. Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000 in Japan, but it’s likely to be closer to £20k in the UK, rising to £25k for the turbo model. Subaru will build the car at its Gunma plant in Japan, while Toyota is in charge of development. The final design of the coupé is due to be signed off in July, with production set for 2010. Toyota, which holds an eight per cent stake in Subaru, is said to be keen to attract Japan’s disaffected youth with a Mazda MX-5 rival. In fact, an open-top derivative of this coupé could be another longer-term option. After a launch in Japan, it’s believed the new coupé’s main market will be North America, but it should also make it to the UK. There’s a big market here for sports coupés and Toyota could benefit from an enthusiast’s car that revives the lustre of the Celica. Peter Nunn

OMG

affordable rwd sport coupes need to come back, well done SUBAYOTA... now where's nissan's 200 sx ?

[dutchmasterflex]

It's aboot damn time!

[nthfinity]

" Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000"

With a 1.6 liter engine, and 95 hp, no limited slip diff, no passing power, but hey.... at least its .... boring?

And about the £10,000 bit.... V6 Mustangs are cheaper, and have more power... and tons of rigidity in the chassis for those who like bends

[CarlZ]

"will be powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre flat four engine"
I just disagree with that 1.6 it's all really...

[torrentjunkie]

great to see some of the old school japanese classics from the 80s & 90s glory days trying to make a comeback,hopefully they'll get it right. the gtr is already here...now where's the supra, silvias, and rx-7s

[04RCSTI]

Im way more interested in that 2.5 Turbo, this could be great!

[ae86_16v]

Wonder if it is for real this time?

[toffytofik]

That's some great news! Will be looking forward to that vehicle!

Nice find, fordgt!

[Svensson]

Originally Posted by 04RCSTI Im way more interested in that 2.5 Turbo, this could be great!

Turbo, schmurbo... I'll gladly take the lighter N/A 2.0

[styla21]

Innovative!! Looking forward to learning more. Has this been confirmed anywhere officially as a project?

[RC45]

But why so generic looking?

There is little "classic" about a car that looks nothing like the great icons of yesteryear and does not even share driveline similarities.

It is just a rehash of an old name to sucker people into buying it.

At least make the car look somewhat retro to pay homage to the car it is supposed to be memorializing.

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by Svensson Turbo, schmurbo... I'll gladly take the lighter N/A 2.0

Subaru boxer 4's NA are terribly asthmatic .... no grunt, very little power... the little bit of extra weight for the turbo is well worth it with drawbacks in weight that only Michael Schumacher could feel

[79TA]

Originally Posted by nthfinity " Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000" With a 1.6 liter engine, and 95 hp, no limited slip diff, no passing power, but hey.... at least its .... boring? And about the £10,000 bit.... V6 Mustangs are cheaper, and have more power... and tons of rigidity in the chassis for those who like bends

But Nth, Initial D taught us all that when one drives an ae86, drifting around corners will allow one to overcome any challenge no matter what . . .

[tony]

Originally Posted by nthfinity Subaru boxer 4's NA are terribly asthmatic .... no grunt, very little power... the little bit of extra weight for the turbo is well worth it with drawbacks in weight that only Michael Schumacher could feel

Agreed. If you want to save weight, cut back on the McDonalds. Add 5% weight to gain 50%+ more power? No brainer if you ask me.

[HeilSvenska]

RWD Subaru is confirmed and Toyota seeks to make Subaru its sporting arm...maybe.

At a press conference in Japan today, Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe finally confirmed that his company is jointly developing a pair of rear-wheel-drive sports cars with Subaru. Each brand will get its own version of the car, which will be powered by one of Subaru's boxer engines, though the engine's displacement, power output and even number of cylinders is not yet known. We're also not sure if the Subaru version will feature the brand's trademark all-wheel-drive system either as an option or standard equipment, or whether Toyota might offer AWD as well in an homage to the Celica GT4. The styling will most likely resemble the sketch that was leaked out yesterday, though we don't expect one car to be a rebadged version of the other. Mark your calendars for 2011, which is when the new sports cars are scheduled to arrive. They'll be riding on a brand new platform and be built in Japan at a new plant by Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru. Toyota also confirmed rumors this morning that it will be buying up more of Fuji, raising its stake in the company from 8.7% to 16.5%. -Source: Automotive News