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 (we hope so!). The styling will most likely resemble the sketch that was published by Autocar 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%. These RWD sports cars will mean a lot for both companies, as Subaru hasn't offered a performance coupe since the slightly odd SVX, and Toyota all but abandoned performance models after the Supra, Celica and MR2 were cancelled.
[Source: Automotive News, Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
John R @ Apr 10th 2008 11:43AM
I'll take my Celica GT-Four in Fujiwara Tofu livery, thank you.
OjNK @ Apr 10th 2008 11:45AM
The 'Performance' is arguable but Subaru offered the Impreza 2.5RS in Coupe form though 2001 while the SVX dissapeared in 1997.
Will @ Apr 10th 2008 11:51AM
The 2.5RS coupe is fantastic. I have one and I love it. Yes, "performance" is a relative term, but it handles beautifully well in stock form and can accept virtually any EJ-series engine, along with retaining the lighter weight of the old Impreza.
I certainly hope the new coupe carries on the relatively light weight (2800lbs) and short gearing of the old RS with the zingier 2.0L turbo EJ20. The character of the N/A EJ25 was always better suited to the Legacy/Outback than a sports coupe. Thank God for engine swaps.
mk @ Apr 10th 2008 12:10PM
Viva la Engine Swap, indeed. And Subaru makes it comparatively easy.
By 2011, it is possible to have a twin-scroll turbocharged, direct injected, hella-powerful STI engine.
As long as the chassis accepts the Subaru AWD transaxle, and front half-shafts... AWD swap is possible, even if the car doesn't come with it.
I can't imagine that a Subaru variant wouldn't have it as standard, though. Toyota may have it optional, but Subaru makes sense for it to be AWD standard, with a turbocharged engine optional.
With the blue oval on the tail of that sketch, I am hoping that is what the subaru variant will look like.
It will be interesting to see what differences the Toyota design will have, if they don't share exterior sheetmetal and glass.
naggs @ Apr 10th 2008 12:16PM
performance does not require 300+ hp
everyone seems to have forgotten what a sportscar actually is, a car that can change direction quickly. nowhere in there is there mention of 0-60 or HP.
mk @ Apr 10th 2008 12:56PM
@naggs,
performance does not require 300+ hp, true. But I a similar turbo subaru engine, and it is FUN!!!!!
My wife's miata has 144hp (stock figure) and it is fun, too.
"everyone seems to have forgotten what a sportscar actually is, a car that can change direction quickly. nowhere in there is there mention of 0-60 or HP."
This isn't going to be a sports car, no matter what the headline says.
A sports car has two seats usually. This is going to be a Sport Coupe, and a 2+2.
The Solstice Targa Coupe is a sports car. It has only two seats, and no other practical purpose than the joy of driving. That isn't to say that the GXP is any MORE, nor is it LESS of a sports car than the base Solstice coupe, or the solstice convertibles, GXP or no. As well, the Sky and Miata. The RX8 is not a sports car, either. The RX7 was. The RX8 is a Sport pseudo-Coupe with four doors, two of which are not traditional doors.
A Sport Coupe, or a light sports car doesn't NEED lots of power. But that doesn't make ample power somehow bad.
Most would agree that a Legacy GT is sportier than a 2.5i, as a Sport Sedan, Most would also agree that a WRX is sportier than a base Impreza, and the STI sportier yet.
Sports cars are not defined by performance stats, but does that make a Corvette, or a Porsche GT3 or GT2 any less of a Sports car? GT-R is not a sports car, though, it is a very fast Sport Coupe, and the better for it being so fast.
Temple @ Apr 10th 2008 12:58PM
Here is a rendering of it from some Japanese magazine. It definitely has some similarities to the SVX.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o106/Doctor__No/jmagspics-7-1.jpg
The pic was taken from this thread from VWvortex:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3781151
naggs @ Apr 10th 2008 3:44PM
the problem is this, weight kills agility. more powerful engines add weight. even if it is the same engine with a more agressive tune or a turbo, it adds weight is the form of a beefier drivetrain, stronger frame to maintain safety, and the worst culprit of all, tires. more power needs more rubber to put it down, larger wheels to hold that and larger brakes to slow the faster car down. that is rotational, and unsprung weight all the way out at the corners. a properly engineered sportscar has 15, 16 or 17 inch wheels, anything larger than that is pure bling.
the fact that they are talking about a high hp variant has me a little worried, it cant be as light as possible if it can also handle 300 hp. the compromises of car design require you to pick one. i would rather have 2400 lbs and 120 hp than 2800 and any amount of power. there are tons of cars that can deliver the second experience and virtually none that can deliver the first.
Shipey @ Apr 10th 2008 11:50AM
This will be sweet. I dig the STI, but sedans are for my parents. It's about time they offer a proper coupe!
Rob Thomas @ Apr 10th 2008 4:06PM
I'm sure the late Collin McRae would agree with you. moron...
Shipey @ Apr 10th 2008 4:30PM
I can't believe you'd call Colin McRae a moron just for driving a sedan.
I mean, yeah, they're for getting groceries and hauling the kids to school, but geez... no need to be so harsh. He didn't have a choice since they weren't offering a coupe. Besides, maybe he really dug sedans, kinda like how my personal preference is for coupes. Of course, that would be his choice.
Poor guy isn't even around to defend himself.
Red @ Apr 10th 2008 11:43PM
Wow...I hope you were being sarcastic. He was referring to you as the moron, not Colin McRae.
Shipey @ Apr 11th 2008 8:10AM
You are a genius. I mean, really, really smart.
Shipey @ Apr 11th 2008 8:13AM
Did you crack that code all by yourself?
Tricky dicky @ Apr 10th 2008 11:50AM
Wonderful, the Toyota dominion moving to swallow Subaru.
Allan @ Apr 10th 2008 12:02PM
If they swallow Subaru to produce things like this... more power to them.
mk @ Apr 10th 2008 11:52AM
ummm...
What was the Impreza 2.5RS coupe? It came after the SVX was cancelled.
Color me giddy that this is confirmed to be officially official.
naggs @ Apr 10th 2008 11:54AM
the "brand new platform" is good news as that bodes well for a low curb weight. the previous rumors of a cobbled together, shortened impreza platform were not sounding very promising.
tankd0g @ Apr 10th 2008 1:30PM
A cobled together shortened Impreza platform would be a new platform as far as Toyota is concerned :)
why not the LS2LS7? @ Apr 10th 2008 11:55AM
That's GT-Four, not GT4.