Dead Again: Toyota/Subaru RWD cars reportedly put on indefinite hold
Like a schizophrenic love affair, the on-again, off-again Subaru/Toyota rear-wheel drive coupe is apparently off again. That morsel of sobering news comes via Detroit Free Press columnist Mark Phelan, who says that both automakers now admit that the project has been put on hold. The inexpensive 2+2 sports coupes had been the subject of much speculation and a seemingly infinite number of renderings, and in fact what looked to be an early prototype had been spotted last year.
Many enthusiasts were hoping that the car would signal Toyota's intent to return to the performance heritage of the AE86 Corolla, while Subaru stood to benefit from having a sportier-bodied, less expensive coupe than the WRX (although the car's RWD configuration was seemingly at odds with the company's all-wheel drive ethos).
In any case, the goal of a pair of 2011 sports coupes has evidently fallen by the wayside as yet another victim of the global financial crisis. Despite this development, Toyota maintains its small stake in Subaru, and the two automakers will continue joint production of the Camry in Subaru's Lafeyette, Indiana facility.
Toyobaru, we hardly knew ye.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mehdi Cheddadi 1:33PM (2/26/2009)
THIS IS SOOO FAIL!
NOOOOO!!
Reply
catgirlshyla 4:23PM (2/26/2009)
Toyota: Listen to Me.
Rear-Wheel-Drive-Scion-tC. None of this FWD crap you have now. You can put RWD tC's into Formula D, yet not provide consumers with one?
Rev 6:35PM (2/26/2009)
cat, the tC is a cheap, squishy econobox, nothing more. Toyota needs to make a hybrid version. RWD on such a terrible handling and driving car would not help things one bit...
catgirlshyla 3:21AM (2/27/2009)
And according to the Formula D Rulebook, the car being used must be a production car that anyone can buy. So, WHERE THE **** IS MY RWD SCION TC?!?!?!?!?1
why not the LS2LS7? 1:34PM (2/26/2009)
Toyota is losing money hand over fist. Suspending projects is a wise move.
Reply
Affalterbach 3:09PM (2/26/2009)
This could be the new spiritual Supra!
You know, the one that's announced every Monday and canceled on Wednesday.
Honestly, I'm sick and tired of these musical 'future car' chairs.
Ligor 5:40PM (2/26/2009)
yeah they should probably just leave the RWD market to Hyundai
before you know, Hyundai ay pull what Toyota pulled on GM back in the early 90's
product is key no matter the market conditions
Hyundai was the only one to have an increase in sales as far as larger companies go last month, I guess the new releases have eept customers coming back, together with their wise deals on taking your car back if you loose your job
Stumpy 1:39PM (2/26/2009)
Stop Playing with my Emotions! I only can take so much! =(
Reply
j 1:43PM (2/26/2009)
What a shame, but not surprising.
Reply
hein 1:45PM (2/26/2009)
Toyota isn't taking the fight to Hyundai (Genesis coupe) - this is a serious failure and they will continue to see sales losses to the Hyundai/Kia juggernaut
Reply
Kattleox 1:59PM (2/26/2009)
And to be honest, I like it that way. At least I don't yawn when I see some Hyundai's(Tiburon, Genesis) but every last stinking new Toyota challenges me to fall asleep behind the wheel.
Len_A 2:21PM (2/26/2009)
Then you're going to snooze even more, because the Toyoda family is taking over at Toyota, and wants to return Toyota to the past model of frugal, ruggedly built cars, and drop much of the high tech content, styling improvements, and improved (but more expensive) production methods.
big J 7:40PM (2/26/2009)
hein-
I don't think they can lose sales they never had if you're talking about the Genesis coupe, anyone looking at that or something similar sure isn't looking for anything from Toyota. As for them being a juggernaut, I'd say it's way too early to say that.
tekd 2:13PM (2/27/2009)
My guess is actually that Toyota is gonna wait and see how the Genesis coupe sells. Money's at a premium right now, so if the Genesis coupe bombs Toyota will be able to push that money into their bread-and-butter cars.
You can bet that if the Genesis coupe ends up selling well that Toyota and Subaru will have this project back on faster than fast. Most of the engineering is probably done anyway if it was slated for 2011, so the only real costs are to bring it into production with new tooling and factory setup plus making it meet a bazillion regulations.
So here's hoping that the Genesis coupe sells surprisingly well in this crappy economy! Because I'm tired of Toyota not even trying anymore in the sports segment. For the company that made the AE-86, MR-2, and Supra to just give up the segment is really sad.
Apex 1:44PM (2/26/2009)
It was going to be a dog anyway. Good riddance.
Reply
ack154 1:47PM (2/26/2009)
Nooooo!
Reply
SilverAero 1:47PM (2/26/2009)
This is all Toyota's fault! I will never forgive that company.
Reply
teamkitty 1:50PM (2/26/2009)
Mark Phelan* is the source? Haha, I say it's back ON then!
* Douchebag
Reply
hashiryu 2:12PM (2/26/2009)
I know right? A columnist from the Detroit Free Press is such a better source than Toyota's president.
Vincenzo 2:24PM (2/26/2009)
Toyota's President admitted that it was delayed until 2012 because of the engine development. The chassis and body are ready.