Rendered (Again) Speculation: Yet another crack at Toyobaru
The Toyobaru deserves a place in the mythical creature pantheon with vampires and the Loch Ness Monster -- every official denial is followed by another sighting. The latest speculation on Toyota and Subaru's coupe project provides more details, suggesting specs of 200 hp and 145 lb-ft, MacPherson struts forward and a multilink suspension aft on a 2,700-pound vehicle.Supposedly the car's mechanicals are Subaru's work; Subaru's 2.0-liter engine is mentioned, but not the Toyota-designed heads that have been mentioned before. The look of the car is on Toyota's shoulders and will come in two slightly different flavors for each marque to sell. The car should cost around $20,000, and expect it to arrive in 2011. Or not. Hat tip to Ben D.
[Source: Road & Track]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Soul Shinobi 10:11AM (6/08/2009)
It looks a tad like the Ford Fusion in that render. *shudders*
Reply
Level 5 8:18AM (6/08/2009)
Not a bad looking render, but I highly doubt anything like this would ever come out of either company.
Reply
Hamud 9:03AM (6/08/2009)
What a lack of criativity, that's a freaking Euro Focus for christ sake.
Reply
tekd 4:22PM (6/08/2009)
You do realize you're only insulting the creativity of some random Road and Track artist, right? Nobody knows what the actual car looks like, and drawings of this thing are totally random. Some look like the old Supra, some look like Subarus, and none of them are the actual thing.
We'll know what it really looks like when and if this thing shows up at at an Auto show. In the meantime these renders are about as accurate as any drawing of a car with four wheels and a Toyota logo.
mike 9:19AM (6/08/2009)
"200 hp and 145 lb-ft"
That doesn't seem right... the 1998 2.5rs had more power than that.
Also the rendering looks like a yaris got rear ended by a civic... I mean come on Subaru has been boring lately but not THIS boring.
Reply
Slashlabs 1:52PM (6/08/2009)
1998 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS
2.5 Liter (instead of 2.0) to begin with...
Horsepower: 165 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 162 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm
How exactly is 165 more than 200?
ack154 9:20AM (6/08/2009)
Call me when there is more than another rendering.
Reply
ravenfury 10:07AM (6/08/2009)
Here you go:
http://www.banpei.net/category/tags/180sx-rps13
http://www.autospies.com/news/More-details-of-the-upcoming-Toyota-Subaru-086A-41717/
Mike 9:35AM (6/08/2009)
Word. And they didn't even mention that with a name like Toyobaru, that they would use Toyo tires.
Motor_Yakuza 10:00AM (6/08/2009)
Rumors said that it will come this year at Tokyo, but now they say in 2011-2012, wtf?
Chris O 11:26AM (6/08/2009)
That Banpei rendering looks an awful like the Hyundia Tiberon.... kinda hard to get excited about that. The R&T rendring looks a bit like an old Toyota Paseo (anyone remember that?).
While I'm not in love with the looks of the Genesis Coupe, I have to admit that it certainly isn't bad, either.... and if Toyota/Subaru is going into $20-25k territory, they better come armed with something that at least LOOKS as good as the Genesis Coupe. 2700 Pounds is very light for a current safety spec vehicle, but I really hope that the base flat four isn't the only engine option they plan on offering.
It's weird to think of a Toyota with a flat engine. It's weird to think of a Subaru without AWD. Of the two departures, I'd have to question Subaru's the most... they've got an awful lot of brand equity in their AWD-only approach.
Temple 11:37AM (6/08/2009)
@Motor_Yakuza
Don't know if you've noticed but there has been an global economic meltdown recently. Not sure if its the best time to be launching a new model this year.
The car has been constantly been caught testing. If this car weighs 2,700lbs and its pace is around 0-60 in 6 seconds for around $20k I'm getting this.
Dave 9:21AM (6/08/2009)
It ain't saying much, but that car is better looking than anything Subaru or Toyota currently sell in the USA.
Reply
jaydubz 10:19AM (6/08/2009)
Call me when Toyota or Subaru actually commits to something. It would be a smart idea to inject some sport back into the Boring company known as Toyota.
Keep it fuel efficient and fun and they may just have a hit on their hands.
Reply
Jim 9:32AM (6/08/2009)
I've been tracking the Toybaru over the web for a while. This one isn't telling anything new...
It's beginning to seem that it doesn't exist :) Maybe it's a specially generated disinformation... The car becomes a legend long before it's even shown to public...
Reply
Joe K. 9:33AM (6/08/2009)
"Toyota will mainly be in charge of the car's styling."
Ah, you guys may wanna rethink that....
Reply
Slashlabs 1:53PM (6/08/2009)
Versus Subaru designing it?
Lately, I dont think either one should be designing it...
Joe K. 2:02PM (6/08/2009)
Legacy vs. Camry? Impreza Wagon vs. Matrix?
The list goes on....
tekd 4:30PM (6/08/2009)
While you may drink the Toyota haterade, Toyota's designs have the most mass appeal. The Camry and Corolla might not be the world's most unique designs but they appeal to a LOT of people who think the cars look good. Otherwise they wouldn't be voting with their wallets.
And even though I like the design of the Legacy (considered getting a GT) it's not exactly awe-inspiring design itself.
Assuming that they actually want to sell these cars, letting Toyota do the design isn't a bad idea since their small-car designs get plenty of actual wallet votes. The kind of votes that matter more than car-blog comments, or even car magazine reviews. It doesn't matter how many car reviewers or blog comments bash the design of the Camry or the Prius, because the millions of people around the world who put their money where their mouth is like those designs.
Joe K. 4:52PM (6/08/2009)
Yes, Tekd, it's Toyota Haterade... The company I used to work for, know their products inside and out, etc etc, yes I am completely hating on them. That was the only motivation I had when I made that statement. It's not that the Legacy was a refreshing take on four-door family sedan styling, or that the Subaru line in general has been known for being unique (sometimes too unique.) It was because deep down in my heart I am jealous of Toyota and I wish that I had their success.
Very few cars have come from Toyota recently that have any inspiration in their design. And it was not their design and aesthetics that had the masses flocking in to buy 440,000 Camrys and 379,000 Corollas a year. It was their perceived QDR and mass-marketed value. Believe me, the styling was never seen as a deal maker/breaker for the Toyota Buyer, they wanted quiet, comfort, reliability and MPG. I can count on one hand how many buyers came through the door and stated "I LOVE the looks of this car" in the 7 years I spent at the store.
I will guarantee you the Subie version with their minor tweaks will look better than the Toyota, a la Vibe vs. Matrix.