Purported renderings of Subaru's FT-86 Sports Coupe emerge
It's only been a couple of days since Toyota released initial details and photos of its TF-86 coupe concept scheduled for debut at the upcoming Tokyo show, but we've already been waiting for the other shoe to drop. The project nicknamed "Toyobaru" by the media and fansites is to be a test case for future cooperation between Toyota and Subaru, and the TF-86 is based largely on Scooby mechanicals. A Subaru-branded version of the coupe is expected to follow, and now sketches outlining the design have emerged courtesy of the blokes at Autocar.Sources indicate, however, that Subaru's executives are far from sold on the project. The Toyota-designed platform may not be able to accommodate all-wheel-drive, a signature Subaru feature. And parent company Fuji Heavy is reportedly hesitant to share its technologies with rival Toyota. However, the counterpoint is that the coupe's inclusion in the company's lineup could attract a new demographic, and that sharing components with Toyota would help mitigate costs and reduce overhead.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tricky dicky 11:43AM (10/08/2009)
those "renderings" looks awful "sketchy" lmao
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Sal Collaziano 12:26PM (10/08/2009)
Ya think?! :p I do like the looks of it, however.. I wonder how much it'll differ from the Toyota version. As mentioned in the comments, probably not much - but most people without a chip on their shoulder admit they like the styling of the FT-86 anyway - so I don't think it would be a big deal...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.ft86.net
TonyInMI 1:10PM (10/08/2009)
@xpolarx: "in my idealist little world ... re-engineer the symmetrical AWD system and move the engine to a more mid-ship position."
I live in your world.
BigMcLargeHuge 11:47AM (10/08/2009)
I'll bet the production body differs only by the badge.
Which is fine, since I like the Toyota concept.
Just send the AWD + turbo on the Suby version.
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BoxerFanatic 11:59AM (10/08/2009)
If the Subaru version has the same front axle position... chances are it will not be AWD.
The toyota version seems to have such a short front overhang, that I doubt Subaru's AWD would fit... the engine has to be over and slightly forward of the axle line, and the radiator and other parts have to be in front of the engine...
Subarus usually have longer front overhangs, and the front wheels are closer to the firewall than the FT86's geometry appears to be.
Either the Subaru will be RWD only, or the front end of the car will be different between Toyota and Subaru, or the FT86 Toyota concept is more fictional than production-ready.
xpolarx 12:16PM (10/08/2009)
@BoxerFanatic
You're dead-on. Unless they dropped in a two-cylinder engine, that chassis wouldn't fit Subaru's AWD. Though, in my idealist little world, I'd like to think Subaru is using some of those sales-growth dollars to re-engineer the symmetrical AWD system and move the engine to a more mid-ship position. Knowing the architecture (I drive a LGT, as well), I don't know how they'd do it...I'm just saying I wish they would.
Ligor 12:31PM (10/08/2009)
isn't this a RWD based car
which would make it different from the FWD Subaru build now (explains the long overhang), so thearguments here about the AWD not fitting just doesen't hold
anyhow let's get this car here soon
looks to be promising a lot and it might take the grin off the Genesis coupe considering the lower price point
BoxerFanatic 12:58PM (10/08/2009)
@ligor,
I think you have your facts backwards.
Subarus are not FWD. They are ALL AWD.
I KNOW THIS. I own TWO of them, one of which was otherwise offered as FWD... and was still a longitudinal drivetrain.
The transaxle is BEHIND the engine, and two lateral half-shafts emerge from behind the clutch, or behind the torque converter, from a front differential location, to drive the front wheels. The half shafts angle forward just a bit, but the engine sits directly on the front axle line, biased a bit forward. Audi's longitudinal Quattro systems are the same way, in the A4, A5, A6, and A8, and Q-series SUVs.
The AWD bit, is that there is a third output shaft, from the CENTER differential, to the rear wheel drivetrain, much like a traditional RWD car. The engine resides in front of the entire drivetrain. A Porsche 911-series with AWD is the opposite direction, but the same layout, with the rear-engine behind the whole drivetrain.
The FT-86 is not a traditional transverse engine Toyota. IT IS A SUBARU UNDERNEATH. It has a boxer engine, and REAR WHEEL DRIVE. It basically leaves off the differentials in the transaxle, and leaves off the lateral front drive shafts entirely... and is simply rear-wheel drive, like a Miata is. Which I ALSO happen to own one of, so I know how IT is laid out, also.
With a boxer engine, and RWD, this FT-86 cannot drive the front wheels with them as far forward as the Toyota concept shows them to be. The transaxle is NOT in front of the engine, and Subaru doesn't build AWD with divorced, separate front differentials, at least that I have ever heard of.
The front wheels on the toyota are un-driven, and cannot be connected to the gearbox while they are that far toward the front of the car. The front wheels would have to be further back, pretty much exactly like a current Impreza, or any other Subaru, in order to be in line with the transaxle, to be connected with half-shafts.
Tourian 3:37PM (10/08/2009)
Among all the rumors I thought I heard this car rode on a hacked up Impreza/Legacy chassis with Toyota overseeing the conversion of it to RWD. I did not think there would be an AWD version at all because Subaru was reportedly worried it would tarnish their brand image to even offer the car.
BoxerFanatic 11:45AM (10/08/2009)
The fourth picture (actually #5 in the URL) from the left rear quarter is one of my favorite rumors for this car.
The front is looking iffy, but if the glasshouse and profile of the car is that slick and clean... and if the car is a lift-back, rather than having a tiny trunk... Color me more interested than the Toyota version.
The mutton chops on the toyota's front bumper cover, and the soft curves on the quarter windows, and slab sides... were slight detractions.
We'll see if the Subaru can actually improve on it... This is pretty much their last chance product, to try to impress me again. IMHO, of course.
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Shiftright 11:45AM (10/08/2009)
Please Subaru, don't make it ugly...
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416Hammy 12:59PM (10/08/2009)
C'mon, it's Subaru... the production version most certainly _will_ be ugly.
Protzenegger 3:18PM (10/10/2009)
Just have them bring back the SVX and stop with this Toyota nonsense.
fmwso 11:45AM (10/08/2009)
That doesn't sound good at all. They should have designed the car's specs together since they're in a partnership. By the way, in the first paragraph it's FT-86 not TF-86
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geo.stewart 11:48AM (10/08/2009)
Noah caught what Alex has, the inconsistency bug [ref: Daihatsu article] :-)
ajkl 1:50PM (10/08/2009)
geez. does anyone proofread another person article at autoblog?
petee209 11:52AM (10/08/2009)
The Toyota version looks nicer IMO.
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F50 11:56AM (10/08/2009)
The front end reminds me of the SVT Focus, ugly.
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Michael 1:00PM (10/08/2009)
there are suspiciously a lot of blue ovals in the sketchs....
Eric77TA 1:12PM (10/08/2009)
Michael, I don't know how suspicious that is since Subaru's logo is, well, a blue oval.