Rendered Speculation: Subaru's 250-hp FT-86 coupe in STI trim
Despite dropping all the information about its Tokyo-bound concepts, Subaru hasn't hinted at when we'll be seeing its version of the Toyota FT-86 coupe. Thankfully, Japan's Holiday Auto has stepped up to the plate to throw more fuel onto the fire with a subtly modified sketch of the FT-86 and some possible powertrain information of Subaru's first rear-wheel drive coupe.
According to the report (and a heaping helping of common sense), the Japanese rumormongers expect the STI version of the coupe to debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show (after the standard model is revealed next year), complete with Subaru's 250-hp EJ25 2.5-liter boxer. Similar to the dual-injected, 200-hp EJ20 fitted to its Toyota brethren, the engine will remain naturally aspirated, but a turbocharged version hasn't been ruled out.
In addition to a wider track and upgraded tires, wheels and brakes, expect the STI version to don a gaping front fascia and a sizeable rear wing, similar to the camo-covered mule we saw in the latest round of spy shots. If Subaru wants to compete with the rest of the high-horsepower sports cars in the U.S. and Japan, it better get cracking, because competition is fierce, and the only way it can compete is to keep the price down and the weight in check.
Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Concept
[Source: Holiday Auto via 7Tune]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
vespid82 7:31PM (10/13/2009)
Wow, that took a lot of imagination (/sarcasm).... and some ATROCIOUS rendering skills.
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Nick 9:16PM (10/13/2009)
Excellent linework but.........did they hire a 5 year old to render this with crayons?
AC 11:07PM (10/13/2009)
most design in the industry started out on papers with a pencil.
as a Toyota version rendering.. it actually looks better..
I like the look... I would buy this over any coupe that's in the same class..
FT-86.com 12:00AM (10/14/2009)
We translated the whole article. If you want to read up more on the Subaru version feel free to check it out at
http://ft-86.com/showthread.php?t=315
Taglane 12:05AM (10/14/2009)
Are you guys really bitching about the fact that the render isn't of top quality? Maybe it's not the best I've seen, but if think you can do better- post it up.
Olivier Parent 2:50AM (10/14/2009)
This is an excellent hand-made rendering, the guy just used markers in stead of airbrushing the whole thing which would take a lot longer to do. Looks like a typical Mark Stehrenberger rendering.
nzo 3:39AM (10/14/2009)
So its going to be a GTR with a Subaru badge?
Sal Collaziano 6:07PM (10/14/2009)
250 horsepower in this light little car is going to be very, very, very impressive. As long as the torque is up, which I have a feeling it will be, this car is going to fly.. Even the Toyota version with 200 horsepower should be nice.. Actually, it may be the Scion version...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.ft86.net
ChaoZ 7:31PM (10/13/2009)
That rendering makes gives it quite a lot of Nissan DNA. It's as if a 370Z had a kid with a GT-R.
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MachinaDC5 7:36PM (10/13/2009)
I'd say it looks more like a CLK 63 AMG.
nighttime 12:05AM (10/14/2009)
that would be incest.
gross, cut it out.
Matt_Shift 4:14AM (10/14/2009)
@ChaoZ
thinkin' the same thing you were...
Subie GT-R?
MachinaDC5 7:34PM (10/13/2009)
I'd buy that car so hard it'd make your head spin.
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hector000 7:40PM (10/13/2009)
as a subaru fan myself i have to say, its missing a hood scoop!
then it'll be a true subaru
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Frank 7:54PM (10/13/2009)
At Toyota's 10% stake hold on Subaru I think this will remain a pipe dream. GM sold the 10% to Toyota because they wanted common process and the ecotech power train for the Subaru. The engineers at Subaru said no to their changes and you think Toyota has changed their minds? It's bad enough that Toyota's influence eliminated the frame less windows now the Boxer engine gone? This would make their product line Vanilla.
Azrael4h 8:15PM (10/13/2009)
Frank -
Reread the article. Both the Toyota and Subaru versions of this car will be using a BOXER engine. Meaning not inline, horizontally opposed pistons, etc... Toyota is not taking away the boxer yet. If anything, they need to dump their own garbage 4 bangers, and use the Subaru engines.
Mike 8:20PM (10/13/2009)
Frank you are all kinds of wrong.
1968-1999 Nissan had a 20% stake in Subaru. Nissan Sold it's 20% stake to GM who then sold 8.4% to Toyota and dumped the rest in 2005. Toyota has since increased its stake to 16.7%. GM shed Subaru and all of it's other minority stakes because it needed liquid cash. Frameless windows went away under GM's stake w/ the 2006 Tribeca. If you'd pay attention to reality, it's been said many times that this car is based off of a shortened Impreza platform and does indeed use a boxer engine. Know what you're talking about before trying to sound like a "know it all"
ambientFLIER 8:43PM (10/13/2009)
Hood scoops are precisely what makes 99% of subarus so damn ugly.
Steve_S 7:45PM (10/13/2009)
Keep it near 3,000 lbs and make it about 330hp with turbo and I'll park it next to my 08 STI.
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9600baud 8:46AM (10/14/2009)
No turbo no sale, seriously. At least a turbo version