Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumormill: Next-gen Scion tC will be Subaru-co-developed RWD coupe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/rumormill-next-gen-scion-tc-will-be-subaru-co-developed-rwd-cou/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/rumormill-next-gen-scion-tc-will-be-subaru-co-developed-rwd-cou/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/rumormill-next-gen-scion-tc-will-be-subaru-co-developed-rwd-cou/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Carscoop is reporting that Toyota has finally confirmed what many have long suspected: The next Scion tC will be a variant of the upcoming Subaru-Toyota rear-wheel-drive coupe project. At a press conference back in April, Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe had confirmed that his company was jointly developing a pair of rear-wheel-drive sports cars with Subaru. Each brand would get its own version of the car, which would each be powered by one of Subaru's boxer engines.

It looks like that powerplant will be around 2.0L in size and put out around 200 horsepower. Based on an all-new RWD platform, the affordable coupe should show up Stateside by the end of 2010, or possibly early 2011. That new tC will probably be joined by a version of the iQ minicar in Scion dealerships as well, also according to Carscoop's Toyota insiders. A reborn, rebadged Celica and a Smart-fighter could be a compelling pair for Toyota's youth brand. As always, we'll keep you posted.

[Source: Carscoop]

Rumormill: Next-gen Scion tC will be Subaru-co-developed RWD coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>scion rwdscion rwd coupescion tcScionRwdScionRwdCoupeScionTcsubaru rear wheel drive sports carsubaru rwdsubaru rwd coupesubaru toyotaSubaruRearWheelDriveSportsCarSubaruRwdSubaruRwdCoupeSubaruToyotatoyota rear wheel drive sports cartoyota rwdtoyota rwd coupetoyota subaruToyotaRearWheelDriveSportsCarToyotaRwdToyotaRwdCoupeToyotaSubaruTue, 11 Nov 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Subaru worried that RWD coupe could dilute brand]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/subaru-worried-that-rwd-coupe-could-dilute-brand/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/subaru-worried-that-rwd-coupe-could-dilute-brand/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/subaru-worried-that-rwd-coupe-could-dilute-brand/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One topic of debate that began raging after Toyota and Subaru officially announced their collaboration on a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe was how the Toyobaru would be marketed, particularly with both brands getting their own models. Apparently, Subaru execs share our concerns.

Subaru has branded itself as the purveyor of competent, multi-purpose vehicles that begin and end with one distinct feature: all-wheel-drive. By adding another vehicle into its lineup lacking that core trait, Subaru risks diluting its hard-earned image, not to mention going toe-to-toe with the Toyota monolith by selling a badge-engineered variant.

Automotive News spoke with Fuji Heavy Industries overseas sales chief, Mat Nagato, who said, "We may lose our longstanding territory, or we may lose the great niche brand image. The potential risk is there. We have to be very smart on marketing strategy." This issue has to be weighed against the short-term gain of a new, inexpensive model for enthusiasts and Subaru's continued growth, but the simple solution would be to nix the Subaru version altogether, allow Toyota to brand the new coupe as its own and rake in the cash provided by the partnership. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, so the only thing Subaru can do now is make an attempt to differentiate its own version from Toyota's, while praying that consumers won't forget what "Makes a Subaru a Subaru."

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Subaru worried that RWD coupe could dilute brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rear wheel drive coupeRearWheelDriveCoupesubarusubaru rwd coupeSubaruRwdCoupetoyotatoyota rwd coupeToyotaRwdCoupeMon, 21 Apr 2008 15:58:00 EST