Autoblog

Toyota announces Geneva plans including droptop FT-86 Open concept

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Toyota, Design/Style

Automakers from around the globe are gearing up for the Geneva Motor Show next month, and Toyota is giving us a couple teasers of what will be in its display. In addition to what appears to be a single-seat concept called the i-Road (shown at right), Toyota will also give us our first look at a droptop Scion FR-S courtesy of the FT-86 Open Concept.

All we have to go on right now is this sketch shown above, but we do see that this car will retain its rear seats, which could be a potential advantage over one of its key rivals, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Toyota says that this concept will be used to gauge public interest in such a convertible, but we've already heard that a Scion convertible is already planned to go on sale as soon as early next year. As far as Toyota's other concept, there also isn't much information about the i-Road except that it will be a zero-emissions vehicle and it will have seating for two passengers, which based on the drawing will have the driver sitting in front of the passenger.

Toyota will also show off the European version of the new RAV4 as well as its new Auris Touring Sports, which it refers to as a "medium-size estate." Scroll down for Toyota's tease of a press release.

Continue reading Toyota announces Geneva plans including droptop FT-86 Open concept

Toyota announces Geneva plans including droptop FT-86 Open concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's your inevitable Subaru BRZ convertible rendering [w/poll]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Subaru, Design/Style

Word has it that the chassis engineers assigned to the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT 86 make sure that the twins' underpinnings were built to be stiff enough to handle having their tops carved off. We can't imagine strapping a few extra hundred pounds of reinforcements and a top mechanism components would do much for the vehicle's acceleration or handling, but droptops offer their own benefits. Besides, ditching the roof would be an easy way to keep the vehicle relevant as the nameplate ages and would give the Mazda MX-5 Miata some much-needed competition. Autoblog friend Theophilus Chin has taken the time to render up a cabriolet version of the Subaru BRZ for our enjoyment.

How does it look? The renderings themselves are well executed, but we're still partial to the hardtop's lines. Ditching the couple's roofline gives the BRZ Convertible a blocky appearance from the rear, particularly in the decklid area. Head over to Chin's site to take a look at other angles and then be sure to weigh in with your vote in our poll and/or a thought in Comments.

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Here's your inevitable Subaru BRZ convertible rendering [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru BRZ to pack more power than Toyota version, spawn convertible?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Scion, Subaru, Toyota

It's only a month away, ladies and gents. We're talking about the Tokyo Motor Show that's set to open at the end of November. And when it does, we've been promised that we'll finally see the production version of the coupe being co-developed by Toyota and Subaru.

The so-called "Toyobaru" will be sold under at least three different marques when it hits the market, as a Subaru, a Toyota and a Scion - the latter exclusive to the United States. But new word on the street is that the Subaru will receive the most powerful version. While Toyota has said its version will pack about 200 horsepower, Subaru indicates the BRZ (as it's been officially named) will pack "less than 300 horsepower," very likely putting it in the high-200 zone.

There are also rumors afloat of a potential convertible version. Reports indicate that the chassis was engineered from the get-go to lose its roof and accommodate a droptop, but while Toyota has refused to comment on the prospect, Subaru is reportedly considering it closely.

Subaru BRZ to pack more power than Toyota version, spawn convertible? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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