Autoblog

Purported renderings of Subaru's FT-86 Sports Coupe emerge

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Subaru, Toyota

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]

Purported renderings of Subaru's FT-86 Sports Coupe emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyoda says Lexus LF-A on time and headed for America, reconfirms Toyobaru

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

Lexus LF-A Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery

There's a new sheriff in town at Toyota, and he's wasting no time in making his presence felt at the World's Largest Automaker. Fortunately, that finally means a return to building fun-to-drive cars after years of offering virtually nothing to tempt the enthusiast market. We can only hope that some of that sporting DNA finds its way into the rest of the automaker's staid lineup as well.

"The severe drop in the economy and auto market has created some of the most challenging times Toyota has ever faced," says new Toyota Prez Akio Toyoda. "I aim to take us back to what made Toyota successful for many years - making high-quality products at an affordable price."

According to Toyoda, two of the most eagerly anticipated (non-hybrid) vehicles from Toyota in years are moving ahead at full steam. First of all, the seemingly forever-delayed Lexus LF-A sportscar is back on track and headed Stateside. Secondly, Toyoda reconfirmed earlier reports that the planned affordable sportscar made in partnership with Subaru is on its way within the next few years. Finally, change we can believe in!

Gallery: Lexus LF-A Concept

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Toyoda says Lexus LF-A on time and headed for America, reconfirms Toyobaru originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota/Subaru coupe drops 40 hp, loses weight, marketed to your dad?

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Rumormill

This is not a fine kettle of fish. For some time now, fans of Toyota's AE86 Corolla and Subaru rally cars have been licking their chops in anticipation of the Toyota/Subaru-developed coupe. Affectionately known as the Toyobaru or 086A, the coupe is poised to resurrect the FR arrangement in Japan and give Toyota a much-needed excitement injection. Or maybe not. The JDM lovin' folks at 7Tune are reporting that the 086A is being neutered by about 40 hp in order for the new vehicle to be branded as an "eco car" in its home market.

But don't fret too much, as the plan is to simultaneously lower the coupe's weight, boosting the power-to-weight ratio. The other (maybe) good news for American consumers is that the power reduction seems to be effecting only the 2.0-liter boxer engine, a motor that Subaru no longer sells in the US. Meaning that we can expect our 086As to come with at least Subie's naturally aspirated and ubiquitous 2.5-liter boxer, if not a whole lot of turbo plumbing -- if makes it to the States.

Toyota is also banking on the fact that previous AE86 owners will view the new car as a nostalgia purchase. As such, they've changed the cars demographic from the coveted, if not fanciful, 18-35 year-old range to the more-likely-to-actually-buy-stuff 30-50 year-old male range. Most of these rumors will be dismissed for good when the Toyota/Subaru coupe makes its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

[Source: 7Tune]

Rumormill: Toyota/Subaru coupe drops 40 hp, loses weight, marketed to your dad? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyota reviving Celica name for joint Subaru RWD car

John Neff — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Subaru, Toyota

The last report about the on again/off again sports car being developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru was that it's on again. Today comes word from L'Automobile in France that not only is the rear-wheel-drive Toyubaru going to happen, but it will arrive bearing the Celica name sometime in 2010. If Wikipedia is to be believed, this would be the eighth generation of the Celica, which traces its roots all the way back to 1970 when it debuted in Japan as an inexpensive rear-wheel-drive sports car. Through the years it switched to front- and all-wheel drive, with the final seventh generation Celica sold from 2000 - 2005 being a strict cart puller. L'Automobile claims that Thierry Dombreval, Toyota's VP of sales and marketing in France, spilled the beans on reviving the Celica name, so we won't consider this news solid until a second source comes forward or Toyota officially confirms it, neither of which is likely to happen. So for now all you Celica fans should just sit tight and light a few candles for your cause.

Gallery: 2005 Toyota Celica GT-S

[Source: L'Automobile via 4WheelsNews via Jalopnik]

REPORT: Toyota reviving Celica name for joint Subaru RWD car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota/Subaru FR sports car code-named 086A, will include direct injection

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Japan, Subaru, Toyota

Over the past few months, rumors have circulated that the joint venture between Toyota and Subaru to develop an affordable, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe has been delayed. ToMoCo president, Akio Toyoda, sought to address those concerns at last month's Tokyo Auto Salon, and according to Toyota's new overlord, development is still underway.

Toyoda told the assembled masses that the new FR sports car is an essential part of the automaker's "rejuvenation" efforts to bring younger people into the fold, and a large part of that is price. The coupe is still expected to cost around 2,000,000 yen (a little over $21,000 US) and is set to go on sale in 2012. According to Toyoda, the production postponement has nothing to do with the delay in construction of the Toyota/Subaru factory, where the two-door was due to be built next year. Instead, Toyoda claims that the hold up is due to the adaption of Toyota's new D-4S direct injection system for the flat-four engine. Currently, the FR sports car is codenamed "086A," and for those of you schooled in the world of Hachirokus, that spells good things to come.

[Source: 7Tune | Image: Holiday Auto (colored by AB)]

Toyota/Subaru FR sports car code-named 086A, will include direct injection originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Next-gen Scion tC will be Subaru-co-developed RWD coupe

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:57:00 EST

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

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.

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Toyota/Subaru RWD sports car confirmed for 2011 with boxer engine

John Neff — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Subaru, Toyota

At a press conference in Japan today, Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe finally confirmed that his company is jointly developing a pair of rear-wheel-drive sports cars with Subaru. Each brand will get its own version of the car, which will be powered by one of Subaru's boxer engines, though the engine's displacement, power output and even number of cylinders is not yet known. We're also not sure if the Subaru version will feature the brand's trademark all-wheel-drive system either as an option or standard equipment, or whether Toyota might offer AWD as well in an homage to the Celica GT4 (we hope so!). The styling will most likely resemble the sketch that was published by Autocar yesterday, though we don't expect one car to be a rebadged version of the other. Mark your calendars for 2011, which is when the new sports cars are scheduled to arrive. They'll be riding on a brand new platform and be built in Japan at a new plant by Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru. Toyota also confirmed rumors this morning that it will be buying up more of Fuji, raising its stake in the company from 8.7% to 16.5%.

These RWD sports cars will mean a lot for both companies, as Subaru hasn't offered a performance coupe since the slightly odd SVX, and Toyota all but abandoned performance models after the Supra, Celica and MR2 were cancelled.

[Source: Automotive News, Autocar]

Toyota/Subaru RWD sports car confirmed for 2011 with boxer engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota to double stake in Subaru parent, Fuji Heavy

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Subaru, Toyota

Emerging reports indicate that Toyota is preparing to nearly double its stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries. Toyota initially bought into Fuji when that other automotive giant, General Motors, sold its 8.7% stake to its Japanese rival. The new share-grab, the door to which was opened by revised Japanese laws, would bring Toyota's partial ownership of Fuji up to 17%, just short of double its current stake.

Since Toyota's buy-in of Fuji, cooperation between the two companies has only increased, ranging from new product development to manufacturing. Insiders predict that with the increased stake will come even more integrated collaboration between the two Japanese automakers, which, considering Toyota's enormous success worldwide, can only mean good things for Subaru's operations.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that with Toyota reportedly considering following Honda into the sky, Fuji's other core business in aerospace could prove an invaluable asset.

[Source: Indianapolis Business Journal via Straightline]

Toyota to double stake in Subaru parent, Fuji Heavy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru to sell re-badged Daihatsus in Europe

Chris Tutor — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Subaru, Toyota

In an effor to expand its European offerings and meet tighter emissions requirements, Subaru has made a deal with Toyota to re-badge as many as 10,000 small cars. Partly owned by Toyota, Subaru will sell slightly modified Daihatsu (a Toyota subsidiary) Sirions (also known as the Daihatsu Boon in Japan and the Toyota Passo) in Europe. The small Subes could be on sale as early as later this year. No word yet on what the new variant will be called and we aren't holding our breath for a high-horsepower rally version any time soon.

[Source: AP via Yahoo]

Subaru to sell re-badged Daihatsus in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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