Toyota and Subaru are planning on building a small, sub-2.0L sports car, perhaps using the Subie boxer engine. In Japan the Impreza is offered with a 1.5L boxer, so that engine could be the basis. If it comes about, expect the car around 2010. 
Frankly I find it hard to believe that Subaru would even consider allowing their trademark boxer engine to be used in something other than a Subaru...
Then again, the key term used is "under consideration," which means
it's not a done deal by any means. Even so, I find it surprising that the idea is even on the table.
Full story at asahi.com here. More info here and here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Toyota and Subaru Reportedly Planning a Sports Car Together
At the moment it appears this sports car will be badged as a Toyotaâbut what would be really interesting is if they were to develop two distinct vehicles here, to be sold under both nameplates:
• One, a Subaru 2-seater, with the current front-engined AWD platform; something similar to the B9 Scrambler concept they showed a few years back.
• The other, a Toyota, but with the boxer engine placed in front of the rear axle (2WD); sort of a cross between an MR2 and a Porsche Boxster.
Now that that would be cool! Different strokes for different folks...
Full story at asahi.com here. More info here and here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Toyota and Subaru Reportedly Planning a Sports Car Together
At the moment it appears this sports car will be badged as a Toyotaâbut what would be really interesting is if they were to develop two distinct vehicles here, to be sold under both nameplates:
• One, a Subaru 2-seater, with the current front-engined AWD platform; something similar to the B9 Scrambler concept they showed a few years back.
• The other, a Toyota, but with the boxer engine placed in front of the rear axle (2WD); sort of a cross between an MR2 and a Porsche Boxster.
Now that that would be cool! Different strokes for different folks...
anythngbutgm says:
08:11 AM, 08/10/07
This should be cool. Sure is a lot more effort than a handme down POC trailblazer clone. Thankfully Subaru will no longer join the ranks of Isuzu, Saab and Suzuki as raped, pillaged and left for dead...
estreka says:
11:13 AM, 08/10/07
I'd really like to see this ÅuÇlÇq?ÇrÅv sports car. Any sports car below $17K is gonna sell well, especially from Toyota. Could we have the next Miata on our hands?
hondacura4 says:
12:05 PM, 08/10/07
The future product sounds interesting but I hope Toyota doesnt end up diluting Subarus uniqueness in the proccess.
ateixeira says:
10:38 AM, 08/13/07
If they can build a boxer powered roadster for $17k I'm all over the first one.
In fact, market the Toyota version as a Scion.
Scion sB, for SuBaru.
I don't know why they don't just make it a Subaru, though. Perhaps Toyota has a bigger dealer network?
Seriously, I'll put a $500 deposit on that today if they confirm. I loved the B9SC, though I doubt a 2.0l turbo plus electric hybrid assist will make production, especially for that price.