Some more details of the RWD Toyota-Subaru coupe have been revealed. One being there won't be a turbo WRX or STI version, but rather it will have a 2.0 naturally aspirated boxer four, puting out around 200 hp, and using a 6-speed tranny with an automatic to follow. It will be a 2-seater, and will be priced under £20,000.
The Autocar article (here) mentions the Miata several times as a possible competitor, or at least as a vehicle this new car could go up against in the marketplace. Does that mean a drop-top version may also be in the works?
More here.
cruiserhead1 says:
07:14 AM, 10/21/08
why is toyota pursuing this market? They always seem to have limited success and never want to "keep up with the Joneses" that this market requires.
It seems to cross into Scion TC territory too.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
07:41 AM, 10/21/08
Article wasn't inspiring - sounds like a dud waiting to happen. Weak engine and suspension won't help. Then again, it's early - a lot can happen in two years.
arumage says:
07:50 AM, 10/21/08
Hyundai didn't do to bad in that market (weak engine & suspension) with the Tiburon. If you make it nice looking, you'll get some buyers. :)
ateixeira says:
08:03 AM, 10/21/08
2640 lbs sounds good to me.
I'm not sure how they'll get 190ps from 2.0 liters without forced induction, though.
Their 2.5l makes 175hp, how is a smaller engine going to make that much more?
Having said that, I do hope Subaru builds a roadster, in fact I'd be first in line.
rsholland says:
08:06 AM, 10/21/08
AJ, I think 200 hp is possible using the DOHC and direct injection, and no turbo. They may have to make it a rev-monster like the Honda S2000, but ti can be done.
firstwagon says:
08:26 AM, 10/21/08
Didn't the Acura RSX-S make 200 HP with no turbo?
That was a few years ago too, should be easy now.
Subarus 2.5 has to make as much low end torque as possible as it's hauling a relatively heavy wagon. This sports car should be around 600 to 800 lbs lighter so it won't need the bottom end grunt to move it.
roar02ram says:
08:51 AM, 10/21/08
Firstwagon - Acura did it even before the RSX with the Integra Type-R. Remember that screamer? That was 10 years ago.
The target audience for this car makes me nervous. It doesn't sound like Subaru/Toyota is targeting the Mini/GTI/C30 crowd or the tC/Civic coupe crowd or the Challenger/Mustang/Camaro crowd, but instead the Eclipse/Prelude/Celica segment. Notice that two of those nameplates are dead.
Honestly, for something like this to work long-term, it's gotta go after the Mini/GTI/C30. I don't know about Subaru, but the coupe that Toyota needed to build shoulda been a Lexus. And that's the honest to God truth.
carlisimo says:
12:22 PM, 10/21/08
They're targeting people like me! I'm happy. But skeptical that it'll look anywhere near as good as that rendering... wow.
160hp is a safer bet for a ~2.0L in a car in this class. It takes a sporty engine to get that power level out of a 2.0, but not an expensive one like the 200hp 2.0L engines Honda makes. Those have always been reserved for the $25,000 range, and they're not Toyota nor Subaru's specialty anyway. (The Celica GT-S's engine was outsourced to Yamaha, and it wasn't that widely loved either.)
Long ago, I was a Toyota guy. If the steering feel and playfulness is good, they could get me back.
jederino says:
12:39 PM, 10/21/08
Could be a track day favorite! I like the Miata, but don't want a convertible. This could be interesting, but I would probably have to avoid anything less than a 2+2.
ctpax says:
12:49 PM, 10/21/08
if that toyota coupe on the picture is not a ferrari rip off I don't know what is.
jriz says:
08:59 AM, 10/22/08
That Toyota Ferrari is a fake fake fake fake fake. Unless Toyota is farming out its auto design to a Chinese auto manufacturer, that's a photochop job -- and a bad one at that.
m_thrizzle says:
10:11 AM, 10/23/08
The Toyota sketch has a very Elise-ish front. The rest of it looks pretty good. That Suby shown is, suprise surprise, an uggo, with hints of Scion tC and VW Scirroco.