Subaru's rear-drive sports car is sort of falling into the wake of the Scion FR-S. But as these spy photos show, the engineers behind the project haven't forgot Subaru gets a car, too and that car has to sit wheel-to-wheel in dealerships with the WRX. This latest round of Toyobaru spy photos shows the rear-drive Subie testing alongside a pair of WRXs which is stiff competition, even in base trim, the '11 WRX is a hoot.
Aside from the support vehicles, we can see a slightly different front fascia on this version of the car which looks to have some huge foglight cutouts flanking the lower sides of the gaping grille a-la the Subaru 2.5 RS. We also get our first look at the interior with shift paddles, three-spoke steering wheel, bank of rocker-switches and seriously bolstered seats.
subytrojan says:
11:07 AM, 05/31/11
Of course it's the Subaru version! It has the Get More Gs antenna ball! :D
Those look like MY2011 WRX wheels = 17" x 8" = P235/45R17 rubber! w00t!
trackwrex says:
11:42 AM, 05/31/11
yeah. i like how they differentiated the car with that antenna ball. i can see how that front fascia can house a nice, front-mount intercooler. one can dream, right? :)
jkheuer says:
12:01 PM, 05/31/11
testing with the STI is a good sign
imag1 says:
12:07 PM, 05/31/11
I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed with the translation to production. It's looking more like an early 90's design than something at the leading edge.
As far as Subaru vs. Toyota - whichever one gets the turbo(s) is the one I'll be test driving.
subytrojan says:
12:17 PM, 05/31/11
jkheuer, that is a WRX, not a WRX STI, that is next to it.
imag1 says:
12:18 PM, 05/31/11
And: why do the Japanese always screw up the wheel offsets?
BMW and Audi don't seem to have a problem with getting the wheels out near the edges of the car. Why are their rules different? Spacers and/or new wheels are a lame solution.
omairkhanzada says:
12:39 PM, 05/31/11
The car is riding on Michelin summer tires. That's a really good sign!
subytrojan says:
02:17 PM, 05/31/11
I was wrong on the wheels. FAIL! They are MY2012 Impreza 17" x 7" wheels.
http://filecache.drivetheweb.com/mr4enh_subaru/2937/100100.jpg
ed124c says:
03:01 PM, 05/31/11
Interesting that the A pillar doesn't have the reinforced triangle-- the (fixed?) vent window opens with the door. I hope that doesn't cause a lot of wind noise.
Does this car class need to have as much roof rigidity as a larger car?
So far I have no negatives about the twins. Then again, there isn't that much that we really know.
melohor says:
09:37 PM, 05/31/11
what's the point having both cars RWD.... at least one AWD, so people could choose... two companies came up with one bad idea ..... if it's AWD, I would consider, but not RWD sorry..
lucien4 says:
03:30 PM, 06/ 1/11
This looks almost 100% same as previous spy pictures which supposedly was the Scion FT-RS.
So will these 2 models end up looking almost the same when they go into production?
In that case I could see why Subaru may not sell their model in the US.
deathtollwrx says:
04:24 PM, 06/ 1/11
Give this the 2011 WRX engine and turbo and we have a deal.
Light weight and 265 Horses?
I'm wanting this to be epic but for some reason I have a feeling it won't even make 200 horses.
subytrojan says:
04:37 PM, 06/ 1/11
I think that's Dominic Infante wearing the polo shirt and shades.
sherief says:
05:53 PM, 06/ 1/11
ignore the offsets. ignore the tiny wheels. it's not the first time you've seen such oddities on a test mule.
jscion says:
11:03 PM, 06/ 1/11
Considering we really lack Japanese sports cars in the U.S., the shape of the car and the interior reminds me of the times when you could get a sporty, affordable coupe.........Nissan 240SX, Nissan 200SX, Nissan Sentra liftback coupe, Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Celica, Toyota Paseo, Toyota Supra, Mazda MX-3, Honda Prelude...who doesn't miss at least a few of these cars?!?!
Sure, the Subaru should absolutely be all-wheel drive, but this is the best we're going to get from our very bland and conservative Japanese brands.
dgmail says:
03:08 AM, 06/ 2/11
If you think you hate it now, wait untill you drive it.
jmm_101r says:
01:53 PM, 06/ 2/11
Subaru finally came out wit their versin of the FR-S testing...
Ive been fallowing the toyobaru project for the past 3yrz. & ive seen lots of info on Toyota'S VERSION.. subaru did most of the engineering on this car so im expecting a better version of the Toyobaru from subaru. but i am aware of Toyotas potential.. hopefully subaru surprises the public with a version that out does Toyotas. =)
but whatever happends.. i cant wait for these 2machines hit the roads!! as a nissan guy that i am. i know they will be whatchin closely on their sales & market appeal.
cuse rumor has it.. the walls are Talkin' in the nissan camp about a new [S16]
hypeboy says:
08:38 PM, 08/ 1/11
wow it's like a cellphone casing hahahaha