More FT-86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ Gratuity Videos

"two stories we hardly need the cars to write."

A comment on the state of automotive journalism, in general?

@ stovt001,

I am not sure it's because you have a crystal ball or some inside info from Toyota/Subaru so you are just so damn sure that the two car will be exactly the same and drive the same. If you know something, enlighten us. If you are just bitching then maybe you should wait until you've read the two articles then gather some new evidences to bitch about. The badge engineering rant is getting old and honestly if that makes both the Toyota and Suby camps happy then I say GOD BLESS BADGE ENGINEERING.

Just for the record, I still don't think it's badge engineering. It's a joint-developed product by two companies and each company will have its own version to sell in their showrooms.

I am probably a .5 driver, so the camoed car in the video would be just fine for me. Compared to my current Outback (which only I, the owner, can do) the BR-Z is 500 pounds lighter with about 35 more horses. That should be fun enough when you mix in the (hopefully) great steering, handling, stability, and (trumpet fanfare) REAR DRIVE.

It does seem impossible that these two can live up to the hype. But, in two weeks, (which is only a short time when referring to the total time of gestation of the two), we will know... maybe. If the Edmunds article starts off with something like "this is only a pre-production model, and the framus has not been installed, and the engine is down a bit on power..." then we will have to put more time on the clock.

@stovt001 & @louiswei

The December issue of C&D has an article about their meeting with Subaru's senior manager for engineering:

"To reduce cost, Subaru and Toyota will share nearly identical versions. The common parts bin includes one [engine]; two [transmissions]; one basic interior; and one set of body stampings and glass. Badges, wheels, and some small trim items will be different."

Vapoware lol

Now now windsor you have to understand, a small light basic RWD coupe is so groundbreaking, so innovative, so ahead of its time, so unconventional that the public had to be eased in to the introduction. If they just launched it like any normal car there would be riots, much like the symphony fantastique debacle. You see over the seemingly decades-long introduction of this car we have been gradually introduced to more and more substantial concepts, to ease us in to finally being able to see the real thing and have the only side-effect be our faces glowing like Moses when he saw God.

I don't think I've been able to open a Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc or visit a car site in the past six months without coming across a FT-86/ BRZ story. Anyone that was a teen as recently as the 1980's or even early 90's and cared about cars, knows that you could have walked into any Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, et al showroom and found an affordable, capable, 4cyl, 5spd, RWD coupe.

Have manufacturers become so jaded with SUV's and bland FWD passenger sedans over the last twenty years that such a basic concept is really ground breaking stuff for our times?

Well there is the miata... Lighter similar power to weight and slightly smaller......

Stovt: This is an exciting car because recently some of the competition was making the Solstice/Sky HAHAHAhahaha. The Miata is a good competitor but it lacks some power and Honda stopped the S2K.

windsor:
Pretty sure you have to get the Mazdaspeed Miata to get the power/weight ratio of the ft86. I also like the look of the ft-86 better personally. The regular Miata is underpowered and this will be a good competitor. Still funny how some people have their panties in a wad about how much exposure its getting.

BTW I drive an S2000 and the ft-86 looks like a nice replacement for me.