Toyota and Subaru colaboration!!!

[murtada87]

Saw this article in Business Weekly and thought it was pretty cool... if you don't want to read it, is states that Toyota wants to buy more shares in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries and work with Subaru to build a new rear wheel drive sports car using a subaru boxer engine!!!
Return of the supra maybe??? with a boxer rumble?? I'm excited to see what they would come up with, production they say starts in 2011

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080410_404544.htm?chan=search

[WRXCMM]

I heard they were gonna throw a boxer in the celica...:shocked:

[Rally OBXT]

Put the old 2.0L turbo in the Celica, give it all wheel drive and you will have a kick azz little car!!!

[SReitsma]

if they can keep it under ~$20k starting price that'd be siiick

[TSiSS350]

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o128/localmike/stuff/subaru-ae86.jpg

I have to say, I am a little dissapointed by the overall subaruness look of it, hope fully the Toyota derivative will be a little more..........well toyota looking, a little boxier, maybe AE86 or TA22 inspired.

And as far as the engine, I have never been impressed with the rev charectorists of non-turbo Subaru motors and would MUCH prefer a proper twin cam small rev happy inline four. Actually the 2.4 tC powerplant would be good, if not a little big.
I am excited by the return of any rear drive small affordable car and if it looks and drives nice, I am in. Keeping a close eye on this one!

[WRR]

a related story from this mornings 'American Internationl Auto Dealers Assoc.' daily email of auto headlines:


Toyota Sports Car to Arrive in 2011
Automotive News (http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=133862914&sid=3817874&m=469350&u=AIADA4&s=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/ANA02/901310862/1197) reported yesterday that Toyota's long-anticipated sports car will arrive in 2011. It will be jointly developed with Subaru and boast a boxer engine. The compact, rear-wheel-drive "affordable" car will be built at a new Japanese plant to be set up by Fuji Heavy Industries, parent of the Subaru brand. Each company will market the car separately and badge it as its own. The model is part of a sweeping expansion of the tie-up between the Japanese companies. At a news conference in Tokyo, CEO Katsuaki Watanabe also said that Toyota Motor Corp. would boost its stake in Fuji Heavy to 16.5 percent, from its current 8.7 percent. "I think there is high potential for this car," Watanabe said, adding that it will be sold in Japan and overseas. "We haven't had a sports car for a long time. This is a long-awaited-for model." Pricing would be "not prohibitively high," he said. The new car fills a gap left by the retirements of the MRS two-seater, the Celica, and the Supra.For more on Toyota's sports car, click here (http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=133862914&sid=3817875&m=469350&u=AIADA4&s=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/ANA02/901310862/1197).

[chief2000]

Actually I have been following this for a while. I am almost 90% sure now that they are talking about bringing back the Sprinter Tureno. The new 86 for the new millenium.:mrgreen: I had a picture of the prototype that they had shown in a Japanese car magazine. Its probably online.

[chief2000]

found it, but don't have time to translate it.:nono

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/8070802002mini1l.jpg

http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/26425/2006134352631741937_rs.jpg
http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006118378226994218

[TSiSS350]

Hmmm, havent seen that pic yet. Looks very similar to the toyota pic I posted especialy in the overall shape and the c-pillar/quarter glass shape. I think I like it, but I am def not in love with it yet. I will hold out on an actuall opinion untill I see production concepts.

[murtada87]

yeah I gotta agree, it's ok, I wanna see some specs!!!

[BlackParis]

Well from that last add with the specs on it...

2204 lbs
1.5liter
107 ft-lb trq @ 3800rpm
160 hp @ 6500 rpm

Doesnt really excite me? Unless the subaru motor is goingto be a "sports" model option? though 2200lbs is damn light...

[TSiSS350]

2204 lbs
1.5liter
107 ft-lb trq @ 3800rpm
160 hp @ 6500 rpm


2200 lbs?! With 160 hp that is a proper sports car!! If they can pull that off put me down for two!

[409industries]

Wow, the idea of a new Toyota with a boxer motor is pretty sweet, although i like the sound to remain synonymous with Subarus!

A sports car Toyota for under 20K is going to be tough to do... Toyotas arent generally considered "cheap" because they actually care about making decent cars...