HeilSvenska
02-26-2009, 02:59 PM
The sporty compact car Subaru and Toyota were developing together has been put on hold because of the worldwide economic slowdown, both companies confirm.
The program had been developing a pair of sporty small cars for sale by both automakers in 2011. The companies' other high-profile collaboration, the assembly of Toyota Camrys in Subaru's Lafayette, Ind., plant, remains intact.
Toyota took a small stake in Subaru when GM ended its relationship with the all-wheel drive specialist in 2005.
The 2+2 compact sporty car had been slated to use a version of the Subaru Impreza's platform, horizontally opposed boxer engine and transmission. It reportedly modified Subaru's all-wheel drive drivetrain to a rear-drive setup and moved the engine slightly rearward in the chassis to improve weight distribution.
The car would have filled one of the few obvious gaps in Toyota's lineup, a small and affordable sporty car.
It would also have given Subaru a performance model priced below the $24,995 all-wheel drive Impreza WRX.
The Toyota and Subaru models reportedly had different exterior designs.
By Mark Phelanhttp://www.freep.com/article/20090226/BUSINESS01/902260376/1014/Subaru-Toyota+compact+project+is+on+hold
The program had been developing a pair of sporty small cars for sale by both automakers in 2011. The companies' other high-profile collaboration, the assembly of Toyota Camrys in Subaru's Lafayette, Ind., plant, remains intact.
Toyota took a small stake in Subaru when GM ended its relationship with the all-wheel drive specialist in 2005.
The 2+2 compact sporty car had been slated to use a version of the Subaru Impreza's platform, horizontally opposed boxer engine and transmission. It reportedly modified Subaru's all-wheel drive drivetrain to a rear-drive setup and moved the engine slightly rearward in the chassis to improve weight distribution.
The car would have filled one of the few obvious gaps in Toyota's lineup, a small and affordable sporty car.
It would also have given Subaru a performance model priced below the $24,995 all-wheel drive Impreza WRX.
The Toyota and Subaru models reportedly had different exterior designs.
By Mark Phelanhttp://www.freep.com/article/20090226/BUSINESS01/902260376/1014/Subaru-Toyota+compact+project+is+on+hold