04-09-2008, 02:01 PM
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#1
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Regular User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 523
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RWD Impreza coupe/AE86 reborn
from: http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/232133/
Toyota and Subaru are joining forces to develop a sensational new sports coupé together, shown above in an Autocar image.
An inside source revealed top-secret sketches, showing that the car’s brief is to be compact, lightweight, rear drive and fast. Although the Subaru and Toyota versions of this coupé will look different from one another around the front and rear, both will be powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre flat four engine, making this the first time that a Subaru boxer engine has powered a Toyota.
A naturally aspirated version of the petrol boxer engine with 175bhp is being considered for the base model, and there is potential for a hot 2.5-litre turbocharged model later.
This will be a car inspired by the classic rear-drive AE86 Toyota Corolla GT coupé from the 1980s, a car known for tail-happy handling. Yet beneath the skin we can expect a reworked Impreza, shortened, lightened and with a bespoke coupé body.
Subaru’s trademark four-wheel drive system will be ditched to save weight, complexity and cost. However,
if the standard model is a success then later plans could include a spiritual successor to the Toyota Celica GT4, featuring the 2.5-litre turbo boxer engine and four-wheel drive.
Affordability is the priority for this so-called ‘Toyobaru’. Costs will be driven down thanks to technology sharing between the two car makers. Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000
in Japan, but it’s likely to be closer to £20k in the UK, rising to £25k for the turbo model. Subaru will build the car at its Gunma plant in Japan, while Toyota is in charge of development.
The final design of the coupé is due to be signed off in July, with production set for 2010. Toyota, which holds an eight per cent stake in Subaru, is said to be keen to attract Japan’s disaffected youth with a Mazda MX-5 rival. In fact, an open-top derivative of this coupé could be another longer-term option.
After a launch in Japan, it’s believed the new coupé’s main market will be North America, but it should also make it to the UK. There’s a big market here for sports coupés and Toyota could benefit from an enthusiast’s car that revives the lustre of the Celica.
Peter Nunn
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OMG
affordable rwd sport coupes need to come back, well done SUBAYOTA... now where's nissan's 200 sx ?
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04-09-2008, 02:34 PM
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#2
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Regular User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,566
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It's aboot damn time!
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04-09-2008, 03:21 PM
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#3
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Detroit
Posts: 9,929
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" Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000"
With a 1.6 liter engine, and 95 hp, no limited slip diff, no passing power, but hey.... at least its .... boring?
And about the £10,000 bit.... V6 Mustangs are cheaper, and have more power... and tons of rigidity in the chassis for those who like bends
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04-10-2008, 04:16 AM
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#4
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Regular User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,570
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Originally Posted by nthfinity
" Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000"
With a 1.6 liter engine, and 95 hp, no limited slip diff, no passing power, but hey.... at least its .... boring?
And about the £10,000 bit.... V6 Mustangs are cheaper, and have more power... and tons of rigidity in the chassis for those who like bends
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But Nth, Initial D taught us all that when one drives an ae86, drifting around corners will allow one to overcome any challenge no matter what . . .
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05-28-2008, 09:06 PM
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#5
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Regular User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,451
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Originally Posted by nthfinity
" Sources suggest that the coupé could cost as little as £10,000"
With a 1.6 liter engine, and 95 hp, no limited slip diff, no passing power, but hey.... at least its .... boring?
And about the £10,000 bit.... V6 Mustangs are cheaper, and have more power... and tons of rigidity in the chassis for those who like bends
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Mustangs are not new.. this is.. and doesnt go through fuel like a whore on a saturday night.
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05-28-2008, 09:15 PM
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#6
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Regular User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The OC™
Posts: 4,881
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Originally Posted by Pokiou
and doesnt go through fuel like a whore on a saturday night.
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Wrong.
EPA Mileage ratings
Subaru WRX: 19mpg (city) 24mpg (highway)
Mustang V6: 19mpg (city) 28mpg (highway)
The price of having to wring out more power from a tiny 4-cylinder.
*I used WRX's mileage figures since the new car's supposed to have even smaller capacity yet around the same power. It's lighter, that'd help. But it'll have the STI's gearbox. I don't know what it'll do for cruising.
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05-28-2008, 09:36 PM
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#7
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Regular User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,570
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Yea, I don't know where people get the misconception that 4 cylinders are almost universally more fuel efficient than other engine configurations. Adding power to a 4 banger has the same fuel efficiency trade offs. Go back to a no compression lame cam design and you'll have a fuel sipper again.
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04-09-2008, 03:30 PM
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#8
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Regular User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riga Latvia
Posts: 204
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"will be powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre flat four engine"
I just disagree with that 1.6 it's all really...
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04-09-2008, 04:06 PM
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#9
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Regular User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 128
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great to see some of the old school japanese classics from the 80s & 90s glory days trying to make a comeback,hopefully they'll get it right. the gtr is already here...now where's the supra, silvias, and rx-7s
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04-09-2008, 04:51 PM
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#10
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Regular User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Miami
Posts: 516
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Im way more interested in that 2.5 Turbo, this could be great!
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Coming soon.
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04-09-2008, 10:06 PM
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#11
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Regular User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,201
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Originally Posted by 04RCSTI
Im way more interested in that 2.5 Turbo, this could be great!
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Turbo, schmurbo... I'll gladly take the lighter N/A 2.0
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04-10-2008, 12:02 AM
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#12
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Regular User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Detroit
Posts: 9,929
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Originally Posted by Svensson
Turbo, schmurbo... I'll gladly take the lighter N/A 2.0
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Subaru boxer 4's NA are terribly asthmatic .... no grunt, very little power... the little bit of extra weight for the turbo is well worth it with drawbacks in weight that only Michael Schumacher could feel
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04-10-2008, 04:55 AM
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#13
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Regular User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 25
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Originally Posted by nthfinity
Subaru boxer 4's NA are terribly asthmatic .... no grunt, very little power... the little bit of extra weight for the turbo is well worth it with drawbacks in weight that only Michael Schumacher could feel
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Agreed. If you want to save weight, cut back on the McDonalds. Add 5% weight to gain 50%+ more power? No brainer if you ask me.
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Mmmmm, free goo.
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04-09-2008, 04:56 PM
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#14
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Regular User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,446
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Wonder if it is for real this time?
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04-09-2008, 04:58 PM
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#15
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Regular User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 219
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That's some great news! Will be looking forward to that vehicle!
Nice find, fordgt!
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