02-26-2009, 02:59 PM
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#1
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Regular User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The OC™
Posts: 4,881
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Toybaru / Subayota 086A Details Emerge
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 Phelan
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http://www.freep.com/article/2009022...ect+is+on+hold
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Last edited by revhard; 08-04-2009 at 04:50 AM.
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