2013 Subaru FT-86 spied on the Nurburgring

Article
Gallery

By Brett Davis | June 10th, 2011

Subaru, for perhaps the first time, has been spotted testing its version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe project at Germany’s Nurburgring.

Although there’s been a range of rumours going around claiming that Subaru is not going to develop its own version of the Toyota FT-86/FR-S, according to our spy photographers this test mule is proof such a car will exist in Subaru’s future lineup.

From these spy shots, which show a virtually identical prototype as the Toyota mule spied about a month ago, it’s hard to know for sure that this is the Subaru version. However, there is one discreet clue which gives it away.

According to our photographers, who have a great attention to detail, it’s all down to the numberplates. The ‘MZ’ plates are apparently owned by Subaru and mean the car comes from Subaru’s test centre near the Nurburgring.

Unfortunately, there’s no indication of what sort of running gear there is behind it, or specific engine details. Some reports say it will adopt a rear-wheel drive layout just like the Toyota, while Subaru itself has said it will not be building a rear-drive car in the foreseeable future. Maybe Subaru is planning on bringing out a sports ‘STI’ all-wheel drive version of the Toyota coupe?

Only time will tell, and a long time at that. The entire project isn’t set for production until around 2013. We’ll keep you updated though.

mrxandthexfactor

Hurry up and put it into production! It’s been a while since Toyota has produced a properly good sports car under their own marque. It’s good to see them making the effort to test the ’86
RFAlpha

Hmm, where did you get this information from Brett? The most likely Subaru version of the FT-86 was tested in Socal a few weeks back – the one with the Subaru G ball, slightly revised taillights/exhaust and STI pace car in front.

This looks absolutely identical to the Toyota FT86 mule other than the licence plates.

I really do hope the production taillights look better than the discernible shape from these photos. The concept ones were far sleeker and nicer looking.

In fact the entire Scion FR-S was a better looking car – whilst this is production ready, it’s also a bit more bland to look at and really does look like an 8th gen Celica than the AE86 successor.
http://www.BoostGear.com BoostGear.com

Dear Subaru,

Give it 350 turbocharged horsepower, and hopefully around 350 foot pounds of torque so we can get this party started!

Love,

BoostGear.com
Jimmy

Could very well be the Subaru version. Looks as if there’s a small, black front mount intercooler there in the first pic! I put it through a photo editing program and raised the contrast a bit and it does look a little like an intercooler. If that’s true though, i would never have thought subaru would have ditched the traditional, Top Mount!

http://caradvice OSU811

Being a low coupe bonnet, it probably wouldnt fit on top!!
If it is in fact an intercooler, it would suggest Subaru is planning an AWD turbo version,
which would be smart, let toyota have the light weight rwd atmo version and Subaru the more expensive, but higher performance version!!(no stepping on each others toes then)

davie

It doesn’t look ugly enough to be a subaru.

I wonder how subaru fill go fitting their simply awesome 4 speed automatic into this coupe body?

Daniel

Anyone who buys an automatic Subaru deserves to only have 4 gears.

j

Subaru will make it and sell it as RWD only. In one of the recent motor shows they exhibited their RWD sports car architecture along with their marketing pitch to say that they’re not dilluting their “All 4 the Driver” branding.

And there was a prototype being tested with the big wrx sti sedan wing on the boot. (No, it was not a Supra-esque spoiler, it clearly was a sti spoiler)
Theo

“All 4 the Driver”….nuf said!!!
Bret

Bored of this car already. Hurry up and release the thing!