Toybaru Sports Coupe update

By Matt Brogan | November 18th, 2009

Three weeks ago CarAdvice showed you renderings of what Subaru’s version of the FT-86 “Toybaru” sports car may look like, and the information about the car continues to trickle slowly out of Japan.

The latest news is that the Subaru will be around 50hp (37kW) more powerful than the FT-86, which could see the naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing close to 250hp (186kW).

It is believed Subaru will make an all-wheel drive version which is expected to be released in 2011, probably after the Toyota, greatly increasing its chances of coming down under.

The cars will share a six-speed manual gearbox but the Subaru is set to be slightly larger and more expensive in a deliberate ploy to keep the cars from competing directly against each other.

Both Toyota and Subaru are yet to commit to bringing their vehicles to Australia when production starts in late 2011.

by Tim Beissmann

http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

I’ll take one of the Subarus please.
http://www.checkwebhosting.com Neutral

The bonnet scoop could indicate that Turbo is on the menu.
Shak

The front end of the subaru looks too much like a peice of melted lego. Although i hate Toyota i would take it based on looks.
http://www.youtube.com/lukestuart1 Luke

The top one looks more like a Subaru/Nissan 370Z mash
Jester

If the Subaru model looks like the CGI then I’m getting it for sure.
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http://www.youtube.com/lukestuart1 Luke

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jay

Pure speculative bunk! Not even Honda’s K20 or their s2000 2L engine can produce 186kw stock. 150-160kw would be the upper limit for NA 2 litres. And I doubt Toyota or Subaru have much in terms of valve lift technology- VVTLi was canned.

More importantly, will there be a turbo version? Proper manual gearbox? LSD? Will it be sold here? Will it be cheap (relatively)?

Gilly

But Toyota has Yamaha to develop their engines, going by the stupid outputs of Sports bikes the power figure is achievable.
All in all the 370z will cream these concepts so what is the fuss?

smokin’R32

I think the toyota is meant to undercut the 370z by a fair margin. Its more in the price and performance range of the old 200sx, which was a good 15-20K cheaper than the 370z

Gilly

Fair enough, good reason for Nissan to release the S16 200sx then!

Jamison

Yeah, I think this article simply used the 221kW STi 2.5 engine and took away the 50HP(37kW) to come up with the 186kW figure.

186kW is indeed achievable on a 2.0 NA engine, but Toyota/Subaru is targetting an affordable price range and to get that power output combined with the rumoured 1100kg weight… thats approaching Lotus Exige/Elise territory with power/weight ratio (Non turbo charged)… too good to be true.. if they do achieve that, I dont see them selling it at an affordable price.

I think 130kW/140kW NA 2.0 is VERY GOOD, if they achieve that. The car is indeed 1100kg or so. After a chip/tune, exhaust upgrade you’re looking at 160kW or so… at 1100kg!!

The Subaru version will be turbo, so power output is similar to current STi.

Wheelnut

I’ll wait for Hyundai to release the Genesis Coupe in Australia.. looks better -inside and out; more power; RWD [therefore; better performance and handling] and most likely around the same price.

Deco

I have to agree.

Those american Hyundais are some fine cars!

Wheelnut

Have you seen what Rhys Millen has done to a couple of them?

He turned one of them into a Drifter with a custom bodykit and At SEMA he put the 4.6 Litre V8 out of Tau sedan in one = approx 500hp

Jamison

We all know you’d rather drive a turd with wheels rather than anything with Toyota badge on it.

The RWD Tiburion.. I mean Hyundai Genesis coupe IS indeed not bad at all (so far), its appealing. But if based on previous vehicles, Toyota, Subaru looks the goods, and considering Toyota has emphasized the handling in all their statements about this car, sounds like they are on the correct path.

Toyota will be more expensive than the Hyundai, given that more people are willing to pay that extra for a Toyota/Subaru brand. Law of nature.. err.. business.

And SEMA is packed of “tuned/customed” cars year in and year out, but Australia has a good market for tuners anyways, I’ve lived in the states, and for aftermarket parts from Japan (HKS, GReddy, APexi etc), USA hasnt got much advantage if any at all in terms of availability… but the lower prices definitely encourages extreme tuning more so than here in Oz.

Wheelnut

You’re right there are those who are prepared to pay a little extra for a Toyota.. However; that’s because they believe just because they paid more for it then its undoubtedly better than its [cheaper] rivals

Rivals which in a number of cases have as many [if not more] features; engines with similar [if not more power]; the same [if not better] safety; the same [if not better] performance and handling; can do the same job; carry the same number of people etc as the Toyota does – for less money

Its the basic fundamental of Advertising: If you promote something hard enough or tell people something often enough then a number of them will end up believing it and will buy your product.. More people buy McDonald’s for example even though The burgers are just as good [if not better] at Hungry Jacks

Tom21

naturally aspirated 4 cylinder engines are awful too drive.

Shak

Tell that to Honda’s Type R Civic.

Philthy

And Renault’s Clio Sport

Gilly

Yes the lack of bottom end torque can be a pain in everyday commuting but wind them up and they can be fun.

Tom R

NOOOOOOOOOO GAH ABOMINATION. IT MUST BE ALL WHEEL DRIVE!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR
Yanzo

yet to commit to bring it to oz… noooooooo! bring it here i’m begging you!!!
insomniac

I’m so over this back and forth from Subaru… first its RWD, then its not being sold in Aus, now its turned into AWD. JUST DECIDE FFS.
Most of us who have been following this development are hanging out for a small/mid RWD coupe. How hard is that? I mean really? If Hyundai can do it…
I’m behind Toyota 100% on this. I just hope they give us a boosted TRD version with a mechanical LSD (maybe from the new Lexus

Philthy

I don’t think anybody actually knows what Subaru’s plans are for this thing. Toyota’s seem to be fairly clear though. 2.0l, RWD, NA.

insomniac

There was word of “gt” or TRD performance models in a few articles I read. I wonder if they would stick with NA for those also?

…a small SC (Like used on the 4AGZE) would be a great option IMO. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Jamison

To be honest… Subaru should scrap their coupe and focus on the WRX STi.

If anything, and they must bring a coupe… Badge it as SVX STi and sell it for 100K… because a 60K SVX will steal market share from WRX and WRX STi.

The STi and WRX is regarded as their performance car, even if its 4 door and hatch… people who BUY STi/WRX are in the market for sports cars but leaning towards practicality a bit.
Neo Utopia

For me the Toyota version looks better, one of the very small amount of Toyota models I like, adding this to the Supra of course.
http://www.tune86.com FT86

the Subie design picture is really good. as TMC/subaru said, the difference will be lights/bumpers/bonnet, but then again its just a sketch. Toyota is a shareholder of Subaru and is pushing Subie to go RWD, bet Subaru is still deciding wether they should add an exception to their AWD line of sporty cars. Subaru should really go AWD. the chassis is shortened and made for AWD racing. the design in picture is really beautiful. It would be a great low budget AWD coupe as Toyota Celica GT4 used to be!
props to the designer of the rendering!