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Subaru FT-86 rear-wheel drive concept to debut at Geneva

By Tim Beissmann |

Subaru’s version of the Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive sports coupe will make its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Currently referred to as the ‘Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept’ (unofficially dubbed the ‘Toyobaru’), Subaru has confirmed that although the vehicle will not feature the brand’s famous symmetrical all-wheel drive system, it will continue to be powered by a horizontally-opposed boxer engine.

The news is the greatest indication yet that Subaru will produce a rear-wheel drive production sports car, with the brand announcing the concept “shows how Subaru proposes to integrate [its boxer engine] expertise into a rear-wheel drive car to offer a new and highly enjoyable, Subaru-like driving experience”.

Few other details of the concept are known, although our spy photographers captured images of what is believed to be an STI version undergoing testing in Europe late last year, suggesting Subaru has greater plans for the rear-wheel drive sports coupe.

Its twin – the Toyota FT 86 (potentially to be called the FR-S) – is not due to go on sale until 2013, and given that the two share the same platform, it is unlikely we will see a production version of Subaru’s variant much before then.


 

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  • George

    Oh god it can’t be that retarded

    • Shak

      Which one the drawing or the hunchback of Notre Dame?

  • PM

    Surely Subota is a better dubbing than Toyobaru.

  • Old Dog

    You’re right.
    It’s a sketch.

  • Adonis

    It’s the love child of the 550 maranello and a 350z

  • Robin Graves

    How long does it take to release the car? I´m sick of hearing about it just release it! By the time its out Subaru would have butchered it to look worse than a Ssangyong Stavic

  • Toxic_Horse

    Ill take the Toyota version.

  • http://Gallardo BP Legacy 3.0R-B

    Dear Subaru,
    Please get rid of 4 speed Auto (and also 5 speed one too).
    Now you have a connection with Toyota, so get 6AT or better from Aisin.

    Sincerely yours,
    one Subaru owner

    PS your CVT isn’t good as you think.

    • Seano

      Dear bp leagacy 3,0r-b please learn to change your own gears!!! hahahahah

  • Suntory time

    Subaru-stop wasting your time with crap like this, and instead, focus on your design ethos. It has been getting worse with every model post the original WRX.