Spied! First-Ever Look At Toyota-Subaru RWD Coupe

[Sulu]

Earlier today we took a look at a rather shot-in-the-dark rendering of the upcoming rear-wheel-drive coupe from Toyota and Subaru. Our friendly neighborhood spy photographers at CarPix must have been tuned in, as they’ve come back this evening with the first-ever real images of the car–at least in prototype form.

...

This car that is built together by Toyota and (Toyota-owned) Subaru will probably be called Toyota in Japan, and Subaru in the rest of the world. Model names are still unknown, but it has leaked out that the engine will be a 2.0 litre boxer engine with about 220 horsepower. Through a six-speed gearbox it will then send the power to the rear wheels. Together with low weight that will probably make the new coupe a “drift” happy toy. Not only the drifting will make you smile, the price will start under $20.000, and that will also make you happy.

Expect a debut in late 2010 or early 2011.

Source: http://news.windingroad.com/body-sty...aru-rwd-coupe/

[CharmCityES]

ive been waiting for these pics so long....
i cant wwait till this things comes out....im already saving my money so i can scoop one when they first come out....im just hoping they dont make it under the scion name....just not a good idea to me, as toyota needs this sports car to compete with nissan and honda.

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by CorCamrySE

ive been waiting for these pics so long....
i cant wwait till this things comes out....im already saving my money so i can scoop one when they first come out....im just hoping they dont make it under the scion name....just not a good idea to me, as toyota needs this sports car to compete with nissan and honda.

Pray really hard... The word floating around (including this article quoted above: "This car that is built together by Toyota and (Toyota-owned) Subaru will probably be called Toyota in Japan, and Subaru in the rest of the world") is that the Toyota version is staying in Japan only, and NOT coming to North America, whereas the Subaru version will be international, so will be coming to North America.

[cwayne]

The doors look short for a "2 door coupe". I have a feeling it might be a 4 door, ala RX8.
The rear tail lights is very Subaru "Legacy-ish".
The side view mirrors have a "tC-ish" look.

I think it would be an excellent idead to bring this over with a Scion badge since Scions are targetted towards the 18-30 year old crowd. You slap a Toyota label on this and you'll see 45 year old women driving it everywhere, which is what happened with the Celica.

It's not a good idea to release this car in the states with a Subaru badge is because Subaru's slogan is "The beauty of All-wheel drive". Hmmm...

[cwayne]

One thing I'm not looking forward to is the number of morons who'll think they deliver tofu for a living and might kill someone when they wrap this car around a tree on the way home.

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by cwayne

The doors look short for a "2 door coupe". I have a feeling it might be a 4 door, ala RX8.
The rear tail lights is very Subaru "Legacy-ish".
The side view mirrors have a "tC-ish" look.

I think it would be an excellent idead to bring this over with a Scion badge since Scions are targetted towards the 18-30 year old crowd. You slap a Toyota label on this and you'll see 45 year old women driving it everywhere, which is what happened with the Celica.

It's not a good idea to release this car in the states with a Subaru badge is because Subaru's slogan is "The beauty of All-wheel drive". Hmmm...

I don't think this will be the actual vehicle. It seems to be using a shortened Subaru Legacy body over the real car's new platform as a disguise, as the article states:

The vehicle captured in these photographs is clearly using a Subaru’s Legacy as its base but it looks as if the front and rear clips, wheelbase, and interior have all been modified from stock.

It seems to be quite common (especially from Toyota) to use a modified current car body as a test mule. The spy photographers have to see what changes have been made to the existing car body to get some clues about the new vehicle. For example, the shortened Legacy body here suggests that the new vehicle will have a shorter wheelbase than the current Legacy; and what may be extended front fender flares would seem to indicate that the new vehicle will be wider, or at least have a wider track. Don't quote me, though, on the width, because I am no expert when it comes to interpreting spy photographs of test mules (and I am definitely no expert when it comes to the Subaru Legacy), so it may all be speculation on my part.

If this vehicle is not due out until 2011 or 2012, I think that it is still too early to get spy photographs of the actual car. The platform may be (almost) ready, especially if it is based upon the current-gen Impreza, but I think that the body is probably not yet ready.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by cwayne

One thing I'm not looking forward to is the number of morons who'll think they deliver tofu for a living and might kill someone when they wrap this car around a tree on the way home.

good one. Yeah same here.

[100$ GUY]

Speculation is over.... start saving. I mean, if there was any doubters.