Let's read between the lines:

"The car will sit on a new Subaru platform and be designed by Toyota, the companies said."

Which means it'll be a next-generation Legacy with minor sheet metal tweaks, FWD removed, and a Toyota badge.

"Fuji Heavy Industries will build a plant next to its Gunma Oizumi ... factory .... It will start operation in late 2011."

This is 3-1/2 years in the future and nothing gets started on schedule. Any project more than a a year or two in the future is pure vaporware, created to assess the response of the money people to the proposed plan. Remember all the hype about the "VW New Microbus" that never materialized? The money people didn't go for it.

Remember Subaru's last attempt at a sports car?



Heavy, underpowered and not too reliable. Subaru learned their lesson and found their niche with the WRX.

 

Actually, the gap ranges between small sporty coupe/conv (MR2) to sports car (celica) to dyno queen monster (Supra). So why not a dyno queen, mid engine, AWD hard top?

 

The SVX was subarus attempt at a higher end sports car to compete with 300z's and supras. On on the level it was a very good car, although it was built ahead of it's time looks wise. I personally love svx's and if you ever drove one, you would love them as well. Heavy but great cars. On the open freeway they really rip it up clocking it at 150+mph. Forced air technologies built a turbocharged one about 6 years ago, I was blessed by getting a ride along, it was NICE! Comphy, powerfull and once she got past 60mph she pulled like a trane.

If they use the current legacy wrx platform for the coupe and take out the "awd" then we will have a very similar setup suspension wise to a tC. Not a true sports car suspension by anymeans but is decent. And if they build it to be affordable, then it will be lightweight with minimalistic interior which is a bonus. Just god please do not give it stupid center mount gauge clusters.

 

"THE CAR WILL SIT ON A NEW SUBARU PLATFORM"!

Sounds to me like Toyobaru is starting from scratch. I hope it's gonna be a mid-rear RWD engine w/ 10,000RPM redline

Note: if possible the best of both worlds in terms of AWD & RWD.. In other words not a full-time AWD but only when pinnacle and same for the RWD. Hence, straight aways would initially grip with all fours, than a split second later utilize the rear wheels to accelerate. In turns all fours kick into action..etc..
Also add the push button fun of being able to choose AWD or RWD for the rally and drift sessions!

 

haha. Man with the sube motors, the tuning possibilities ROCK! I cannot wait for this. And yeah I hope it is on a new platform... Not a fan of the current.

 

So Ive decided Im just gonna start saving now and by then I'll be ready for a nice down payment on this

 

I like the idea of a flat-6 instead of 4 simply cause there's so much more potential there.

 

i want one!!

 

so much more weight and so much more cost involved.

 

very interesting...Toyota and Subaru joining forces for a sports car.

 

u sure? from what i gathered it's basically the same design wise just with another pair of cylinders and what not. In terms of weight, obviously it'll be slightly heavier but i don't believe we're looking @ hundreds upon hundreds of pounds more.

I say flat-6 instead of 4 is cause i'd prefer more straight motor power, so once it's coupled w/ F/I potential will be through the roof!!
Compared to a flat-4 equip w/ F/I that's pretty much tuned to it's max potential. For the flat-4 there wouldn't be as much room to expand upon.

I don't believe we're asking to the most maxed out car Toyobaru can provide, but a car that is VERY good stock and with limitless potential. In order that we owners won't need to bust motor-swaps n whatnot, and can work with the stock block OEM provided.

 

In three years, i'm hoping that I could look at this as a project car. Because I don't want to give up my A4, but I would love nothing more than to get into a Toyota again.

 

Wow if this is true then I can't wait.

 

ill buy a Toyobaru

 

or a suyota...

 

I love the Subie boxer motor as well, just a bada$$ engine. I wonder if it's gonna be a real competitor to the Genesis coupe... I'm sure engineers in Japan are sweatin that bigtime right now.

 

^^ i didn't even think about that. but doesn't the Genesis going to be equipped with the V8? thats more 650i territory.

im thinking more Altima Coupe, they look about the same size

 

I dunno...I look at that drawing, and I can't help but see a slightly updated version of a Toyota Paseo. Maybe it's just me though.

 

Not only would it weigh more, it's distribute the mass further forward of the driver compartment. I would rather a 4 cylinder positioned as far back as possible. I don't care too much about stock power because anything that's "normal" now-a-days is fine by me so long as the chassis is kept lightweight. That way, power increases are much more noticeable and you still get nimble handling.

 

Count the number of current Subaru platforms and you'll see that the chances of them straying too far from their tried-and-true past is pretty slim. By 2011, the entire Subaru line will be due for a platform redesign and it's likely that the Toyota rebadge will be one of these.