The merger of Toyota and Subaru?
Get ready for Toyobaru!
No, this isn’t an actual merger of the two companies, but a rare alliance to co-develop a rear-wheel-drive 220-horsepower sport coupe. Though recent rumors have surfaced saying the project has been delayed, our friends at Edmunds Inside Line say otherwise.
Based on a revised version of Subaru’s Impreza platform, the new coupe will use Subie’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer engine mated to the 6-speed manual transmission used in the WRX STI.
So what’s Toyota’s contribution to this venture? Mostly product development and quality control. Plus they get a version of the new coupe that will have its own exterior styling. Who would ever have thought you could buy a Toyota coupe made with Subaru parts? It proves that in this age of automotive uncertainty, anything is possible!
Neither of the coupes have official names yet, but the Toyota version will be sold only in Japan, while the Subaru version will be offered to the rest of the world. Pricing should come in around $20,000, providing a fairly cheap coupe sure to be a hit with the tuner crowd and those who relish in the performance of RWD.
The thing is, Subaru has spent a lot of money building a brand around the fact that all of their vehicles have all-wheel drive. While a RWD coupe is good for the performance side of Subaru, I question what it will do to their all-weather driveability status.
The new coupes are on schedule for a 2011 release, and should be something to really look forward to!
What do you think of a Toyota/Subaru alliance?
-tgriffith
Looks like it’ll be a strong competitor to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T.
Well, in many ways, Toyota is a…. well, it’s a boring company. Almost everything is styled to look like Lexus, which isn’t the world’s styling leader. Yep, the high quality is boring too, but in a good way. Who needs the excitement of screaming at a service manager at the car dealership? On the other hand, Subaru seems to specialize in making some of the dowdiest-looking Japanese cars ever made. The combination still looks like a Lexus, and as tgriffith mentions, eschews Subaru’s main reason d’existance, four wheel drive. So what’s the point? I can’t see one. Usually there is some sensible driving force behind joint ventures, but here it only looks like an attempt by Toyota to release yet another Lexus look-alike and keep their designers fully employed. The price (if accurate) seems realistic, but there are many other cars in this class that I’d be more interested in driving than a 2WD Subaru that looks like a Lexus.
I think Toyota is doing this because they need/want a sports car in their line up, but know it would be irresponsible to produce one on their own with the way the car industry is headed. In the 80’s and 90’s Toyota’s Sports cars were highly desirable. The Supra, MR2, Celica. Since those have been killed off, its left Toyota fans (myself included) with NOTHING to be excited about.
This new car gives Toyota Fans some hope, even if it is a Toyobaru.
@Randy
well randy
as you should know that toyota and lexus is basicly the same company
and that toyota is not a very boring car at all
look at the ae86 with the 4a-g engine in it and the toyota supra?
they dont look like lexus’s at all
just saying that the evo came out before the wrx did
so im thinking that the wrx is just a knock off of the lancer evo
If It is going to look anything like this, I will buy one. My lease is ending in june of 11′, perfect timing to get rid of my wrx.
@lee
@lee
do ur research and u will find that the impreza was made long before the EVO and ur lucky ur not driving a Mirage Evolution becuz that almost happened i was there i know now im with subaru.
“but the Toyota version will be sold only in Japan”