The rumors about joint development of a rear-wheel-drive sports car by Toyota & Subaru has got the official stamp now. Both Japanese automakers confirmed the news by announcing that they are to jointly develop a affordable, compact RWD performance car. It will be marketed by both Toyota and Subaru and will be based on a Subaru platform but Toyota will design its exterior.Check out below more details about 2011 Toyota/Subaru RWD sport from around the web.
Toyota/Subaru RWD sports car confirmed for 2011 with boxer engine.
Each brand will get its own version of the car, which will be powered by one of Subaru's boxer engines, though the engine's displacement, power output and even number of cylinders is not yet known.
source autoblog.
Subaru & Toyota Officially Confirm Joint-Development of Rear-Wheel Drive Compact Coupes.
According to Toyota and Subaru’s official statement, the compact RWD coupes will be based on an all-new platform with power coming from a Subaru’s range of horizontally-opposed (boxer) engines. The market introduction of both coupes is targeted for the end of 2011, while production is to take place at a new plant that will be built at Fuji Heavy Industries’ (the maker of Subaru cars) Gunma Manufacturing Division in Japan's Gunma Prefecture.source carscoop.
Uncovered: the rear-drive Impreza.
Although the Subaru and Toyota versions of this coupé will look different from one another around the front and rear, both will be powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre flat four engine, making this the first time that a Subaru boxer engine has powered a Toyota. A naturally aspirated version of the petrol boxer engine with 175bhp is being considered for the base model, and there is potential for a hot 2.5-litre turbocharged model later. This will be a car inspired by the classic rear-drive AE86 Toyota Corolla GT coupé from the 1980s, a car known for tail-happy handling. Yet beneath the skin we can expect a reworked Impreza, shortened, lightened and with a bespoke coupé body.....After a launch in Japan, it’s believed the new coupé’s main market will be North America, but it should also make it to the UK. source autocar.
RWD Subaru, Toyota Sports Cars Officially Confirmed For 2010, 2011.
Scratch the "alleged" as we now have official confirmation in the form of an official statement from Toyota CEO Katsuaki "Ken" Watanabe:"The compact rear-wheel drive sports car is envisioned to offer a new 'fun to drive' experience based on an all-new vehicle platform." ....All of this comes on news Toyota confirmed that it's increasing its ownership stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, from 8.7% to 16.5%.
source jalopnik.
Toyota/Subaru RWD Sports Cars for 2011 With Boxer Engines - No All-Wheel Drive?
Prior to the announcement, Car and Driver was told that Subaru engineers were taking unprecedented steps to recalibrate the four-wheel-drive system into a rear-drive setup. And one Toyota executive went so far as to say, “We’re going to great lengths to modify the 4WD into a rear-drive format, so putting a 4WD version together will be easy.” In trying to keep weight down, there has been talk that Toyota was contemplating in-wheel front motors to complete the 4WD package—as opposed to using Subaru’s symmetrical AWD system. But this would impede entry in the World Rally Championships.....The new coupe is expected to tackle the $20,000-plus crowd that includes the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and the Mazda MX5.
source caranddriver
Update On: 2011 Toyota/Subaru RWD Sports Car
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