Toyota/Subaru Coupe Caught for First Time

By Thami Masemola
October 13, 2009 7:53 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Nürburgring, Spy Photos, Subaru, Toyota

Development of a production version of the Toyota FT-86 Concept is coming along nicely. These spy pictures show the car testing with a chassis platform mule for the first time. Toyota will apparently rely on Subaru's boxer power to get it going.

The FT-86 Concept was announced with a 2.0-litre boxer motor making 118kW (160hp). It is speculated the engine could be tuned as high as 200 hp, a 25% increase over its normal output.

A couple of sporting concepts from Toyota have been flung upon the public's face over the past two years or so. Most notable was the FT-HS Concept of 2007 which had a 3.5-litre V6 Hybrid powertrain, a projected power figure of 294kW (400hp) and a 0 - 100km/h acceleration time of around 4 seconds. We highly recommend close conformity to that model.

UPDATE: Video added on 19th October 2009

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Tags: Toyota FT-86 Concept, Toyoburu, Toyota Subaru Coupe

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Comments

joshg_5

October 13, 2009 8:45 PM

I fully understand that the camouflage serves the purpose of changing the proportions and identity of a car, but I see no way the lines and proportions of this can be nice.

Bluntly, this looks like a poor take on a 3-door STi.

fyi: I really want to love this car!

Edited by user on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 PM

Get_real

October 13, 2009 9:37 PM

Don't give up yet joshg, if it is a very early prototype it could even be that this shape has nothing in common with final car except wheelbase and track. Not sure nut it's a bit early. General question to the article writer though, based on what is it assumed this is the Toyota/Subaru? Maybe the typical boxer sound. But even then, could be some new 'pure' Subaru...

Edited by user on October 13, 2009 at 9:40 PM

xantium

October 13, 2009 9:13 PM

While I don't disagree Josh, What you have to take into account is EVERYONE has hated every subaru when it comes out. It always takes 2-3 years for people to warm up to the styling. Everyone hated the bugeye when it came out... everyone hated the flying vee... everyone hated the hatch. Honestly I think this is the first subaru with any type of classic styling since the gc8.

LMS

October 14, 2009 1:23 PM

I can understand people 'warming up' to the Porsche Panamera styling.

Using the same term for a mass-produced car that is supposed to sell by the dozens right now, sounds a bit pointless to me.

Granted this coupe won't sell as much as the 4/5 dr. Impreza/B3s but it won't do them any good if people start to like it 3 years from now...

I second the above, at this moment it looks like an Impreza/B3 coupe in a similar attempt to BMWs 1 series coupe.

If Subaru/Toyota's idea of a coupe is to take the Impreza/Corolla and chop it, I don't see how much credibility they'll gain from it, and they're a long way off BMW who can sell dirt in a box and call it luxury cleansing mud.

odysseus

October 13, 2009 9:39 PM

Ever thinked that this could be a mule?

joshg_5

October 13, 2009 9:52 PM

Well we can only pray...

But i must say the only impreza I haven't liked initially is the outgoing 5-door. I really wish they'd made a 4-dour STi.

Car456

October 13, 2009 10:22 PM

This looks a lot like an Subaru Impreza being a two door coupe.

I really hope it doesn't look like that or they got the wrong car. FT-86 Concept is a pretty sleek car, but this? Let's hope that I just see things wrong, because this is not a coupe I been wanting to see and been waiting to see.

N20_Purge

October 13, 2009 11:12 PM

OMG, a 3 door STI, do want!

The problem is that the hood looks so blank without the scoop, probably because it is n/a.

danteskov

October 13, 2009 11:42 PM

bah... Where is the turbo?... pointless car if they were developing together a coupe(meaning sportiness), they should have made a really good performance car.

Schizo0223

October 14, 2009 5:16 AM

It's probably just a mule to test the chasis...but looking at the wheelbase and the front engine compartment I can some promising lines flowing from the dimensions.

loyo

October 14, 2009 5:35 AM

22B for me please

Ash

October 14, 2009 6:20 AM

Well it does have an Impreza platform, so I guess it is a test mule.

meizterwerk

October 14, 2009 7:47 AM

guys, i think this is not going to be the ft 86 production version. perhaps it will going to be the next gen celica. toyota may be planning to make the ft86 as the next mr2.

joshg_5

October 14, 2009 8:13 AM

That is a very good point, the celica mustn't have been totally abandoned, but definitely not the MR2. Not a Mid-engine platform, and the mr2 wouldn't stray from that.

andrewB

October 14, 2009 4:26 PM

Its a toyaru they should call it, should be good if it has a mixed of subaru all wheel drive and toyota excellent build, whats the go with the back lights, could be one of those mercedes benz SLS which started life as a cut up dodge viper as the build up car for the platform, kinda looks like it to me

xLumino

October 14, 2009 5:10 PM

I hope for a great small coupé with well proportions like the AE86

meizterwerk

October 15, 2009 7:58 AM

hmm. i think this is the coupe that will run subaro badge and will be sold only in japan. i hope to see the ft86 hits the ring.

crtuned

October 15, 2009 11:32 AM

Everyone here seems to be talking more about the looks then what Toyota and Subaru are aiming for since the beginning of the creation of this car, which is a Rear Wheel Drive coupe with low horse power and Superb handling! Also Known As A TRUENO, AE86, Hachiroku or whatever you want to call it. In another case, I think it's kind of too competitive for Toyota and Subaru to create a car that has over 200hp due to the fact that their competitions would be the 370z, BMW 3 series, G37, etc... so if they create this car, it will be within it's own unique class. As for the looks...I believe it's the performance of the car that will show it's true face and make people love it. Just like the GTR and the Z06. I will take the GTR over the Z06, even though I think the Z06 looks more flashy, but after comparing the performance, I take the GTR in a heartbeat.

HEMI426

October 15, 2009 9:45 PM

The proportions are spot on, propper sized bonnet. I hope they don't make the windows too small. I don't think it hasn't got any competition, a bmw 120i/125i coupe comes close, but this would be cheaper I guess.

Razz

October 19, 2009 6:00 PM

If this will be the next coupe of Toyota/Subaru .. i have big doubts about its succes !! I guess this is only a mule body on the chassis, and at the end the car will look like the E86 concept, at least they must make it like the Celica was ... that was a nice coupe, this Impreza front with vw corrado back isn't so impressive!

Aluraeo

October 19, 2009 6:51 PM

other than the really questionable looks at least it seems to have really good turn in characteristics...

dmanero

October 20, 2009 12:44 AM

The suspension seems to be too soft. You can clearly see the car 'bounce' coming off the corner as well the handling looks to be poor, the driver had to correct himself a few times.

carbonfibreguy

October 21, 2009 3:56 AM

I dont like the looks of this car yet judging by the video, but since its in test stages and this is the first time ever this has been caught, ill wait till i see more images arise...

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