SPIED: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Sedan Scooped at the 'Ring
April 16, 2010
The new 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan was officially revealed at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, but our spy photographers have captured the Japanese maker's big-winged saloon testing at the Nurburgring.
At a first glance, it appears that the car is nothing more than the European specification version of the high-performance sedan.
However, a closer look reveals small but important differences clearly suggesting that the STI seen here may very well be a prototype for a limited edition Spec C model.
These include the blacked out alloy wheels, gold colored brake calipers (quite possibly "brembo"), fog lamp covers and the front lip spoiler, all of which were not shown on the New York Show car but are standout features on the JDM Impreza STI Spec C hatchback (see here).
2011 Subaru Coupe: Speculative Renderings and Rumors for AWD and Turbocharged Engines
October 27, 2009
The Toyota FT-86 coupe concept was only just introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last week, but the internet-grapevine is already abuzz with speculation and chatter on its Subaru twin. These new speculative renderings of the Subaru-badged coupe that are based on Toyota'sFT-86 concept model were published in the latest issue of Japan's 'Best Car' magazine. The CGI's are accompanied by rumors of all-wheel drive and a turbocharged boxer engine for the Subie.
However, let us remind you that when Toyota and Subaru first announced that they jumped into bed together to give birth to an affordable pair of compact sports cars, the two Japanese automakers were pretty clear about both models featuring a rear-wheel drive setup.
Here's what the two companies said in a joint statement about the coupes in April 2008:
"Toyota Motor Company (TMC) and Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) - Subaru's parent company - are to jointly develop a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car that will be marketed by both TMC and FHI."
"The compact rear-wheel sports car to be jointly developed by TMC and FHI is envisioned to offer a new "fun to drive" experience based on an all-new vehicle platform powered by an FHI core-technology horizontally-opposed engine. Market introduction is targeted for the end of 2011. Production is to take place at a new plant to be built at FHI's Gunma Manufacturing Division in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. TMC will consign production to FHI."
We're not saying that AWD or even more plausibly, a turbocharged version, are out of the question, but we won't take anything for granted until we see an official statement or better yet, a concept version from Subaru that will give us an idea of the company's intentions.
The only thing that we can be sure about now is that Subaru will market its own version of the coupe. If it will be available in all markets or if Subaru will offer the option of AWD and/or a turbocharged engine is something that remains to be seen.
Photos: Best Car
SPY VIDEO: 2011 Toyota FT86 - Subaru Prototype Captured on the Nurburgring
October 18, 2009
The oddly shaped coupe covered in layers of metal and camouflage tape that you see in this spy video undergoing tests at the Nurburgring race track is none other than a test mule for the upcoming Toyota / Subaru co-developed rear-wheel drive sport coupes. Understandably, there's no way of knowing if it's a prototype for the Toyota-badged model that will be previewed at this week's Tokyo Motor Show with the FT-86 Concept or for Subaru's derivative that has yet to be revealed or even named.
Not that it matters as both compact sport coupes will share the same mechanical underpinnings including a modified version of Subaru's 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine said (but not officially confirmed) to produce up to 200HP.
Both the Subaru and Toyota variants of the rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupe are to be produced in Japan at Subaru's Gunma factory with the first examples due to arrive in the market in late 2011.
Via: Jalopnik , Source: Ft86club
Official (?) Sketches of Subaru's Version of the Toyota FT-86 Coupe Hit the Web
October 7, 2009
Now that the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe has caught our attention with its sleek looks, compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive configuration and the icing on the cake, its price which is said to be in $20,000 range when it goes on sale in 2011, it's time for the media to speculate on the appearance of its Subaru twin. More specifically, a series of supposedly official sketches that are said to depict numerous design proposals for Subaru's variant of the coupe made their way onto the internet today.Even if it is confirmed that these renderings are indeed sourced from Subaru, you don't need to be designer to see that these are rough sketches drawn on a very early stage of the development of the car. Still, feel free to express your thoughts on the design proposals in the comment section below.
Details on Subaru's version of the rear-wheel drive compact sports car that is been jointly developed with Toyota, remain scarce. All we know is that both models are based on the same platform and use Subaru's horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine.
We'll have to wait to see if Subaru's version, which is also set to hit the market in late 2011, will get a rear-wheel drive layout and/or the option of an all-wheel drive system. However, it is almost certain that Subaru will give us a taste of its proposal by unveiling a concept model at one of the next major international auto shows.
Via: Worldcarfans , Source: Autocar
