Confirmed Toyota Using Subaru Technology For Sports Car

New reports have emerged from Japan confirming that Toyota is working on a new low cost sports car scheduled to go on sale before the end of the decade and priced around two million yen (US$16,780). Toyota will build the car with help from Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company), who the Asahi newspaper reports will be providing one of its trademark boxer engines. Toyota bought a small 8.7% stake in Fuji back in 2005 and has since supplied it with small cars built by its Daihatsu subsidiary. This new project will see Fuji return the favor with the supply of a 2.0L horizontally opposed engine, which was chosen because of its lower center of gravity, low cost and smoothness.
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Hyundai - 8/10/2007 10:28:08 AM

+6 Boost

Sweet mother of pearl! Who said nothing good would come out of this?

Oh, and PS, Subaru also benefits from Lexus and Toyota parts (push-button start-systems on its new Impreza WRX and other visible/non-visible parts), so this is only fair.

This is going to be one good relationship!

Agent009 - 8/10/2007 10:33:11 AM

-1 Boost

It might work out, but right now they are in the honeymoon stage.

4x4rules - 8/10/2007 3:02:39 PM

-1 Boost

this quote says it all

"Subaru fans were initially disappointed that Toyota’s involvement would make the company boring "

OUCH

r15mohd - 8/10/2007 10:35:27 AM

+6 Boost

i dont think anyone thought this was gonna be a msitake for either company. Subaru's AWD is top-notch, and toyota can only benefit from their flat-engine/awd technology.

Subaru, i believe, can now open up their sights and really conquer the EVO/STi battle. they have very deep pockets now!

henbmw - 8/13/2007 9:33:02 AM

+1 Boost

I'm still rooting for the Evo

david989 - 8/10/2007 11:17:06 AM

-6 Boost

Clearly this article was posted by a Toyota hater. They want to make Toyota look bad. Toyota's TRD beats Subaru's whatever sports division anyday. Heck Toyota has more racing heritage than Mercedes for example (but many people don't know that).

xj13 - 8/10/2007 11:21:22 AM

-4 Boost

TRD is rubbish and david666 your a joke.

david989 - 8/10/2007 11:28:00 AM

-10 Boost

Agent001 or Agent009 or whatever Agents are there. Please be more selective in the future with the articles you post because this one clearly is not true. Toyota would never use Subaru's racing technology. Subaru might used Toyota / Toyota TRD technology but not the other way around. Last I heard, BMW even used TRD suspension technology for the new M3! So German fanboys, read before you talk garbage!

Alec - 8/10/2007 11:42:25 AM

+5 Boost

Prove your claim david989, prove that BMW uses TRD aftermarket suspension. Im not saying TRD is bad, I just think what youre saying is utterly BS.

jellybone - 8/10/2007 11:59:35 AM

+5 Boost

david989, who are you and when did you fall on your head and start living in ingnorant land? All companies have various forms of success and failure in motorsport, but motorsport has almost 0 influence (other than marketing and maybe some technology trickle through) on production vehicles. Subaru's AWD is excellent and Toyota can supremely benefit from that, Toyota has money and Subaru can benifit there..

david989 - 8/10/2007 12:13:41 PM

-8 Boost

Toyota has more motorsport heritage and success than BMW or Mercedes combined: FACT

BMW M approached Toyota TRD for help regarding the BMW M3s suspension tuning. Has been like this since the 1980s. Not many people know about this.

AudiLexus - 8/10/2007 11:42:25 AM

+1 Boost

I agree with your first paragraph.

r_driver04 - 8/13/2007 4:28:12 PM

+1 Boost

EVO sucks. It took Mitsu. how long to get the Evo to beat the WRX. It's about time. Too bad Mitsu. is still in the red with their junky products.

Alec - 8/10/2007 11:46:40 AM

+3 Boost

I think we already new this before this article came out. Ahem the new Impreza. There are enough styling hints to see Corolla in its design. But I wouldnt mind seeing a new Celica with the AWD from Subaru, or an entirely new entry level sports car.

SupraNeverBack - 8/10/2007 1:02:05 PM

-2 Boost

Now I know why Toyota do not produce AWD 280hp Corolla. Because they don't want to do damage to Subaru.

ICON - 8/10/2007 1:22:13 PM

+3 Boost

Well thanks for clearing that up for me. I have always wanted a Corolla race car. WTF!!

Shredmo - 8/10/2007 1:23:16 PM

0 Boost

IMO, it wouldn't do damage for (2) reasons:
1. It would not be considered a standout in safety
2. It would likely have sub-par AWD compared to the STI, or any other Subaru AWD drivetrain.

Subaru is currently known for their safety and good AWD. We have yet to see if the new generation of Subarus will have their safety compromised with this merger. They perviously had one of the safest line-ups of any automotive manufacturer.

Still, a 280hp AWD Corolla would be cool.

Hyundai - 8/10/2007 2:30:20 PM

0 Boost

ICON would not know an ICON if it ran over his firstborn.

4x4rules - 8/10/2007 3:00:28 PM

+1 Boost

I think that toyota is really after subaru's design team.

4x4rules - 8/10/2007 3:04:08 PM

+1 Boost

that must be it!!!!

SupraNeverBack - 8/10/2007 7:36:26 PM

0 Boost

Toyota are only interested in saving Subaru and getting their Li-ion battery.

ICON - 8/10/2007 8:37:38 PM

+1 Boost

Right Hyundai...brilliant commentary, I do know I will never see an ICON named Hyundai (unless they start recognizing shipping containers)

BMW995 - 8/10/2007 1:23:35 PM

0 Boost

The article states Toyota will be producing a low-cost sports car w/ help from Subaru. Next we see a picture of a econbox or relatively cheap looking sedan which is claimed to the spiritial predecessor to this new sports car.
First of all, sports cars are two-seaters. The one shown is a small sedan. What is it going to be?
I do like the idea of weight around 2200 lbs...should handle well.

Alec - 8/10/2007 1:44:46 PM

+2 Boost

"First of all, sports cars are two-seaters. The one shown is a small sedan."
Yeah and Mercedes had coupes which is defined as a TWO door car, until MB added two more doors, now a coupe with 4doors (also the RX8). So whats your point BMW995? Sports cars are only two seaters? What about sport sedans? Sport CARs can mean sport coupe, sedan and convertible with a design for spirited driving.

Designer1 - 8/10/2007 1:52:43 PM

+3 Boost

German fan boys, what is all this hate for Toyota and Subaru working together? They're both great car companies. Isn't better than MB and Chrysler sharing technologies with each other? lol

Bunch of haters.

4x4rules - 8/10/2007 3:05:52 PM

+3 Boost

i really like the look of the prototype in the article

M53R - 8/10/2007 3:18:53 PM

+2 Boost

If you look above you will notice who started the whole problem....

Hint: david989

07mcs - 8/10/2007 6:02:05 PM

+2 Boost

david989 is a Toyota hater? from the posts seems like he is not against Toyota.

Hyundai - 8/10/2007 8:50:13 PM

+2 Boost

He is trying to make david999 look bad. Some people overlook the slight difference in user IDs and think that they are the same person. david999 is a legitimate/normal poster who is quite levelheaded and reasonable (a Toyota/Lexus fan, if you will), but david989 makes his commentary so far out in the left field, it's a surprise that more people here don't pick up on the humour of his posts.

Kinger - 8/16/2007 6:55:20 AM

+1 Boost

"who is quite levelheaded and reasonable (a Toyota/Lexus fan, if you will)"

Ha, excelent use of sarcam there...

Shredmo - 8/13/2007 9:34:20 AM

+1 Boost

Regarding rebadging a WRX as an entry level Lexus, Saab already tried this (9-2x aero). It ended up being a cool car, but an complete failure in the market.

alfistiDK - 8/11/2007 10:05:12 AM

+1 Boost

Hehe and how on earth would that petty little flat 4 drive that heavy IS-f ?....hardly

Hyundai - 8/11/2007 3:12:15 PM

0 Boost

That petty little flat-four has more torque than the 4.0L V8 in the M3, doesn't it (not saying that I agree with huu76's ideas... )?

alfistiDK - 8/12/2007 2:04:17 AM

+1 Boost

Well...its turbocharged, so no suprise it has huge amounts of torque. But cmon, a flat four in a Lexus sportscar ? never....

XYZZ - 8/12/2007 5:44:14 AM

+1 Boost

this car could be a winner!

remember the splash of the original Miata? backordered for months, as it filled a big VOID in the market for $20k sports cars.

this should do even better, at $15k, 2200 lbs.

XYZZ - 8/12/2007 5:49:18 AM

+1 Boost

as either a 2nd generation OR as a companion model, toyota should put this boxer engine in A NEW MR2.

it would give Porsche fits! esp. if turbo'd like other subies.