Toyota/Subaru Compact Sports Car May Only Have 140hp

So much for making the lineup more exciting.

With those looks 140HP isn't enough. It must be disappointing to the people expecting a respectable sports car, compact or not.

— Agent009:

> So much for making the lineup more exciting.

1. At least Toyota/Subaru will not need to be exempt from fuel efficiency development rules like some German fuel wasters and polluters.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/31/german-luxury-car-makers-could-get-partial-exemption-from-co-sub/


2. They article says about 160HP. Why did you misquote it, putting 140HP in the headline? BMW salesman strikes again?

3. With some 10% Americans needing food stamps, an yet another overpriced gas guzzling car is the last thing Americans need. Toyota know this, making a 160HP lightweight vehicle for those who like to drive. BMW (which you sell) does not know this and creates an obese pig twin turbo V8 X6-M. Then goes begging/bribing for CO2 exemption.

4. In Europe, a relatively light compact car size of the Corolla/Golf, having a 160HP engine (especially when it's forced induction engine) and doing 0-62 in some 8 seconds is considered fast and a choice for those who like driving.

Why are you comparing a BMW X6 to this Toyota vehicle? BMW is a premium brand and the problem with that is that in the US they need to offer their most powerful versions for image reasons.

If BMW brought over a 160-hp Z4 YOU PEOPLE would be the first to complain.

Why not. Make it cheap & easy to mod. This could be good for CAFE, as well as the tuner market. The car is supposed to be lighter than it was originally. This could be a good thing.

A beautiful concept but it would be just stupid and meaningless to not put at least 270 hps in it, compared to today's power in other cars.

This car was never going to have 270 hp. It's not a 370Z competitor.

low power + low weight + balanced chassis = win, win and win

Exactly what the original AE86 was all about!

low power=win? I'll sell you my lawn mower its many times less powerful.

lower power = win because it helps make the car more affordable/accessible. The cheapest FR car you can get in the US right now costs $21k. If lowering power means meeting the $17k price target that Toyota set earlier then it'll find itself a nice gap in the market to fill in.

If you read the article it says the car is to be selling at around 2,500,000 JPY, or about $26,000 usd I believe you are hoping for too much...

Pricing of the same car in different countries is never as simple as currency conversion. We Americans enjoy the lowest-priced cars (given the same model/equipment) in the world thanks to the lowest taxes on cars of any country. Even cars that are domestically made in Japan are much cheaper when imported to the US.

Ok, I'll give you that, so here is a fair comparison, the Prius in Japan starts at 2,268,000 JPY, in the US it starts at $22,000, using that ratio to convert this car should come in at $24,250. I dunno, I would prefer an extra couple thousand in my pocket and double the horsepower by buying a base Camaro...

I think most people these days are so spoiled by power that they have forgotten that 140-horsepower in a light and compact car is more than adequate. Give it a suitable transmission with the proper gear ratios and you're all set.

140-horsepower is completely adequate and you can still derive fun out of such a light sportscar with that amount of power.

Some of the most endearing and legendary sports cars from Europe for example only had between 105- and 150-horsepower or even less. Also, power is not everything. The drive, the feel - these are things which also influence the experience of any car.

Trouble is, the lightweight low powered fun to drive sports cars of past are no longer possible to build. Sure they can aim low but in all honesty with modern safety standards and with their intentions of keeping this an economy car my guess is it will weigh 3000lbs, but I wouldn't be surprised if it tipped the scales at 2800lbs... sure it's light compared to today's standards, but today's standards for an economy sports car are also anywhere north of 200hp.

Yeah. Remember the 1.6l 160hp civic SI. it could still hit 0-60 in just under 7 sec even with no torque. Problem now a days is cars are too heavy. Now we have 2.4l 180hp cars that can only muster 0-60 in just under 9 sec. immagine an engine with that power and that torque in the old school late 90's civic si. Lose weight and it won't take over 260hp to get a mid size car 0-60 in under 8 sec.

Didn't it say 160bhp and not 140bhp in the article! Damn why are people hating so much!

Look who wrote the title.

It'll be just more garbage on the road.

Much like your comments...

Turbo it!

I think they should have just took some notes from the STI and Evo. Make An AWD coupe with a turbo motor putting out 300 hp in a light car would have been official, while also getting decent mpg. I kind of dont want them to price it too low. Every ricer will have one which will make it less rare.The car should have been an icon like the r34,rx7 sylvia etc. Either way im sure the car will be quick and handle well.

Once again if you looking for prefomance from Asia, go to Nissan.

What's the deal with all the Nannies here?