Subaru Worries A Toyobaru Sportscar Could Tarnish Their Image In The U.S.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru, remains leery about bringing the rear-wheel-drive sports car it has co-developed with Toyota Motor Corp. to the U.S.

At issue is whether the well-known all-wheel-drive brand could support a RWD sports car such as the “Toyobaru,” as online enthusiasts have taken to calling it.

“We’re an all-wheel-drive brand,” Michael McHale, Subaru of America Inc. spokesman says in a phone interview. At question is whether brand loyalists would “forgive us a one-off exception,” he adds.

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LexSucks - 12/21/2009 1:13:08 PM

-3 Boost

Blandness spreads. They should be OK as long as it isn't advertised as a Toyota.

PerformanceGuy - 12/21/2009 1:34:56 PM

+3 Boost

Just give it the STI treatment and make it AWD.

thstone - 12/21/2009 2:15:42 PM

+3 Boost

Yeah, I'd hate to see Subaru's "sports car" image tarnished (insert sarcasm here).

rigid - 12/21/2009 2:39:51 PM

0 Boost

I just hope they mandated that every one of the Toyotas engines has a Subaru badge on it. Co-developed boxer engine between Subaru and Toyota yea right I am so sure the Toyota people helped a bunch on something they have zero expereince creating. That would be like VW saying they codeveloped the next 911 engine.

Whelan - 12/21/2009 3:34:36 PM

+2 Boost

Hey look, another car that we will end up getting the dull toned-down version of in the US instead of them offering the turbo 4 with AWD and over 250hp. Why not just offer a base, WRX, and STI version and call it a day. The base is RWD the other two are AWD. It' can't be that hard.

LAME sets itself up for another FAIL.

mini22 - 12/21/2009 11:54:29 PM

+1 Boost

Yes-Subaru feels it has found its formula for selling cars in the US and does not want to ruin it. I can understand their point of view as they have been successful in this market. My understanding is that they have really paid attention to customer input. A RWD vehicle really goes against their grain and ultimately may have limited appeal and limited sales. What they would have to charge for the AWD option might cut into their WRX formula. I bet they don't bring it to the US at least until they can see how their version does in other markets.

truckman - 12/22/2009 7:51:17 PM

+1 Boost

As long as it doesn't rust and is reliable.lol