It’s been a while since we’ve heard any updates on Toyota’s upcoming low-cost RWD sports coupe, but now it seems that development of the much-vaunted ‘AE86 successor’ has hit a bit of a speed bump thanks to the Subaru-derived platform it’s being built on.
Toyota engineers involved in the project have allegedly described the Liberty/Legacy-based suspension design as “weak and terrible”. A work-around should be achievable for the Macpherson strut front/multi-link rear suspension hardware, but more worrying news suggests that Toyota may detune the Subaru-sourced 2-litre flat four to 140kW to increase fuel economy. An economical sports car? Takumi Fujiwara never worried about no gas mileage, but it seems Toyota reckons the automotive enthusiast of the future will.
The folks at Autocar say the Toyota FR Coupe’s kissing-cousin, the upcoming Subaru sports coupe, will also be neutered by the ever-present need to improve fuel consumption. A hi-po ‘STI’ version of the car was rumoured to be in the works, but apparently such a variant won’t be welcome in the EU due to concerns over emissions compliance.
[7tune, Autocar]
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The Subaru suspension must be bad if the company that brought you the Camry thinks it’s rubbish.
We’re talking about the Japanese Toyota engineers here. I imagine if the guys who designed the Japanese market cars like the Crown saw a Camry they’d drop dead from a heart attack…
Those pics look horrid from the front. Like a cheap Korean knock-off of a Soarer melted onto a Tiberon.