In what will likely be heart-wrenching news for many, Toyota and Subaru have together – according to the Detroit Free Press – confirmed that the small entry-level RWD sports car project the two companies had been working on, is now on indefinite hold.
Codenamed 086A, the ‘Toyobaru’ project (as it had been nicknamed, along with ‘Subota’), stood to return Toyota to its glory days as an enthusiast favourite, and to offer Subaru fanatics a RWD option.
The Freep.com article – by Mark Phelan – offers no sources or quotes from representatives of either manufacturer, but given the current global economic climate, it’s not a difficult story to believe.
No other information was available, short of speculation and re-capping Toyota’s and Subaru’s intentions for the car.
Loading ...
Comments
Click here to jump to Add Comment box
How do you get a picture next to your name?
Get a Gravatar. Click here to find out more.
Its a real shame on Toyota, they really need an entry level sports car. But I guess its financial hard time for everyone, hope they reconsider the project again once things start to pick up again
C’mon Toybaru. Don’t let Hyundai own the affordable RWD coupe market.
I’m sure its not just an economical issue. I’m sure they weren’t ready to put out a car with as many features and as much power as the 2 Gen coupes. And with the 2.0t having evo roots and the 3,8 performing in the g37 range. A 22k sports car has a new definition. And these Nissan and Toyoburu cars would have probably been cheaply done. Now that they see what the competition turned out to be. They probably want to start from the drawing board. Especially Nissan with that weak ass 1.6 turbo. Toyota looked like it had a Lil more promise but. Maybe they needed at least 250hp option and a 2900lb car to make up the power deficit compared to the genesis 2 options to really compete. No one had that. With hyundai having 2 engines 260 hp is the competetive happy median for Nissan n Toyota. At a 23,995 to 28,900 price point. And they need to come at least 80% of Gen features with a better tranny set up and higher torque curve. Its the only way.
Thank goodness for Hyundai genisis 2.0 r model. Subaru and toyota eff off and die for your uninspired(toyota) and heavy ass, ugly (subaru) uninteresting available offerings.