DEVELOPED SIDE-BY-SIDE with Toyota’s upcoming FT-86 coupe, Subaru’s entry-level two-door sportscar has been spied testing this week at the Nurburgring circuit.
With flared guards and a profile similar to the current generation WRX STI, Subaru fans in Australia and the US might be inclined to dub Subaru’s new coupe the spiritual successor to the famed 22B.
Of course, lacking the extra motivation of a turbo - and possibly riding on a Liberty-derived rear-wheel-drive platform - the new coupe would be considered the 22B’s scion in spirit only.
Heavy camouflaging, along with massive cladding to the rear end and rear quarters, make it difficult to discern the exact look of Subaru’s new two-door, but a STI-like style appears likely.
Power is expected to come from the same Subaru-developed naturally-aspirated direct-injection 2.0 litre boxer engine powering Toyota’s FT-86 concept, developing around 150kW.
Adding credence to the likelihood of a RWD layout, the Subaru coupe’s cabin is positioned further back above the rear axle.
While the FT-86 concept is destined for this month’s Tokyo Motor Show, a proper look at the Subaru version of the joint project’s pair of entry-level coupes is likely some way off.
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.
At least the rims on it are good
Horrideous is the only way to describe this car
Kind of reminds me of the Toyota Paseo from the late 90’s. Wasn’t the a useless car, 1.3 ltr engine if i remember correctly.
Guess I’ll be waiting with fingers crossed for a replacement silvia now.
The affordable 2 door RWD sports car segment used to be so strong, surely if its brought Toyota out of the sports car desert then Nissan can come through with the goods also.
The Z-car lineage was asleep long enough, don’t let Toyota/Subaru rack up all the sales for a market where lack of supply will see strong demand once something has been released. Just look at how strong the resale values are on S15’s.
Cameo: That’s hopefully because it’s camouflaged. I hope that entire rear section is fake, if it’s still that shape in the showrooms… blech.
Glenn,
I had to smile at your comment. It made me remember when BMW started their controversial designs in the 90’s. Their cars were ugly but they had the best looking wheels in the industry.
Unfortunately for me, Subaru went ugly in 2000 and just never got any better.
Unfortunately those rims haven’t been used for a couple of years. The Sti Liberties and the Tuned by Sti WRX’s had them up till 2007 but 2008/9-> (i think 2008 included) had the newer hideous rims
Sticky tape anyone? WTF are Subaru doing? I personally have an 09 STI, and to be honest, wouldnt touch this with a 40′ pole.
Top Gear mag made the comment in their Hot Hatch head to head review this month that “Subaru have lacked a dedicated designer since 1999, and have been forced to model their cars on random items found at the factory - the latest WRX is based on a glob of chewing gum under the boss’s desk”…… I’m starting to feel that this is true!
Good luck subaru…..