RWD Subaru, Toyota Sports Cars Officially Confirmed For 2010, 2011

Mark Arnold — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:29:03 EDT

Yesterday we showed you a concept sketch of an alleged coupe to be made by a Subaru-Toyota partnership. Scratch the "alleged" as we now have official confirmation in the form of an official statement from Toyota CEO Katsuaki "Ken" Watanabe:

"The compact rear-wheel drive sports car is envisioned to offer a new 'fun to drive' experience based on an all-new vehicle platform."

In addition we're told production will start in 2010, and Subaru's boxer four-cylinder engines will be used. The RWD Subie sports car should be available in late 2010, with the Toyota coming a few months afterwards in early 2011.

No names have been given for the two new vehicles, though the fan-boy forums are abuzz with rumors like "Subaru Impreza Coupe" or "New Toyota Supra." Both valid options and ideas. We guess we'll have to wait a year or so. Although the last drop of information wrung from Ken today was that the two new cars will be made at a new Subaru factory in Gunma, Japan. Although that facility hasn't yet been built. All of this comes on news Toyota confirmed that it's increasing its ownership stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, from 8.7% to 16.5%. What a day, eh? [AutoCar, MotorAuthority, Automotive News]

First Sketch Of The Rear-Wheel Drive Subaru Impreza Coupe?

Mark Arnold — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:40:48 EDT

Ever since Toyota started riding Subaru, we'd heard the rumors. Supposedly, that sketch right there — turns the rumors to truth. That's right, we're told that there is Subaru's upcoming rear-wheel drive coupe currently in co-development with the boys at Toyota. The story goes that this "concept drawing" was revealed to Autocar, the UK car mag, by a source with some very good contacts. Apparently the source got it via a one-armed courier who'd received the sketch from a carrier pigeon. The carrier pigeon in turn had copied it with a charcoal pencil in his beak off a tattoo on the right rear hindquarter of a guy who knows a guy who's married to a gal who's an insider at Subaru. This is, of course, only a sketch of the Subie version of the coupe. Toyota will also apparently have...

...one as well, although the Toyota one will "look different." The magazine's also hearing both will still get Subie's 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engines in both naturally aspirated and turbo flavors. Now here's the fun part — we're also told Subie's version of the RWD Impreza Coupe will be signed off on in July with production set to start sometime in 2010. If that's the case, how the hell can this be a sketch of the final design? Just askin' the question, you know. [Autocar via CarScoop]

Jalopnik: toyota corolla rwd

RWD Subaru, Toyota Sports Cars Officially Confirmed For 2010, 2011

First Sketch Of The Rear-Wheel Drive Subaru Impreza Coupe?