Toyobaru Coupe Fast-tracked By The Boss

Joint venture rear-drive sports coupe confirmed by Toyota

By Chris-R / Thursday, 6 August 2009 / Loading comments

Toyota’s global boss Akio Toyoda has confirmed plans to build a ‘fun to drive’ rear-wheel drive sportscar in collaboration with Subaru, but latest reports from Tokyo suggest the fun could be diluted by the global recession.

Toyobaru rendering courtesy of 7tune

According to Japanese website

7tune

(who produced the speculative rendering here)

power for the Subaru engined coupe has been down-graded from a peppy 200bhp to something nearer the 160bhp mark. The

7tune

report suggests that fuel economy is the issue, both from a running cost perspective but also thanks to ever-more stringent legislation from governments around the world.

Codenamed project 086A, but more commonly referred to as the Toyobaru, it’s believed the new car will be revealed in concept form at the Tokyo motor show in October with an on-sale date still several years away. The car is rumoured to feature a 2.0 boxer engine from Subaru, and while Scooby boxers have never earned a reputation for great economy, it’s believed that Toyota know-how will provide a technological boost in that area.

Toyobaru will get Subaru boxer power

While Toyota remains coy on the details, the company’s biggest cheese – a dedicated racer who recently piloted the Lexus LF-A at the Nurburgring 24hrs - remains confident that the new JV coupe will hit the spot:

‘My hope is that I can transfer some enthusiasm from the race track to our road vehicles. I want to see Toyota build cars that are fun and exciting to drive.

‘I am very excited about it, and I plan to fast track it.’