Thursday 24th February 2011

Subaru Teaser Hints At Geneva Coupe Concept...

...And it's going to have RWD and a CVT 'box

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Subaru is finally set to reveal its own take on the 'Toyobaru' at the Geneva show, the small coupe that's being jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru.

This is a 'teaser' image of the new Sports Car Architecture Concept, which reveals little other than the basic proportions and - erm - the fact that it has an engine in the front...

The new small Scooby concept is set to cut a pretty controversial figure, though: not only does it drop the traditional four-wheel-drive layout in favour of rear-wheel drive but it also channels power via a CVT transmission.

Subaru hasn't completely left tradition behind, however - powering the concept will be the latest 2.0-litre version of the classic four-cylinder boxer engine. Thank goodness for that...

As for more detail on what it will look like, we're still rather in the dark. Toyota is due to reveal a new version of its take on the concept (the FT-86) at the same show, but Subaru has thus far revealed nothing about how its version of the project will look, other than these sketches of a small Subaru coupe from autumn 2009. All we know is that the concept will point the way for Subaru's new design direction - but we'll have to wait until next week to find out exactly what that is.

[alexpa]

Scooby dooby doo

[jake15919]

Judging by that back-of-a-napkin sketch it looks like not only will it impossible to tell which Aston is which Aston but also which Subaru is which Aston. There might be some confused copy being filed by hung over pressmen next week.

[Escort Si-130]

where are you

alexpa said:

Scooby dooby doo

[Riggers]

hora said:

alexpa said:

Scooby dooby doo

Like fk. It may not share any components but the new (current) Legacy estate looks just like a tarted up Avensis estate IMO.

Selling your identity and soul to the King of bland.

Forgive my denseness, but I don't see the connection? And anyway, when Toyota makes sports cars, they don't tend to be dull...

See various MR2s, various Supras, 2000GTs and AE86 Corollas for details...

[Fittster]

hora said:

alexpa said:

Scooby dooby doo

Selling your identity and soul to the King of bland.

The fact it uses a Subaru engine somewhat undermines your point.

[markCSC]

No turbo and CVT!!!!! Not aiming for the USA yooth market at all, oh no, no, no.

[cptsideways]

Plenty of pics out of mules testing & the FT86 Toyota version is already revealed in concept form though pretty much production ready I'd say from seeing in the flesh.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8

[kambites]

hora said:

The recent MR2? Right, its ok but no really a bloody sports car is it?

Have you driven one? It's one of the best handling small sports cars ever made, certainly in a different class to the much-lauded MX5.

The Mk2 was a bit uninspiring, but the mk1 and mk3 were fantastic cars.

[wab172uk]

doogz said:

Glad it's 2WD.

Expected it to be though.

Was hoping myself, it would be AWD with 300+BHP Turbo engine

But no manual????

[TheRoadWarrior]

PH said:

CVT

...A-HA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-HA-HAA-HAAAA


FAIL.


CVTs are universally rubbish, sorry- but its a fact. Lets hope Toyota are not intent on ruining their version as well.

[wab172uk]

doogz said:

Just buy an Impreza then.

You have seen what it looks like, yes?

[Riggers]

hora said:

No I stand by point. What current/over the past few years Toyotas has Toyota made?

The recent MR2? Right, its ok but no really a bloody sports car is it?

Same with the Celica? Its hideous looking and no 'sportscar'.

'Somewhere underthere is the Subaru engine'.

Couldn't Subaru have hooked up with someone else?

I really do think Toyota is the king of Bland.

Please don't say Corolla is anything even remotely sporty.

Werll... I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one, although I admit it's been a decade, with the exception of LFA, since ToMoCo made anything truly sporty.

Still don't get what the Legacy and Avensis thing is about though and what relevance that has to the Toyobaru?

And i'll leave you with this Corolla :

[Porsche997C4S]

Why are all subaru's so ugly? And that sketch looks like a 10 year olds, they need a new designer.

[zakelwe]

I like the concept but why of why of why the cvt?

Shudders.

Andy

[Riggers]

hora said:

You'll leave me with a Corolla adapted for motorsport from the 90's?

Even Skoda has cars in the Rally championship nowadays.

You'd never refer to a road going Fabia VRS as a sportcar though would you?

It's from the 80s, but I'll let you off on that one.

FWIW though, I would call a Fabia vRS a sporty car, though not a sports car...

Anyway, we go off topic - we're supposed to be talking about Subarus here

[ImDesigner]

doogz said:

Porsche997C4S said:

they need a new designer.

Says the 911 owner.

I'm only kidding btw.

No, he's correct. Those sketches are crap. I could blow those away within minutes.

[kambites]

hora said:

I've driven one. It felt noticeably faster in a straight line than both mk2.5 MX5's that I've owned but as soon as I started turning the steering wheel I prefered the MX5.

No fking way would I describe the MR2 and Celicia's are 'sportscars' or even approaching them.

You can quote 190bhp all day long. Doesn't mean bks to me. Sorry.

The MR2 doesn't have 190bhp, it has about 140. And I don't see what power output has got to do with it.

I certainly wouldn't call the Celica a sports car.

[ImDesigner]

doogz said:

But, go on then, i'm intrigued now!

It could be an interesting design study if Subaru dont pull their finger out

[Davi]

PH copy writer said:

but it also channels power via a CVT transmission

a continuously variable transmission transmission eh? blimey...

[markCSC]

I'm guessing it will look like the 4 door LA concept car, which also has CVT