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Subaru 2010 New York Auto Show Product Premiere Could Be The Toyobaru

Subaru 2010 New York Auto Show Product Premiere Could Be The Toyobaru

Todd DeMeza

Contributing Writer BIO

Todd DeMeza has a long time interest in and passion for cars. During high school, he decided he wanted to use his enthusiasm to become an automotive... More

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2011 Subaru Coupe Spy Shots

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So far, the news focus of the affectionately named Toyobaru project has leaned heavily toward the Toyota-side. Toyota has done a good job of promoting the FT-86 to the point of even coming up with a tuned and turbocharged G Sports concept at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon.

Nelson Ireson, our editor at SCM, has gotten word that Subaru will be conducting a "global product premiere" at the 2010 New York Auto Show. With no other cars rumored, it’s a good guess that the product will be the Subaru coupe.

There has been no information given of the Subaru version, so the automotive press can only speculate on specifications at this point in time.

Subaru’s image features all-wheel-drive being in their entire line up and bringing a rear-wheel-drive car into the mix would it mess up. Using a modified Impreza platform as the bases of the Toyobaru could allow Subaru to keep their image intact by giving it standard all-wheel-drive.

Viknesh Vijayenthiran of Motor Authority predicts that the Subaru will be more upscale. He writes, “Insiders have now revealed that the Subaru version will adopt the automaker’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system and feature a 250 horsepower version of the same four-cylinder engine. Subaru’s sports car is also expected to feature a longer wheelbase than the Toyota, and this, plus the extra weight of the all-wheel drive system, will warrant the extra power.”

These changes might possible move this version of the Toyobaru away from the FT-86’s planned $20,000 starting price and move it up the market into the $30,000 range. Think of it less like the XT and more like the SVX of years past.

With the Toyota FT-86 G-Sport packing a turbocharged, Subaru should have no problem giving theirs forced induction.

Ireson speculates in another Motor Authority entry that Subaru will have no problem with coming up with an STi version. He writes, “One possibility is that Subaru will introduce two up-rated models, much like the Impreza line features the WRX and STI. A 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated 250-horsepower car could slot between the base 2.0-liter car and a turbocharged version rated at up to 300 horsepower. In this scenario, the highest-performance model, much like the Impreza WRX STI would be targeted at a limited audience, and would command a premium price.”

The press and public will have to wait and see with anticipation if Subaru will finally show their side of this joint project.