In a previous interview with MotorAuthority, Subaru of America product manager Dominick Infante revealed that Toyota will largely be responsible for the styling of the car while Subaru will handle most of the engineering. This means the new model will be Subaru at heart, with a four-cylinder boxer engine in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms planned.
Base models will be strictly RWD and have a power output of around 220hp. Though no official details have been released, it’s expected that an AWD flagship with 300hp from a turbocharged flat-four will be available as well. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard, although an automatic is also expected to be available.
To complicate matters further, reports emerged earlier today claiming Subaru would launch a new coupe version of its Impreza with both RWD and AWD powertrains around the same time this new sports car is due.
The two new coupes are expected to be differentiated largely by price and performance. The new RWD sports car is expected to be launched in late 2010 or early 2011 and will be priced from less than $20,000.
Reader Comments
Wed Jun 4 2008 9:39 PM
The Stig says
late 90's/early 2000 accord headlights
mazda3 body lines
legacy tail end
Wed Jun 4 2008 10:13 PM
chris says
reminds me of the last civic?
funny how we havent seen a design concept for this car but theyre already road testing a platform with final(ish) body? maybe we're missing something here?
Wed Jun 4 2008 11:31 PM
Mike W says
Makes you wonder why GM could not get it together with Subaru while they were partners !
Thu Jun 5 2008 12:17 AM
Wizards Lore says
and dont forget the grill eo fan MG...
guys this is a mock up...pretty good to make you think of all those other cars instead of the one they are trying to test. fair play to them !
Thu Jun 5 2008 12:23 AM
anthony says
That's a "sports car", look's too bulky!
Thu Jun 5 2008 1:11 AM
MyWheelsOnWalls.com says
You guys have been on this site long enough and around cars to know one thing. ITS A MULE!!!!! AKA the only thing its got in common with the finished product will be the wheel base. Ford back when it owned Jaguar had S-Type running gear installed in Lincoln Mark VIII's when S-type was a prototype.
If I'm wrong then Chris gets a large lunch from a drive up window from me.
As for the camo? They are trying to cover up the parts from their existing parts bins so as to hide which manufacturer built the thing.
Thu Jun 5 2008 1:22 AM
bambam says
Its a Subaru legacy or liberty
Thu Jun 5 2008 4:11 AM
U says
you haven't seen the design concept? its all over the internet by now
try looking for Toyota AE86 replacement, then you'll how it look likes
Thu Jun 5 2008 5:43 AM
vanity says
I hope it is bc of the camo but for a sports coupe, it doesnt look all that sporty ... @ least not so far.
Thu Jun 5 2008 6:55 AM
Alan says
For a sports coupe, the roof is too tall and the tail too short and stubby, kind of like 1-series coupe come to think of it
Thu Jun 5 2008 6:58 AM
admin says
Remember that this is a test mule and a lot of the panels are there to hide the styling features.
Bambam - what do you mean "Its a Subaru legacy or liberty"?
Thu Jun 5 2008 7:29 AM
chris says
yeah but typically a mule uses panels from other cars in the company.. ford and jag... the merc and the viper.. we've seen it before.. but if toyota is tearing up other cars just to hide their own... good on em. its confusing thats for sure.
Thu Jun 5 2008 12:35 PM
Roy says
So we should have a throaty engine and ... somewhat edgy styling. I guess the only thing we can conclude is that this car is more promising than if it had been the other way around, with staid (but reliable) mechanicals from Toyota and boxy (if pretty on the new Legacy) styling from Subaru...
Wed Jun 18 2008 6:56 AM
Khaled says
I think it is legacy coupe .
Thu Jun 19 2008 6:16 PM
Brent Burghdorf says
Looking forward to this. I'm hoping it's a highly tunable track car that's under $20k and close to 300 hp. Thanks Toyota and Subie! Keep up the good work and you just might earn my money for my second car.
Tue Jun 24 2008 3:47 PM
Wizlo says
HAHA
Nice Focus clone!!
Wed Jun 25 2008 10:08 AM
O_o says
supposed to only have around 120hp and under $13k
Sun Jun 29 2008 4:27 PM
GKE says
Although this new "sports car" is said to be engineered mainly by Subaru, I doubt that Toyota's quality standards would allow for such a thing. A STI/TRD combo, perhaps?
Wed Jul 2 2008 8:08 PM
ryuu0u says
wow its just a test mule so only the wheel base and chassis will be the same as the final cut no this ugly thing. have u seen the NSX test mule its pretty much a stretched S2k its obviously not gona look like that same goes here!
Leave a Comment
Login or register to leave comments.
Please keep your comments on topic. Your involvement is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms.