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.