Subaru-Toyota-Celica-GT-Four Rumor Update Options

[Supersprynt]

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6229094/asia/s...trac/index.html

According to a recent issue of the Japanese magazine Best Car, Toyota is forging ahead with its rumored plan to team up with affiliate Subaru to build a brand new sports car out of Subaru's manufacturing facility in Gunma, Japan. The goal for this brand new sports car is to attract younger, sportier consumers. The report indicates that there will be two different versions of this new sports car that could be released to the public as early as 2009.

The cheaper GT version is supposed to have a target price under $20,000. With this entry level sports car Toyota plans to revisit its 1980s roots with a front engine / rear drive chassis configuration. A 200-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Subaru four cylinder motor is rumored to be the power plant for this vehicle -- most likely the same boxer engine that powers entry level Imprezas outside of the U.S. To help reach this sub $20,000 retail price range a large quantity of these vehicles will have to be made, so Toyota is believed to be looking at releasing this model not only in Japan but also here.

The sportier GT-Four version is suppose to come with a four-wheel drive chassis powered by a 300-horsepower four-cylinder motor much like what's in the present Japanese spec Subaru Impreza WRX / STI. Another notable change from the GT version will be the motor placement. The motor is supposed to be set back in the chassis to help with the handling characteristics. There is even speculation of a hybrid powered version that utilizes Toyota's i-MEV electric inter wheel motors to drive the front wheels. Toyota also wants the chassis to be released in a two-door coupe or a three-door hatchback. One of the reasons for this chassis configuration is Toyota does not want to compete against Subaru in the five-door WRC class.

We've seen vaporware from the Far East before, so we'll reserve judgment until we start seeing some taped-up prototypes zooming around the 'Ring instead of the illustrations pictured here from Best Car. We certainly can hope, though.

-By Scott Kanemura

[stetsonaw]

i'd buy one. good find man.

[Culpable04]

in the last 3 years I've been reading about new Supras, new Celicas, new AE86, new sport Toyota cars. This looks like a good idea and I hope it becomes solid, but I don't get my hopes too high, I'll believe it when I see it in Detroit

[BloodyStupidDave...]

Technical details sound great, but I don't like the look from the front. Looks like a bad genetic mutation experiment between a 6th Gen and 7th Gen Celica and a Hyundai.

[Random_Stranger]

They can afford to do it. Even if it is cheap to buy, I know they can afford to do it. I hope they do follow through with this.


From the picture, it looks like as if a 350 Z was mated with a Half Lexus/ Half Scion and gave birth to that thing. Honestly I hope they change that body and make the body style a little more different in a widebody sense.

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Feb 2, 2008 - 2:02 PM

[BLINKYxMUNKEY]

Hmm.. Toyota and Subaru combining together would make one hell of a car.

[azian_advanced]

i dunno, the car in both pics are identical but with a different color. looks like it was photoshopped and looks really fishy to me. kinda like that supra from a while back. probably just some fake story to put on the front page of a magazine to attract more buyers.. i guess when 2009 hits, we'll see..

[GrimReaper]

Boy it's ugly!!!!!

[lagos]

... so they are going to build an STI and call it a toyota?

[Shink]

Boy it's ugly!!!!!

No doubt. Ugliest thing I've seen in a while. This is what happens when Subaru get within a 1/4 mile of any car.

[snapshotgt]

Interesting...

[j0e_p3t]

don't hold your breath. it probably won't happen. but i would really love to be proven wrong.

[SlickRick]

Would be nice 2 have anything with the GT-four name come out again in the states but the lights look like a cross bewteen a g37 and a Lexus GS with the little dot light.

[yaj19]

are you guys kidding? this design is sexy! i highly doubt we'll see the gt-four in the states, or even a base celica for that matter. probably going to be in europe and japan!

[Celicav]

Looks aggressive, kinda a blend of the original IS300 and 7th Gen. The body line that looks like it goes straight though the head lamps is freakish. If this became reality (and it would be a miracle), I would say for under $20K, 200HP is a serious bang for the buck...it will kick the Scion TC on its ass. I could look past the styling.

[xs94st]

looks like the frankenstein lovechild of a veyron n 7th gen.

maybe a lil honda got its rocks off as well..

[Random_Stranger]

looks like the frankenstein lovechild of a veyron n 7th gen.

maybe a lil honda got its rocks off as well..

Lexus GS. That's the one I was thinking of.

[joehernandez]

damn!!
that looks hot!
toyota + Subaru= Long lasting Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[95st-celica]

that is one ugly suboyta

[808celica]

it really looks like a G, GS, and gen.7 had a little 3 some.

i'd get it if i had the cash.