anyways, this car is confirmed for the US market as a Subaru… so far Toyota does not know if they will sell their version of it here. i think they are smart and don’t want to tarnish their reputation.

This coupe should easily be able to hit ~2600 lbs. without AWD and the extra reinforcement/bracing that a sedan requires.

On the issue of boxer engines, if they’re heavier than a typical inline four of the same displacement and power/torque, it’s definitely not by much. Plus, boxer engines are able to be mounted lower in the car and closer to the center, producing a nicer center of gravity and overall F/R weight balance.

If you had to walk five miles with a 20 lb. barbell strapped to your left ankle or a 30 lb. pack strapped to your back, which would you prefer?

If the top spec version gets turbocharged 2.5 engine, then it will be S13-S14-S15 Silvia SR20DET pleasure again – lightweight, good handling, rwd, turbocharged coupe heaven! :)

If this is true, please give it a good name. I do not want a vehicle named with a number and a letter. Please give it a real name.

I will continue to post this on succeeding updates until the car comes out.

NickNick hit it on the head. The boxer makes very usable power. And I wouldn’t say that the boxer gets terrible gas mileage. It’s not super great, but it’s not horrible. It depends on how you drive it.

I would buy this car. I’ve owned Subarus for more than a decade and the fact that it’s RWD doesn’t offend my sensibilities at all. I don’t know why anyone would think Subaru had betrayed themselves or their customers, or why anyone would be so offended that this car doesn’t come standard with AWD and by the Subaru/Toyota partnership as a whole.

Why would you care so much? Subaru and Toyota certainly don’t care what you think until you express your thoughts with your dollars.

The car looks great, will be reliable and fun to drive. People will buy it. That’s all that matters to them. Mad because you think Subaru has “sold out” to Toyota? Grow up. If you want to continue buying Subarus, you want the partnership to work.

-Matt

I don’t know about that, but it is “agricultural”. I like it, though. I also like that my Miata’s 1.8L isn’t the most refined. To my ears both engines have a pugnacious character and they both let you know that they intend to be around forever. I’m weird like that, I guess.

On paper, they are. In reality, they feel a straight four with a dead cylinder.

I’m not saying it needs to compete with a sports car – honestly, what percentage of new sports car owners even squeak a tire on acceleration? Make a FUN, lightweight RWD that’s comfortable enough for daily driving and fun enough for the weekends.

Oh, by the way… T-Tops or a Targa!! Screw the convertibles, they’re all ugly (’sept the S2000). Bring back the solid glass roofs, damnit!!

If it has a Subaru boxer, then forget it. I don’t see why Toyota needs Subie for this. The last Celica is probably the best handling/steering front drive car I’ve driven, it just needed work in a lot of other areas. They can do performance, they have just chosen not to lately.

I think Toyota needs Subaru because of the 2 Subaru has the more compelling sports/sporty cars.

With all due respect, if you think that the last gen Celica was fun, try the Mini – you’ll be blown away.

Still that said a base MX-5 is more fun than the John Cooper Works Super Duper Add Another Word Mini Cooper S any day of the week.

At the end of the day lightweight, rwd cars are hard to be for fun.

as for the boxer naysayers–why don’t you like them?

they’ve got a nice, wide torque curve, make very usable power (the torque again), make a cool rumble with the right exhaust…everything an enthusiast could want, right?

even if it did turn out to be a RWD corolla, would that be so bad? with RWD the steering would probably be more than decent. if the suspension is too soft, who cares–lots of enthusiasts upgrade anyway.
i’m just excited to have a RWD anything that isn’t a convertible or mustang or 300c or $40K bimmer.

bring it on! i’m so excited about this

Also I concur the Genesis is not the lightest vehicle and its wheel base is pretty long (nimbleness issues?). Still interesting though.

Of course, Toyota hasn’t shown its commitment to sports cars, so there’s a fair chance this will ultimately be a RWD Corolla. Whatever it is, it’ll be a niche vehicle (as are all the good ones, really) so I suspect it will have to compete with the Miata for the ever-shrinking pool of enthusiasts.

It hasn’t shown any brilliance engineering lightweight platforms, the Impreza is 3000lbs. Does that pass for light these days?

A boxer engine is generally heavier than an inline 4.

The main reason I would buy a Sube is for the AWD.