TTAC Photochop: RWD Subaru Coupe

Andrei Avarvarii
by Andrei Avarvarii

As all of us without what is euphemistically called "a life" know, Subaru and Toyota have joined forces to design and produce a new pair of coupes. Toyota is no stranger to coupes, Subaru is. Stranger that is. The new cars will most likely be based on a rear wheel-driver version of the Impreza, complete with boxer blowers. The new car(s) will definitely be a breath of fresh air in the cheap-sporty-fun class, which is currently dominated by front wheel-drive cars. As a Subaru, we expect a somewhat, uh, "different design" (nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition a gorgeous Subaru). I just hope the coupes won't share any genes from the B11S; a concept that was an evolutionary dead end way back in 2003. Keeping the lines simple would be so much better for Subaru– but it was hard for me to find a balance between my designer instincts and remaining faithful to Subaru's well-deserved reputation for aesthetic affronts. I have to admit I used the "unsexy-tool" on this one but only to make it realistic. I look forward to seeing how the real thing will turn out.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

Andrei Avarvarii
Andrei Avarvarii

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  • Samir Samir on May 12, 2008

    Maybe the Subie version will cost $2,000 more and have AWD?

  • Phil Phil on May 12, 2008

    so generic it's invisible

  • Iamwho2k Iamwho2k on May 12, 2008

    Too close to the Hyundai Genesis with a touch of Infiniti G35. Aside from the SVX, wouldn't this car be an example of Subaru losing its brand focus?

  • LastResort LastResort on May 13, 2008

    For one, Subaru sells plenty of non-AWD vehicles outside the US. Hell, the Impreza comes in a weenie 1.5L FWD package. So while it's going to be hard for Subaru to make the transition, they are increasingly pressured in the AWD niche. They can't compete against a car maker that produces 10 to 100 times as many cars, the R&D, marketing, and tooling costs are just that much more a fact for small runs. Will this work, I don't know, but it's certainly not the death knell that everyone is making it. I also contend that making this car in both an AWD and RWD platform is patently absurd. The single best thing going for this car is the ability for Subaru/Toyota engineers to place the wheels next to the motor for a change, and finally address the understeer issue that the Impreza platform can't seem to shake. By making this car AWD capable, you would (again) have the motor substantially in front of the wheels on a platform similar to the Impreza, just less two doors. It's pointless. If you want AWD 2 door impreza, make one, don't make something substantially more expensive to design that nets the same result. That would be a GM move. Or better yet, graft AWD on to a scion. This car needs to be RWD to be the kind of sporty, cheap, platform people here want.

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