RWD Toyota coupe to be made by Subaru (Toyota confirms pg. 6)
02-04-08, 03:53 PM
#31
02-04-08, 07:35 PM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
02-05-08, 09:03 AM
#35
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I wonder why I live alone here...
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
This is easy. Look at the current Impreza: an AWD boxer selling in the US for under $20K.
Cut out the 4WD tranny and front running gear, replace with a conventional transmission, lose two doors, and that leaves you with a turnkey, longitudinal RWD small-car platform.
In theory, this thing should cost even LESS than the current Impreza.
For the base "GT", a 2.0L 170HP version of the boxer would be ideal, matched to a 6-speed manual. Even with traction control, leather, and NAV (all of which will hopefully be available), you're still looking at a car that stickers under $25K. The turbo/AWD "GTS" version should undercut the STi by a couple thousand, starting just below $30K.
The WRX STi is a legendary product, I don't think it's going to lose as many sales to this new (vaporware) Celica AWD turbo as some think.
Again, this makes perfect sense, as it can be accomplished quickly, and relatively cheaply and easily.
Subaru's factories have a lot of excess capacity worldwide, which is why they're making Camrys in Subaru's Indiana plant and that's also why you'll see Toyotas with Subaru running gear made in FHI's Ota-Gunma plant in Japan.
I basically predicted this scenario as soon as Toyota announced its stake in Subaru. Go me.
I just really hope this new Celica comes to fruition, there's no reason why it can't.
Cut out the 4WD tranny and front running gear, replace with a conventional transmission, lose two doors, and that leaves you with a turnkey, longitudinal RWD small-car platform.
In theory, this thing should cost even LESS than the current Impreza.
For the base "GT", a 2.0L 170HP version of the boxer would be ideal, matched to a 6-speed manual. Even with traction control, leather, and NAV (all of which will hopefully be available), you're still looking at a car that stickers under $25K. The turbo/AWD "GTS" version should undercut the STi by a couple thousand, starting just below $30K.
The WRX STi is a legendary product, I don't think it's going to lose as many sales to this new (vaporware) Celica AWD turbo as some think.
Again, this makes perfect sense, as it can be accomplished quickly, and relatively cheaply and easily.
Subaru's factories have a lot of excess capacity worldwide, which is why they're making Camrys in Subaru's Indiana plant and that's also why you'll see Toyotas with Subaru running gear made in FHI's Ota-Gunma plant in Japan.
I basically predicted this scenario as soon as Toyota announced its stake in Subaru. Go me.
I just really hope this new Celica comes to fruition, there's no reason why it can't.
02-05-08, 09:58 AM
#38
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 4,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
02-05-08, 10:15 AM
#40
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 4,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well thats my question, does Toyota have a transmission that could handle 300 hp? I thought not, given the IS 350 (nor the IS-F for that matter) is available with one. The 6 speed in the STi/Spec. B is quite capable of handling high amounts of power.
02-05-08, 11:07 AM
#41
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I wonder why I live alone here...
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Toyota never had a world-class manual tranny of their own design. They had to source the Supra's from Getrag. I guess they could do the same this time around...get the "GT" manual transmission from whoever makes the IS250's 6-speed manual, and just use STI's 6-speed for the AWD turbo "GTS". Problem solved.
