Toyota or Subaru... FT-86 project genesis ?

[Adam_L]

From reading the sticky " 86 development project" , and watching the Subaru video on the initial creation of the car, I have one basic question...that i think I have the answer to:

Which company initially ( at its most earliest genesis point) started the FT-86 project (from reading pretty sure earliest development was 2006-2007) ?
Pretty certain it was Toyota development engineers pushing the envelope in wanting to get this project up and going (based off of wanting to produce a car with a FR layout like the gt2000, supra). Looks to be Subaru was called in to help with the project (in that Toyota had just recently aquired about 12% stake share in the company), and Subaru pretty much contributed their Boxer engine expertise, and plant to help produce these cars. I know interior and exterior is/was exclusively done by Toyota.

Please let me know if my perspective on the matter is spot on.

[FX86]

i wouldn't buy a genesis over a ft86

[Tcoat]

If you read the 86 development story there should be no doubt as to where the project started.

[strat61caster]

Akio Toyoda wanted an affordable sports car in the lineup, the board of directors agreed 10 years ago and a portion of money was budgeted to complete the project.

Gone are the days of passion projects done on personal time off the clock, corporate favors and verbal deals over steak dinners and beer sealed with handshakes. Hooray capitalism.

This is a good read too:
http://blog.toyota.co.uk/tada-how-to...eated-the-gt86

[Adam_L]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

If you read the 86 development story there should be no doubt as to where the project started.

Thanks for the double confirmation.

In the end it was a collaborative effort by both to make the car a reality, but it was Toyota's initial push to make it happen is what I was looking for (in my question).

[Vides990]

Originally Posted by Adam_L

Thanks for the double confirmation.

In the end it was a collaborative effort by both to make the car a reality, but it was Toyota's initial push to make it happen is what I was looking for (in my question).

It was a collaborative effort in the same sense that a kid goes to bed when their parents tell them too. Toyota had no place to produce this car and their recent purchase of Subaru gave them an outlet to do so. Management at Subie had no interest in this vehicle bc it doesn't fit the lineup at all but the Toyota development team got a prototype over to the Subaru engineers and they had so much fun testing it that the opinion to do it got carried all the way back up the chain.