I think this article does make sense, do you agree?
 

Seems like a trolling article to me. It was co-developed, not outsourced. Plus Toyota owns a 17% stake in Subaru. The base of engine and chassis are Subaru, the direct injection system and and design is Toyota.

As far as the brand value comparisons to what GM did, that would apply if the FR-S/BR-Z turns out to be crap like GM twins use to be.

It is from Detroit Free Press. Toyota could cure cancer and they'd find a dark cloud to write about.

I think it has some merit but you have to remember that the team that did all the R&D for these cars came from both Subaru and Toyota.. it was not like they just gave the whole task to Subaru Engineers and just white-labeled the end product. There's just as much of Toyota in this car as there is Subaru... and in the end, the engine had to come from one of them.. and it just happened to be the case that Subaru's Boxer design fit the core values of this project better.

As far as manufacturing goes.. yea.. Subaru will have more to show for it. But at the same time I don't think you can conclude from this fact that Toyota does not have the know-how to build cars like this if they wanted. Their build quality has historically been better than Subaru's ... so if anything they may be able to manufacture a better car if they wanted. We're talking about the company that recently introduced the world to the LF-A.

Also.. please note in the article.. Mr. "Phelan" has yet to drive the FR-S... Not the most compelling source to base such an opinion on. I'm not sure if he even knows who was responsible for what components of this car.

...yay

People are funny.

Toyota wanted to make another sports car. They also wanted to incorporate the best of all their older generation sports cars. The first of those being the S800, which was the first front engine, rear drive car powered by a boxer motor. Boxer motors = lower center of gravity = good for handling. Instead of developing an entirely new engine, they teamed up with Subaru who already makes great boxer motors...it was really a no-brainer.

Toyota hasn't made a legitimate sports car in a long time. Other than the LFA team who were still working on their own project, it only made sense to bring aboard engineers from an automaker in which Toyota has a majority stock. As far as I care, they just did what they could to bring the best product to market. Successful if you ask me.

Also wasn't the MR2 made by a company that Toyota owns?

Toyota went and found the best boxer engine builder on the plant, said "build a drivetrain that fits this concept" and then made fit happen. I don't think that the co-development deal with Subaru even qualifies as "outsourcing." I mean is it outsourcing when you put an Audi V-10 in a Lambo? I know the ownership situation is slightly less muddy in that particular case but the argument is the same. I don't know if auto makers paying for development out of another factory (that they are part owners of) really qualifies for this guy's argument. Now the BMW rumour is a little more interesting, but only because Lexus and BMW are direct competitors (IS vs 3/5 series) so I'd be interested to see if that actually comes up with an actual production car.

Also, Toyota should keep doing what it is best at now which is making econo-family haulers. I love my FR-S but I don't think I'd love it less if it had only come to NA as a Subaru or under the Toyota name plate. The car is a good one no matter who did the most to what in it.

As a final thought its amazing how many Subaru logos there are on this car. I have counted 4 scion/toyota logos and at least 50 Subaru ones. I think that Subaru is getting their fair share of recognition for what they did on the car.

The article doesn't mention Lotus, AC, Mitsubishi, Dodge, Mazda, Fiat, Nissan, Maserati, Ford or Chevrolet with outsourcing their components/engineering to manufacture sports cars. Globalization is a component of survival for an automaker. These articles are getting more depressing for their lack of in-depth investigation.

This author wants to make a name for himself... Too bad he picked the wrong car with a bad source...
I dont get why he would bash toyota for co-developing this car with subaru... Their joint operation sounds like a huge win for them and the consumers... cost efficient, sports coupe, good gas milage... What else could people ask for????

Hey krakpot Joe, got any pics of your car?

Phelan craps on Toyota all the time in his articles.... this latest one is pretty much par for the course for him. He writes for the Detroit Free Press and obviously roots for the home team.

The article can be seen as exaggerated, but it does raise one good question.

When will "Toyota" build their own sports car for consumers?

Yep, typical Detroit attitude.

When consumers stop buying SUV's and sedans, and start buying sports cars. Ya gotta look at the big picture, money-wise: car manufacturers sell like 10 or 20 boring-ass, point-A to point-B, utility vehicles, for every sports car or "enthusiast car" they sell. Only reason they sell sports cars at all is because they're good for company image. What's the old NASCAR adage? "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday." It's true.

Toyota got Porsche involved in production of this car?! :D

I kid, I kid... mostly. Do not get me wrong: I LOVE Subaru engines! Owned two Imprezas: a highly modified 03 WRX, and a stock 06 STi (and I think that WRX was my favorite car of all time. Still miss her). But Porsche boxer engines are truly technological works of art. No other car manufacturer at any price point has matched their engines in terms of power, efficiency, weight, and reliability. On a new Porsche, they only recommend bringing it in every 20,000 miles for an oil change! In my opinion, given the technology behind their drivetrains, it's possibly the only supercar manufacturer on the planet that justifies its enormous pricetag.

So I'd say Subaru makes the second best boxer engines on the planet. (Though since they're the only two, as far as I know, would that make them the "worst boxer-engine manufacturer"? Isn't language fun? :D )

Good catch I was going to put "one-of" disclaimer in there...but I will say this about porsche. In canada its $89,000 for a cayman. I'd better not see them for 20,000 miles for an oil change.