Report: Subaru Coupe STI Model Possible, But Without Turbo
 

TOKYO -- Subaru will display the production version of the long-awaited sporty car it is co-developing with Toyota at the Tokyo Motor Show in December.

The rear-wheel-drive car, which has a Subaru-designed drivetrain and Toyota-styled body, goes on sale next year. Toyota will sell its version as a Scion in the United States.

Subaru expects a longer-than-average life cycle for the car and is looking at variant packages, including a possible STI version, to keep the offering fresh, says Toshio Masuda, a Subaru senior general manager of product planning.

Subaru's STI tuner package typically offers turbocharging, lower profile tires, more powerful brakes and sport-tuned suspension. But going turbo is doubtful: Subaru officials say the vehicle's original concept calls for keeping the engine naturally aspirated.

The car will be built on a new line at Subaru's plant in Gumma, Japan. Styling will draw from Toyota FT-86 concepts that have made the auto show rounds since 2009.

Power is expected to come from a new generation 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine that will be used in the redesigned Subaru Impreza arriving this fall. But the engine will be positioned nearly 5 inches lower than in the Impreza to bring down the car's center of gravity and improve handling.

The car also will have Toyota's D-4S fuel injection system. And unlike the new Impreza, which gets an option for a continuously variable transmission, the sporty car will get a manual or automatic.

Subaru hasn't officially commented on the price. But Japan's Nikkan Kogyo business daily said the company plans to price the car in the $20,000 range.

Source: Autonews (subscription required)

Thanks for the news. If the WRX STI has a $9-10k price premium over the standard WRX could we expect something similar with this? Or would it be less than that?

STI? You just got my attention.

Scion TRD or Subaru STi? Pick and choose. :D

$9-10k premium for a STI version that doesn't have turbo bits attached to it doesn't make sense to me. $3-5k would be more reasonable

that must be where the super massive spoiler comes in

Oh no, here goes the NA/turbo chat again... :popcorn:

Simple. Slap a bored-out 2.5L version of the same engine in it. If they can achieve 200hp from 2.0L, they can achieve 250hp from 2.5L.

I think I like the sound of that even more than a turbo variant. Better engine sounds and it's above my threshold for acceptable power.

Combined with the very small frontal area and what will likely be a good coefficient of drag, 250hp can actually achieve quite good high speed performance.

Just for the reason that's it's a Scion, I'm going Subaru all the way! :party0030: At this point, I can care less that's not turbo'd, I'm just happy there is going to be a Subaru version, hopefully going to the US too.

well they can't call it an STi unless its got some serious power behind it. STi is not some damn appearance package.

so if a turbo is ruled out, then an FB25 w/ D4S seems like the most logical choice. i doubt an H6 would fit under there...

EDIT: or this rumor is BS, like 95% of the garbage that gets spewed out about the toyobaru.

I would pay low 30k for a version of the car that still weighed ~2750lbs, with 250hp, brembos, a REALLY good rear diff, some aero work, visual niceties, and an even more performance oriented suspension. Toss some excellent summer-only rubber into the package (Pilot Sport 2s please!) and I will throw my money at them.

Assuming the rest of the car is still good, of course.

Hell, Toyota knows how to do a good launch control system. Throw that in there too. Then copy the "synchro rev match" system from Nissan.

Good fixed HID lights would be a must as well at that price point.

:word::word::word::word::word::word::word:

You read my mind so perfectly!!!!

It doesn't need turbo to bump the power up. With all the brembo brake, tweaked suspension and recaro seat, they can easily call it an STi.

For now, I only hope Subaru version will be available in the states, but I think it will be.

Throw in a larger motor, larger brakes, lighter wheels, better tires, different body styling, aluminum/carbon body parts to shave weight, different transmission, HIDs standard....etc I think Subaru wouldn't have a problem selling it in the low to mid $30k.

At this point Subaru could get a lot more than 30k for the car... we're talking Lotus territory now.

the subaru version has been confirmed for the US. they confirmed it in Geneva and a few times since.

what is unknown is the trim levels and precisely how it will be differentiated from the Scion/Toyota version.

it doesn't need a turbo, but it would need some kind of power upgrade to call it an STi.

:party0030:

Now where are those sources about Tada being the chief engineer? especially when it says that its a subaru-designed drivetrain, obv. w some input from Toyota.

Oh yeah, and SOA Blog already called this info.

Sounds pretty sexy to me! I look forward to it. :E

This. But get ready to get flamed by the Toyota/Scion boys.
:popcorn:

I'll have a TRD FR-STi.

:word:

Im not trying to enrage the fanboiz, I just like reading the facts I expected. :thumbsup:

You can skip it til 7:25, Tsuchiya-san introduce Tada-san as Toyota Motor FT-86 Chief Engineer... so unless you wanna call him a liar, at that point Tasa-san is Chief Engineer for Toyota FT-86 project. As for Subaru side, I have no clue. I'm guessing there's someone else for Subaru side chief engineer.
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I would certainly think you are right here. Thanks for the link too.

What about? Toyota engineer came to watch Nissan cars drifting(most of them). :bellyroll:
Wait, Tada-san was wearing Gazoo Racing jacket. ;)

I prefer the even more fun Toyobaru TRD Imprezica GT-STi... Spec V

;)

agree! the looks of this car are so killer
it would be a total shame to not see its performance taken to the maxxx!
=D

imho it looks better than a porsche...
JUST SAYING

Im kinda upset with this comment in general. I myself am an entry level designer and some of my classmates and friends who draft concept cars have a tough time with comments like this.

When an artist truly has a beautiful idea of beautiful elegant and aggressive looking car, and we lay it down on paper. First thing that comes into everyones mind is "that thing has to lay down some serious power". Sure that doesn't bother us that much. But in a reversal, when a company asks an artist that they want to build a sports car that has a very conservative power output and you come out with a design like the FR-S. Suddenly everyones upset that a talented designer comes up with something so beautiful for 200 or less horsepower. That its blasphemous.

Should we designers hold back on our abilities and talents? should we not give it our all in every project? Just so we can justify aesthetics and performance as synonymous.

Eh don't take it personal. He's just excited.

IMO designers should make every car look like a million bucks and leave it to the engineers to bring the power. It's the manufacturers holding out on us, not the designers. I've seen many awesome concepts over the years, many of which were either never produced or were so watered down by the time they hit the shores that they were barely recognizable.

IM totally sold if they sell it in the blue and gold wheels. Like totally will save up more to get the Subie then to get a Scion

As long as they don't make every flipping square inch of the interior blue, regardless of the exterior color. :barf:

They did that with the 06 STI wrx right? I forgot, it had blue carpeting?

Yeah that sounds about right.

I almost bought a white one but Im sure I would go broke from just the insurance payments and gas cost alone lol. I was about 20 back then lol

From what I'm seeing right now, I'm going Subaru. It may be a bit more refined, but the Scion version has more "hot wheels" swag than I can handle...

Of course, this is if the previous predictions on models is correct.