Those pics just look like photchops of the FT-86 :P I do like the hood and the inlets under the headlights though. I might even like it more than Toyota's version...we'll see if they compare in price. Plus, I don't need a turbo if it's going to cost a lot more.
EDIT: wow, I can't believe that I have never noticed the inlets on the FT-86...how embarassing

Another reason for no 2.0 in the US could be that unfortunately many Americans are not able to drive stick and the 2.5 has more low end grunt than the 2.0 doesnt it? Better suited for the automatics. I'd just as soon have the 2.0 and let the people with auto deal with it :thumbup: Meanwhile, the rest of us who can drive stick will be much happier.

... Try buying an automatic WRX - you have to special order them. I don't even think they make 'em any more - you have to get the "2.5GT".

In '08, it was an option for sure but I'm yet to even read about an automatic '08 WRX.

when they boosted the power after 08 they changed the automatic wrx to 2.5gt and kept the hp from the 08 wrx. I think thats the only difference up until 2011 when the wrx gets the widebody from the sti

I'm quite familiar.

The point was, automatic transmission use was not a deciding factor in moving to the 2.5L turbo. 2008 and earlier WRXs were "available" with automatics, but you couldn't ever find one (if, god forbid, you really wanted one) at a dealer - they had to be special ordered.

Rather, the 2.5L was used because of Americans generically frowning down upon lag - even through a civic isn't any stronger at low rpm than a 2.0L WRX, the highly nonlinear powerband alarms some (lame) Americans.

i would soo buy a subie if i didnt have my dad's toyota discount and it's benefits.. buuut i have always been a toyota fan!

Did anyone tell him that the $25k price estimate was bogus. They direct converted the price for either the UK or the Japanese version which is not how it works in the market. Toyota was shooting closer to $20k from what I read. Subaru is a different story, I suppose.

I was saying that you can get a brand new awd turbocharged wrx for around $25k, i didnt say that was gonna be the price of the ft-86. and i was saying that 25K is right around where the ft-86 is supposed to be, so why do they keep saying it would cost so much more to make an awd. But it doesnt matter because I could care less either way, if there was an awd version I would prob go with that but there isnt going to be (or at least it doesnt make sense why there would be) so rwd would be fine.

dont care cost..will buy if turbocharged

The author/journalist, not you. If a WRX is $25k I don't see why the FT-86 would come out at $25k unless they are discussing the midrange models. Very confusing detail even if it is more important to more people than the base price.

Subaru still hasn't shown their car. I'm guessing they would keep it RWD but it's still possible that they change some things. The 2.5liter sounds like speculation. They're designing a new engine for this car yet why would Subaru use the old block? Can they fit the Toyota heads onto a 2.5liter?

isn't awd is heavier than rwd transmission? I thought one of the idea of this car is lightweight?

Yes, AWD tranny is heavier than RWD tranny. So you're saying cuz of extra 50 lbs gonna kill this lightweight car? :)

Also when did Subaru said their side of FT86 gonna be lightweight? IIRC they only said: 1) they gonna make their ver of FT86, 2) hybrid ver in 2013, and 3) looking/testing both tranny designs. If you can reference me to the site that Subaru officials states that they gonna make their ver of FT86 will be lightweight also?

6spd transmissions are 50lbs heavier than 5spd trannies, eg the Aisin AZ6 and the Tremec T-56 are 125lbs compared to the Mazda 5spd RWD trannies which are approx 75lbs. I expect that a 6spd AWD tranny would be even more than that. Automatics are even heavier and they still sell them in sports cars(with the obvious factor of lesser performance). 50lbs even over the front axle isn't a killer but it will degrade the performance in some way.
Subaru isn't known for light weight compact cars in my humble opinon, because they specialize in building sedans and crossovers aka SUVs all with AWD. That is the current US market as it stands. Toyota does have a history in the US, albeit not recently, of lightweight compact cars. So we shall see, Ichitaka.

IDK, putting 50lbs on tranny and get AWD system? I think, that's well worth the sacrifice. I'll lighten up other parts to even it out (cf Hood, alu wheels, seats, fenders & etc). Now, just say they used upgraded ver of Aisin AZ6 into FT86 and weights 125~135lbs. Now, iirc STI tranny, you're looking at 175~185lbs (190 max). In my view, that's well worth weighted.

In current US, you're right. Subaru doesn't have lightweight car... but look at the history and other world. I'll give you few examples.

*Impreza (GC) that thing was weighted around 2780~2850 lbs. US only had 2.5 liter NA, but other world did have 2 liter turbo ver which still weighted around 2800lbs.
*Pleo which is pretty much successor of Vivio. Now, they're Kei cars, so you know they're lightweight. Also to add in Kei car R1, R2, Lucra, & Stella.
*Justy... yes, they still make Justy over there too (but pretty much Daihatsu have it as Sirion).
*Toyota, Subaru & Daihatsu did compact car called Toyota bB, Subaru Dex & Daihatsu Materia (pretty much same car)

All these cars are lightweight cars. Now, not cuz we don't receive it in US, doesn't mean they don't make lightweight cars.