Quote:
Originally Posted by ydooby
Thank you Moto-P! Mind if I ask why these guys don't belong to any of the two companies?
I would think the chassis was developed by Subaru while the test driving was done by Toyota. No idea about the aftermarket planning though.
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If you think like this, a car with this much integrity would never be born. This was a collaboration of both firms, sending their most passionate, and capable engineers into a separate and singular engineering program, not belonging to one or the other at any given time, but only belonging to the TEAM86.
The names I posted without origins of which firm is my lack of not being completely inside knowing them all in person. I don't know for sure at this time which company they originated. I have met Mr.Okino and he is from Toyota.
To us though, this is not important at this time, but only that they were there to do their share of taking a very key role in design of the FT86 siblings, for Toyota and Subaru both, a single product.
Ideas from both side's engineers and designers meshed and collaborated on the entire car.
Take for example the flat four engine. It is a Subaru engineered base design, but LFA's technicians, Aisin's drivetrain experts, 3rd party inputs, and Toyota's durability and testing as well as electronics experts, metallurgy experts, acoustic engineers, 3rd party test engineers, and drivers, all put unimaginable time and resources. This is not a case where Subaru engine was simply fitted with Toyota injection. No, it is MUCH more than that. And the same goes for almost every component on this car.
You will probably see a lot of similar components based on Subaru hardware, and yes it is manufactured by majority of the components based on their designs and suppliers, but this is because the manufacturing was assigned to FHI branch of the TEAM86.
It does go without saying though, that every component was reviewed, modified, re-engineered, and carefully pieced together so that FHI can push them out of the factory reliably, and quickly, and with as much care and integration that can afford the best balance of cost and performance, and to ensure that the spirit and goals were met on the passion of the vehicle, to retain it's very soul.
None of this is purely Subaru or Toyota. It's the singular entity of Team86, the best from both.
Quote:
Originally Posted by quik1987
I still think Subaru gets under credited
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If you think the Subaru side is under-credited, I'll say otherwise. The initial designation by Toyota's marketing branch called for the 4U-GSE engine designation, but they have since replaced this with the FA20 name for BOTH Toyota and Subaru product. This, to give Subaru the credit for it's heritage and long-dedication to the flat-four development on other cars up to now. The FA20 is nothing like the previous long-stroking, boost capable engine that was the EJ or even the FB, but something entirely different other than it being laid out in a Subaru configuration. But with respect to the engineering know, and accommodating every previously inconceivable and traditionally unthinkable requests and goals Mr.Tada set on this engine, and the massive allocations and resources put into revisions on this to match the goals from every firm that collaborated, by complete internal design make-over, the engine is truly dedicated to this car, by everyone at Team 86 who worked on the FA20, folks at FHI should be extremely proud to take it further in development than any previous Subaru engine...
If Toyota or Subaru's normal wallet-checking, financiers, and other commercial or marketing motives had their way in any way, the even simple things like mirrors on the door would have come from a Camry or a Impreza, but this isn't the case. Every minute detail was asked to be original, and that of TEAM86 creation. Impossible was not the excuse for Tada-san and his team. They dug where no one had dug within both firms to come up with creative ideas and revolutionary skills...
As time goes and if I ever have a chance to meet them all, I'll revise and correct the associations for their names.