Quote:
Originally Posted by spikyone
Let's address some of your misconceptions.
1. "Platform" no longer means what you think it does. It no longer means cars sharing a floorpan or even major structures, like it might have done 20 years ago. It means a standardised way of putting together the major structures, that allows vastly different vehicles to be manufactured in a similar way. I'd urge you to read this article - "kits" as mentioned are now commonly referred to as platforms (see Wikipedia's MQB page).
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Perfect!
We have already been through all this with him many times though. If the oft repeated Subaru statement of "The SGP will be used for all vehicles from a subcompact hatchback to a seven passenger SUV and will be fully adaptable for both hybrid and EVs" is not and indication of scalable then I don't know what is. Either the sub compact or the seven passenger SUV would be pretty silly looking if they used a fixed frame for both.
The picture he keeps using is that of the 17 Impreza which is the only vehicle currently in production on that platform. Even as it stands that platform is much different that the old Impreza one that was used. It is already much lower at 5" (the stock BRZ is 4.9") and the wheelbase is not that far off at 105" (the BRZ is 101). At just over 3,000 pounds for the new Impreza it is not at all inconceivable that if you shave off the extra roof, the hatch mech, reduce the seats, cut back on the soundproofing and do away with a bunch of the other quasi luxury bits the Impreza platform as it stands now could easily come in at BRZ weight or even less. Not sure how many know but the new platform already uses some parts developed for and lifted straight from the BRZ. The electric steering is a straight parts bin application in the new Impreza. The new impreza has very little in common with the old platform and is closer to the BRZ than people realize. So a very basic scale back of the current production platform with some base changes to permit RWD only and we have the under pinning's for a sports/GT car. It could even be the higher powered version that so many seem to think would sell so well.
For about the 10th time I will state that any such vehicle would indeed NOT be what they make now but could be a very suitable successor should Subaru decide to do it on their own.
Oh and I have first hand experience in just how good and different this new platform is.