Email from Key Toyota Engineer regarding FT86

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

My guess, Chassis Toyota / Powertrain Subaru / Drivetrain Toyota / Suspension Subaru / Braking system Toyota/

Its already based of the subaru chassis, old news.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Its already based of the subaru chassis, old news.

IIRC, Both Toyota and Subaru confirmed that it's an all-new chassis.

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Its already based of the subaru chassis, old news.

Update: No its not.

[chulooz]

Yeah the new sports car architecture is a chassis revised off of the legacy platform with an impreza platform style rear.

[Dark]

it can't be a chassis from any current Subaru because it's RWD. If they really revived the chassis they had to change almost everything, so it's an all new chassis.

[chulooz]

Revised and new are not the same, dont be naive.

Im no chassis engineer so I cannot comment on the changes necessary in using key designs in one chassis and applying them to another, but it seems like you may be able to take the blueprints in a broad sense and reapply them elsewhere. Does you lexus have a different chassis for its RWD model?

[WingsofWar]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Yeah the new sports car architecture is a chassis revised off of the legacy platform with an impreza platform style rear.

Thats news to me, from what i read from Toyota and Subaru i was under the impression that its an all new chassis.

Even if it was initially a revised Impreza/legacy platform it would have so much drastic changes would have needed to occur to be a small lightweight 2 door that would eventually turn into a a complete different platform. AKA NEW PLATFORM..not OLD?CURRENT PLATFORMS PUT TOGETHER

You know the Nissan PM platform off the GT-R was initially started as a FM platform then so many changes were made to that chassis that eventually it wouldn't be the same architecture ..it would be a new chassis. Which is why it doesn't fly under the FM banner.

What i think your refering to was the early Subaru Mule spied which was a hacked up Subaru, Which i believe was used for testing mechanical elements that required a makeshift chassis that simulated conditions of the FT86.

If Subaru was building the chassis, from a pre-existing Subaru platform or 2, I think we would have already seen a Subaru concept Car, but since they were most likely involved in powertrain development they showed engineering in a glass chassis of what they accomplished.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by chulooz

Revised and new are not the same, dont be naive.

Im no chassis engineer so I cannot comment on the changes necessary in using key designs in one chassis and applying them to another, but it seems like you may be able to take the blueprints in a broad sense and reapply them elsewhere. Does you lexus have a different chassis for its RWD model?

no, it's not a dedicated chassis, but it's GS's chassis. The chassis was designed to run on both AWD and RWD. Even IS-F share the same chassis and Lexus admitted it. For FT-86's chassis, Toyota and Subaru said, it's "an all-new chassis." then it is. You can compare the weights of legacy and FT-86 (when it's out).

[chulooz]

The glass was to show that subaru is prominent in the engineering department and on the opposite side toyota got to show the design. The proto's you see driving around are doing so for the R&D of both companies in a joint deal.

I am referring to the new model. All I ever said was that the chassis is based off of subaru's chassis, and it is using legacy and impreza variations. So even if it is 'new' its still subaru's child, maybe with a little nursing from the RWD dept. at toyota.

[1660]

My understanding is the engine was moved rearward for better balance. That means a new chassis. That also means Subaru can't do AWD. Subaru says they will have a longer wheelbase, which means they're both doing engineering on the chassis.

[WingsofWar]

Originally Posted by chulooz

The glass was to show that subaru is prominent in the engineering department and on the opposite side toyota got to show the design. The proto's you see driving around are doing so for the R&D of both companies in a joint deal.

I am referring to the new model. All I ever said was that the chassis is based off of subaru's chassis, and it is using legacy and impreza variations. So even if it is 'new' its still subaru's child, maybe with a little nursing from the RWD dept. at toyota.

I understand what your saying, but i'm just going to have to disagree with you.

I don't believe for one second that this car is a Subaru under wolfs skin. Saying that Subaru basically developed the car on its own but got help from Toyota EU to come up with looks.

I believe this joint venture is more than equally distributed. With Toyota EU being the one who initiated the project, they are probably the point and lead designers of the chassis. Not Subaru, being new to the RWD platforms. I don't see this chassis being anywhere similar in chassis design skeleton to an impreza or a legacy even if it was cut in half.

Some of the things iv gathered...
What Subaru was contracted to engineer:


What Toyota was contracted to engineer:

[[es vi: eks]]

Originally Posted by chulooz

The glass was to show that subaru is prominent in the engineering department and on the opposite side toyota got to show the design. The proto's you see driving around are doing so for the R&D of both companies in a joint deal.

I am referring to the new model. All I ever said was that the chassis is based off of subaru's chassis, and it is using legacy and impreza variations. So even if it is 'new' its still subaru's child, maybe with a little nursing from the RWD dept. at toyota.

What I thought it was based on the latest Impreza/Legacy chassis?

But problerly the only way to really confirm it is once its out, park it up to the latest impreza and messure with a tape & take pics etc...
Or find a badly damaged one and cut it up.

This is slightly different...
The SVX used just the basic chassis of the 300ZX from fire wall back.
Subaru designed everything else. They redesigned the front rails from the firewall forward to accomadate the EG.

[Snaps]

Originally Posted by [es vi: eks]

What I thought it was based on the latest Impreza/Legacy chassis?

Keyword Bolded, Underlined, and in Red.

Past tense.... It isn't, now.

Edit: Woo! first post on this page... Hopefully that helps to get the message out to people...

[ft86cbx]

Originally Posted by RRnold

"feels as precise and balanced as the LFA"

Wow, those are some huge shoes to fill! So I guess we can dub this car the poor man's LFA!

Suits me fine