Email from Key Toyota Engineer regarding FT86

[ichitaka05]

LOL wow~ a lot of debate going on

@chulooz - Yes, you're correct that it's join deal project. BUT it's like other have stated, they changed the chassis. They used legacy & Impreza chassis, but due few problem (one of em is weight of chassis), instead of using their chassis, they made all new chassis design.

[Ryephile]

I agree ichi, it's amazing how people make up their own facts and disregard the information in the official press releases. Toyota has already said straight up it's using a new platform.

[spwolf]

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?

by that defintion, only chinese manufacturers have "new" chasis, because nobody starts from the clean slate, it would not make sense to do so.


My thought would be that team working on the car (and it is several hundred people usually) comes from both Subaru and Toyota.

There are certainly no two separate teams working on this car, nor would there be reason for it.

From all the testing that is done in Germany, it seems it is lead by Toyota. Nevertheless, chief engineer could still be from Subaru. Which would also make sense as I would suppose that 80% of cars sold will be Toyotas. Probably even more.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by spwolf

...From all the testing that is done in Germany, it seems it is lead by Toyota. Nevertheless, chief engineer could still be from Subaru. Which would also make sense as I would suppose that 80% of cars sold will be Toyotas. Probably even more.

One things for sure is that all of the parts will be stamped at a Subaru factory .

[Matador]

Got this bit of info from a member on club lexus;

Originally Posted by motohide

I recently got a series of emails from Mr.T at Toyota Motor Company Japan, Product Engineer, Development.

In his most recent comments, he says that the FT86 is well under way, testing this week at the Nurburgring with LFA engineers, and Subaru Technica International development teams present as well. They've managed to do some serious laps at the Nur, and are very excited.

ALso, the last email as of yesterday, he says that the production form on the suspension tune is pretty much set, and his team is now testing the "Hot Version," hinting at the upgraded model spec.

Nevertheless, he says, that he is trying his best to develop a car that we 'enthusiasts' will not be disappointed. And went as far as telling me that he shrugged off, pissed off, and told off, all of the marketing and sales people that pushed to have more things added to the car, or tried to include things unnecessary to the performance as his team saw fit for this car. So as far as he is concerned, it will be something he cares dearly for. He did groundwork for the AE86 back in the late 70's and 80's as a young new engineer, so the bloodline is there. We simply hope that Toyota makes the right choice, and keeps the car close to what they have so far at the Nurburgring.

OK, I must end this writing, as if I spill any more, they will excommunicate. LOL! or shoot me.

[ryun84]

^ Nice!

[cyde01]

wow awesome news. i can't believe they're giving a car of it's price range LFA levels attention to suspension tuning and balance! good news that there's a hot version as well, i hope it's a turbo just so the turbo guys will stop complaining!

[Allch Chcar]

^ Sweet!
Thanks for sharing that Matador.

[Jay Grey]

I dont care if its turbo or not! I just want to be an owner of one... Even though a turbo will be a great addition!

[zigzagz94]

Guessing the "hot version" is the one with the giant spoiler and body kit. Didn't see an intercooler on that in any of the pics so it's probably a tuned version of the N/A FB engine.

Wasn't there a quote from one of the engineers a while back saying they could easily get 230ps out of this engine but they were tuning it for more fuel economy? The hot version is probably just tuned more for performance.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...03&postcount=2

"Subaru 2 Liter Boxer Engine's Mark Performance is 230ps, but I feel that this number is bit greedy. If we can hold the car's weight to 1200kg (2645 lbs), 180~200ps should be plenty of power"

230-250ps in a high revving NA FB would be awesome assuming the weight of 1200kg.

AFAIK they haven't completed testing of turbo FB engines and that is why the next gen STi impreza's have been delayed, right? Maybe ichitaka could provide more info on that.

[WingsofWar]

this makes me both happy and sad..

Happy that Toyota is offering FT86 Performance Trims

Sad that Scion FR-S may offer only 1 Trim and you must purchase upgrades separately from Toyota/TRD

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by zigzagz94

Wasn't there a quote from one of the engineers a while back saying they could easily get 230hp out of this engine but they were tuning it for more fuel economy?

missed that quote. can you refer me to it? 230 hp out of a n/a 2 liter would be $$$. awesome but not a lot of bang for buck, like the s2k.

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by cyde01

missed that quote. can you refer me to it? 230 hp out of a n/a 2 liter would be $$$. awesome but not a lot of bang for buck, like the s2k.

Just updated my original post with a link to a post that referenced the interview with Tada-san, but I think the original thread was deleted when Axel left.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by zigzagz94

Just updated my original post with a link to a post that referenced the interview with Tada-san, but I think the original thread was deleted when Axel left.

Yup.