No Subaru FT-86 for Australia! And currently no Subaru AWD version production plans.

[cyde01]

if there was any chance of them doing that, don't you think that would have been in the planning stages already? magazines have said that the RWD drive layout is what allows the engine to be placed behind the front axles AND it allows the engine to be placed much lower, because in an AWD subaru the engine has to be placed high in order to fit the steering system. in order to fit subaru's symmetrical AWD system, the engine would have to be placed further forward and much higher, which would mean redesigning the entire front end. it would be like the entire front end would be a completely different car. of course, anything can happen but i tend to believe the speculation when they say that an AWD version of this car is VERY unlikely.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by 86Fan

It could also mean that Subaru doesn't care enough about the Australian market to make the coupe an awd. Although, a lot of Subaru's are sold in Australia since it's the third biggest market.

yes, that is exactly what i think it means. the guy said plainly the ft86 just doesn't fit the brand's identity in australia.

[86Fan]

Originally Posted by cyde01

if there was any chance of them doing that, don't you think that would have been in the planning stages already? magazines have said that the RWD drive layout is what allows the engine to be placed behind the front axles AND it allows the engine to be placed much lower, because in an AWD subaru the engine has to be placed high in order to fit the steering system. in order to fit subaru's symmetrical AWD system, the engine would have to be placed further forward and much higher, which would mean redesigning the entire front end. it would be like the entire front end would be a completely different car. of course, anything can happen but i tend to believe the speculation when they say that an AWD version of this car is VERY unlikely.

Well no specs have been released on the Subaru so pretty much anything is possible.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by 86Fan

Well no specs have been released on the Subaru so pretty much anything is possible.

every single news source has said the subaru version is gonna be the exact same car as the ft-86, just rebadged and reskinned. anything is possible, but i think it's safe to assume that all the specs released so far for the ft-86 (dimensions, wheelbase) are gonna be exactly the same on the subaru version.

[S2KtoFT86]

Originally Posted by cyde01

seeing as i don't live in australia, this tidbit was more interesting to me



i don't care for a convertible, but higher-power version! this could possibly mean a boosted version. by higher-power i wonder just how high do they mean? i'd be happy with N/A 180-200 hp but i'm sure a boosted version would make a lot of power heads really happy!

Forget the AWD version. I'm interested now in this "higher-power version". Certainly hope that doesn't come down the road, but releases at the same time as the presumably lower-power version.

[86Fan]

Originally Posted by cyde01

every single news source has said the subaru version is gonna be the exact same car as the ft-86, just rebadged and reskinned. anything is possible, but i think it's safe to assume that all the specs released so far for the ft-86 (dimensions, wheelbase) are gonna be exactly the same on the subaru version.

The other dimensions could be similar but awd could still be fitted since it's adapted from a unique impreza chassis. The challenge of making this rwd would actually fall on Toyota's hand.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by 86Fan

The other dimensions could be similar but awd could The challenge of making this rwd would actually fall on Toyota's hand.

YES the challenge of making this RWD WAS on toyota's hand, and they SUCCEEDED. what i have been trying to say over and over again is that now that this car is RWD, IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS NOT THAT EASILY REVERSIBLE. from what magazines have said they'd basically have to make another completely new car in order to make it AWD, and i believe them.

[86Fan]

Originally Posted by cyde01

YES the challenge of making this RWD WAS on toyota's hand, and they SUCCEEDED. what i have been trying to say over and over again is that now that this car is RWD, IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS NOT THAT EASILY REVERSIBLE. from what magazines have said they'd basically have to make another completely new car in order to make it AWD, and i believe them.

Yes it's quite obvious that Toyota succeeded. What if the engine mounting points are changable? New car huh... I''ll be waiting to see the specs on the subaru.

[cyde01]

Originally Posted by 86Fan

What if the engine mounting points are changable?

gawd haven't i said over and over that it's not that simple? the entire engine bay would have to be longer. the front wheels would have to be further back. overhang would be way longer. the front midship layout and 50/50 weight distribution would be completely gone. it would be easier to take the impreza chassis and design another version from that rather than taking the FT-86 chassis and trying to engineer AWD back into it.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by S2KtoFT86

No I haven't. I'm merely basing my opinion on the fact that I get more of a thrill out of driving my S than I've gotten driving multiple friend's Evo's, Sti's, etc. That's just me though.

Hey I respect your opinion.
But I gotta say, some driver can make AWD car looks like RWD. Like Ken Block

[86Fan]

Originally Posted by cyde01

gawd haven't i said over and over that it's not that simple? the entire engine bay would have to be longer. the front wheels would have to be further back. overhang would be way longer. the front midship layout and 50/50 weight distribution would be completely gone. it would be easier to take the impreza chassis and design another version from that rather than taking the FT-86 chassis and trying to engineer AWD back into it.

You can already see on the test mule it had a impreza front over hang. Of course weight distribution would be gone. Who said anything about making this AWD have 50/50. As I said the challenge lies on Toyota to make this rwd compatible. This however, does not tell us if it will have 50/50 weight distribution. Not all rwd cars have 50/50, it might have 52,53,51...

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by 86Fan

You can already see on the test mule it had a impreza front over hang. Of course weight distribution would be gone. Who said anything about making this AWD have 50/50. As I said the challenge lies on Toyota to make this rwd compatible. This however, does not tell us if it will have 50/50 weight distribution. Not all rwd cars have 50/50, it might have 52,53,51...

Like all those muscle cars w V8,10 blah blah. lol

[FT///R86]

It would make no sense for Subaru to make it only RWD. I think this press realese in confusing in general. The Subaru concept hasn't debuted so how can press releases have any merit. The only way I see Subaru selling this car in the US or to an extent Japan is for it to be AWD. Subaru has built its reputation on AWD so it would make sense for this coupe to be AWD. The whole debate about the chassis and engineering is true but Subaru went in knowing that there would be two versions. So naturally they would engineer the FT to be able to accept AWD.

[86Fan]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Like all those muscle cars w V8,10 blah blah. lol

Yep totally right, but also just take a look at the miata... 52/48.