jwocky

Via FT86CLUB

Subaru’s new Coupe is go! The Japanese firm has confirmed that a concept version of its long-awaited Coupe, jointly developed with Toyota, will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. No pictures have yet been released, but our exclusive renderings give you an idea of how the newcomer will look.

What’s more, the firm has confirmed that the car will be built on an all-new platform, and while the Coupe will feature Subaru’s trademark horizontally-opposed boxer engine, it won’t get the firm’s symmetrical all wheel drive. Instead, like to Toyota model, it will be rear-drive, giving the firm a rival to Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe in the US market. - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=916

Traveldude

If it's not going to be AWD, I wonder what is going to differentiate the Subaru from the Toyota?

rockville

How is Subi going to maintain the part about all their cars being AWD? That's been their trademark for years.

JonBoy

Just below that FT86Club article, they say that Motor Trend is reporting that the STi motor will also make it into the FT86. If so, that's going to be a heck of a car! Near-370Z power levels but more torque and more mod potential.

exb00st

The same way that BMW is making a FWD car. Everyone's giving up the gun! It's the greedy thing to do!

Saki GT

Subaru's weren't always all awd - that is a recent trend from the lat 90s to today. I don't see how it would be different from a Toyota if its not awd though - why buy a Subaru when you can buy a Toyota? Maybe it will be a better appointed car?

[DT]

Yeah, I always figured that would be the difference between the two brands, Toyota RWD, Subaru AWD.

Subaru must planning a couple/few RWD cars, I can't see them breaking their AWD only for just this one ride.

AngryTurtle

So we will see this in showrooms in another 5 years?

stauren1203

Manufacturers will often have only one vehicle with a specific drive setup. Lexus(flame suit on for Lexus being Toyota) offers only one FWD car, and has only offered one since the brand's Inception.


I know theyre are going to be releasing the CT, but my point still stands

JonBoy

Lexus also used a current (Camry) platform for that FWD car, so it wasn't anywhere near to being an expensive bespoke setup or chassis. That FWD setup was not CREATED for Lexus to use; they just borrowed it.

The Subaru setup is shared with Toyota so it would help lower their costs. Single-application chassis and drivetrain designs are VERY rare these days.

In other words, no, manufacturers almost NEVER have a single vehicle with a special, specific setup that is unshared with other vehicles. The only time they will usually do it is if they are an exotic vehicle manufacturer (Lambo, Ferrari, etc, etc) or they are selling a bazillion of the vehicle (Honda Civic has a single-use motor, for instance, but shares its chassis with the CR-V and is in the top four selling vehicles in the USA).