Subaru-Toyota-Celica-GT-Four Rumor Update Options

[Supersprynt]

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6229094/asia/s...trac/index.html

According to a recent issue of the Japanese magazine Best Car, Toyota is forging ahead with its rumored plan to team up with affiliate Subaru to build a brand new sports car out of Subaru's manufacturing facility in Gunma, Japan. The goal for this brand new sports car is to attract younger, sportier consumers. The report indicates that there will be two different versions of this new sports car that could be released to the public as early as 2009.

The cheaper GT version is supposed to have a target price under $20,000. With this entry level sports car Toyota plans to revisit its 1980s roots with a front engine / rear drive chassis configuration. A 200-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Subaru four cylinder motor is rumored to be the power plant for this vehicle -- most likely the same boxer engine that powers entry level Imprezas outside of the U.S. To help reach this sub $20,000 retail price range a large quantity of these vehicles will have to be made, so Toyota is believed to be looking at releasing this model not only in Japan but also here.

The sportier GT-Four version is suppose to come with a four-wheel drive chassis powered by a 300-horsepower four-cylinder motor much like what's in the present Japanese spec Subaru Impreza WRX / STI. Another notable change from the GT version will be the motor placement. The motor is supposed to be set back in the chassis to help with the handling characteristics. There is even speculation of a hybrid powered version that utilizes Toyota's i-MEV electric inter wheel motors to drive the front wheels. Toyota also wants the chassis to be released in a two-door coupe or a three-door hatchback. One of the reasons for this chassis configuration is Toyota does not want to compete against Subaru in the five-door WRC class.

We've seen vaporware from the Far East before, so we'll reserve judgment until we start seeing some taped-up prototypes zooming around the 'Ring instead of the illustrations pictured here from Best Car. We certainly can hope, though.

-By Scott Kanemura

[stetsonaw]

i'd buy one. good find man.

[Culpable04]

in the last 3 years I've been reading about new Supras, new Celicas, new AE86, new sport Toyota cars. This looks like a good idea and I hope it becomes solid, but I don't get my hopes too high, I'll believe it when I see it in Detroit

[BloodyStupidDave...]

Technical details sound great, but I don't like the look from the front. Looks like a bad genetic mutation experiment between a 6th Gen and 7th Gen Celica and a Hyundai.

[Random_Stranger]

They can afford to do it. Even if it is cheap to buy, I know they can afford to do it. I hope they do follow through with this.


From the picture, it looks like as if a 350 Z was mated with a Half Lexus/ Half Scion and gave birth to that thing. Honestly I hope they change that body and make the body style a little more different in a widebody sense.

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Feb 2, 2008 - 2:02 PM

[BLINKYxMUNKEY]

Hmm.. Toyota and Subaru combining together would make one hell of a car.

[azian_advanced]

i dunno, the car in both pics are identical but with a different color. looks like it was photoshopped and looks really fishy to me. kinda like that supra from a while back. probably just some fake story to put on the front page of a magazine to attract more buyers.. i guess when 2009 hits, we'll see..

[GrimReaper]

Boy it's ugly!!!!!

[lagos]

... so they are going to build an STI and call it a toyota?

[Shink]

Boy it's ugly!!!!!

No doubt. Ugliest thing I've seen in a while. This is what happens when Subaru get within a 1/4 mile of any car.

[snapshotgt]

Interesting...

[j0e_p3t]

don't hold your breath. it probably won't happen. but i would really love to be proven wrong.

[SlickRick]

Would be nice 2 have anything with the GT-four name come out again in the states but the lights look like a cross bewteen a g37 and a Lexus GS with the little dot light.

[yaj19]

are you guys kidding? this design is sexy! i highly doubt we'll see the gt-four in the states, or even a base celica for that matter. probably going to be in europe and japan!

[Celicav]

Looks aggressive, kinda a blend of the original IS300 and 7th Gen. The body line that looks like it goes straight though the head lamps is freakish. If this became reality (and it would be a miracle), I would say for under $20K, 200HP is a serious bang for the buck...it will kick the Scion TC on its ass. I could look past the styling.

[xs94st]

looks like the frankenstein lovechild of a veyron n 7th gen.

maybe a lil honda got its rocks off as well..

[Random_Stranger]

looks like the frankenstein lovechild of a veyron n 7th gen.

maybe a lil honda got its rocks off as well..

Lexus GS. That's the one I was thinking of.

[joehernandez]

damn!!
that looks hot!
toyota + Subaru= Long lasting Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[95st-celica]

that is one ugly suboyta

[808celica]

it really looks like a G, GS, and gen.7 had a little 3 some.

i'd get it if i had the cash.

[Supersprynt]

LOL and it existed

[hurley97]

I don't like this spread in hybrids... I think they are nothing but trouble

[fastgt]

hmm looks ok....sounds like the 90's hp wars are making a comeback


oooo ill the the gt w/ the 300 hp ooooo secks

[shin]

subalica GT4 spec C is wat this car gonna be called. but if it's true, it'll a affordable fast car with toyota's reliability and subaru's power. i'll buy it.

[enjoi926]

I personally dont like the fact that they are using a Subaru motor only beacuse they are retarded in the way that they work, and overly complicated for something thats made very simple by other car companies (seriously whats the point of a horizontal 4 cyl? When you could get the same power/more reliability out of an inline 4 made by Toyota). Not to mention a lot of the Subaru guys will now infest toyota nation. But what I do like is that Toyota is getting back into the swing of things with sports cars. Thats definately a plus.

[x_itchy_b_x]

it better at least be a toyota power plant. subys break.

[BLINKYxMUNKEY]

I personally dont like the fact that they are using a Subaru motor only beacuse they are retarded in the way that they work, and overly complicated for something thats made very simple by other car companies (seriously whats the point of a horizontal 4 cyl? When you could get the same power/more reliability out of an inline 4 made by Toyota). Not to mention a lot of the Subaru guys will now infest toyota nation. But what I do like is that Toyota is getting back into the swing of things with sports cars. Thats definately a plus.

Don't like horizontally opposed engines? They are just as reliable as any inline 4. Hell, most general aviation engines are horizontally opposed. They are well balanced engines If they weren't, airplanes would not have them.

[enjoi926]

If they were so reliable/awesome, how come if you type in on nasioc: spun rod bearing, an unlimited amount of listings come up... They do it all the time, and they are a pain in the ass to work on, I know cuz I've torn one apart and helped put a new one together, reason being: spun rod bearing. Its the stupidest design ever if you ask me. Not to mention the crank is about a half the size of a 3sgte crank.

This post has been edited by enjoi926: Feb 5, 2008 - 11:23 AM

[Rayme]

If they were so reliable/awesome, how come if you type in on nasioc: spun rod bearing, an unlimited amount of listings come up... They do it all the time, and they are a pain in the ass to work on, I know cuz I've torn one apart and helped put a new one together, reason being: spun rod bearing. Its the stupidest design ever if you ask me. Not to mention the crank is about a half the size of a 3sgte crank.

You can probably find as much people spunning rods of 3sgte if you looked more carefully...and why is a shorter crank worst? less rotational weight baby!

This post has been edited by Rayme: Feb 5, 2008 - 11:45 AM

[enjoi926]

Its teeny and stupid thats all, and I hate the fact that all sound like they're underwater.. lol sorry I'm just a hater of subaru's.

[punkuup5150]

it would be nice if they designed the gt4 so we can put a true wide body kit on it. put some awsome deep dish wheels on it and go drifting. ull see lots of people with them i hope it takes off like the 350z with alot of xtras so we can actually get the celicas name back out there, and maybe get a few companys that will make some new parts for our cars or at least i hope thats what happens

[celicaST]

confirmed!

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/toyota-...h-subaru-boxer/

this will be my next car as long as it isnt hideous.

[xs94st]

sha sha SHAZAAAAM!

[Celiracer18]

so theres gonna be a subaru and a toyota version? thats what the article made it sound like

[joehernandez]

OMG!!!!!!!!!
i have to start saving now and i have to look for a job that pays me more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hanyo]

booo its not gonna be out until 2011...

[xs94st]

lol, 2011 isn't that far. hell, thats when i'm supposed to be done payin all my school loans

[j0e_p3t]

damn... 4 years. i hope its worth the wait.

[tomazws]

OMG!!!!!!!!!
i have to start saving now and i have to look for a job that pays me more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

x2!

[mrgt4]

i dont like it.. full stop, dont like the fact it uses a subaru engine either, they should just revise the 3s-gte engine, hell they use the beams engine in the lexus for the BTCC here in the UK, when i went to donington and in the pits saw them taking an engine out of the car, beams 3s-ge... these cars are like 200- 300bhp N/A i think so why not use a proven GOOD reliable engine, not a crappy subaru one.

dont liek the body either, like the gen 7, looks crap in comparison to the gen 6.
how could toyota build such good cars upto 1994 then make everything there after damn ugly. bizzarre

This post has been edited by mrgt4: Apr 11, 2008 - 6:57 AM

[njccmd2002]

it will be like the matrix and the vibe.

twin brothers, with so many differences. by 2011 i will be making money!



This post has been edited by njccmd2002: Apr 11, 2008 - 3:10 PM

[Supersprynt]

Update:



http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/toyota-...include-direct/

[njccmd2002]

woot, woot. Ill be paying cash.

[Random_Stranger]

Update:



http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/toyota-...include-direct/

Ok, if that is it, I will buy that! I WANT! WANT! WANT!!!

[Akirad1]

i like how you get a hint of both companys styling with it

[Supersprynt]

Its not a bad car - but it looks like a Tiburon or Genesis IMO - needs more swagger.

[stetsonaw]

nose kinda reminds me of a DB9 for some reason.

[TRD_Ian]

i really like this look, i can see the toyota sport car influence in the style, lil bit of supra in the front and celica, loving the lines and how it goes into the back, would love to see the rear end

[tonytutino]

bleh.
just looks like a camry, tc, altima, or any other modern car...
i don't like the way cars are starting to look. i miss the curviness of the celica and similar cars...

[Random_Stranger]

Its not a bad car - but it looks like a Tiburon or Genesis IMO - needs more swagger.

I can see that. It actually looks like a new Mitsubishi Eclipse had sex with a Scion TC and gave birth to that IMO.

My God that front vent is getting so common in new cars it is killing it. It is almost a standard for new cars now. Ugh...

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Feb 19, 2009 - 1:54 AM

[trdproven]

air dam needs to come all the way down, its up too high.

[bseaman_5]

Its not a bad car - but it looks like a Tiburon or Genesis IMO - needs more swagger.

I can see that. It actually looks like a new Mitsubishi Eclipse had sex with a Scion TC and gave birth to that IMO.

My God that front vent is getting so common in new cars it is killing it. It is almost a standard for new cars now. Ugh...

I actually think it was a threesome w the eclipse/tc/cougar...

[saleeka]

Plans for both the Toyota and Subaru versions put on hold indefinitely:

Left Lane News article