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