Subaru Confirms Spring 2012 Production of FT-86 FR-S Variant, or Did They?

[West]

Subaru's been silently confirming its "Joint Operation" regarding the Toyota FT-86 and Scion FR-S variant. We still cant be sure, but Subaru says they will release the joint effort sports car in Spring 2012. Subaru has only show the skeletal structure and internals of the RWD concept. Why are we to believe this presser confirms the production Subaru variant of the FT-86 and FR-S? The statement sums it up if you ask us. "FHI will begin production of the jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car." That sounds like the Toyota/Scion model... We will keep our hopes high Subaru faithfuls, but the facts are stated. We can expect more news closer to the Tokyo Motor Show 2011.



The important stuff:

Alliance with Toyota
Development

Joint development: A jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car will be launched in spring 2012. FHI will study enhancement of product appeal of the model toward the future.

Japan: FHI will begin production of the jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car.

Full Press Release by Subaru:

FHI Announces "Motion-V" Mid-Term Management Plan for FY2012-2016

Tokyo, July 6, 2011 – Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced its new 5-year management plan for the fiscal years ending March 31, 2012 (FY2012), through March 31, 2016 (FY2016). FHI has positioned these 5 years to solidify the foundation of its core Subaru automobile business in order to ensure further growth by achieving an annual sales volume of 1 million vehicles within the next 10 years.

Under the 5-year plan, FHI will grow its base of Subaru fans and customers by offering them its core values of enjoyment and peace of mind, which are established aspects of Subaru's brand identity. In terms of product development, Subaru continues to build on its expertise in safety technology and driving performance while constantly addressing environmental issues in order to offer environmentally friendly solutions. In the next 5 years, its product lineup will be bolstered by the introductions of three all-new models and a hybrid vehicle. FHI will place emphasis on the U.S. and China markets and increase its global sales by 40% over the term of the plan. Subaru plans to strengthen its production capacity to accommodate the increasing sales efforts, yet always in consideration of the need to hedge foreign currency exposure.

The new mid-term plan specifies goals and measures for growth and operational expansion, and it also reckons overall cost reduction and accounts for the synergistic effects of the alliance with Toyota Motor Corporation. The plan was made in consideration of FHI's global level of risk and recent changes in business practices, such as the currently required investment in the development of environmental technology, foreign currency fluctuations, and increases in other costs.

With a basic philosophy of customers come first, which further incorporates the brand statement Confidence in Motion as a guiding principle, FHI's 5-year plan addresses major challenges and sets forth goals.

FHI has also announced its consolidated outlook of FY2012 as the first year of the plan as follows:

Automotive sales: 633 thousand units (-3.6% year-on-year basis)
Net sales: 1,480 billion yen (-6.4%)
Operating income: 30 billion yen (-64.3%)
Ordinary income: 25 billion yen (-69.6%)
Net income: 35 billion yen (-30.4%)
Foreign currency rate: 81yen per US dollar, 115 yen per EURO

FY2012-FY2016 Mid-Term Plan: Numerical goals for the fiscal year 2016

Global automotive sales target*: 900 thousand units
Sales target by region: 380 thousand units in North America; 180 thousand in China; 160 thousand in Japan; 60 thousand in Europe; 50 thousand in Australia; and 70 thousand in other regions
*Target sales consist of FHI's volume of non-consolidated shipments of complete cars, KD units for overseas assembly, and OEM units.
Operating income goal: 120 billion yen
Calculation based on current standard accounting practices, under operating conditions of a profit margin at 6% and estimated foreign exchange rates of 90 yen per U.S. dollar and 120 yen per Euro.

R&D expense: 250 billion yen*; Capital expenditure: 330 billion yen*; Depreciation: 310 billion yen*

*5 years total

"Motion – V" Five Challenges

1. Guiding principle for all activities

Guiding principle "Confidence in Motion"

Aiming the achievement of Mid-Term Management Plan through positive actions by all members

2. Provide distinctive Subaru experience

New brand strategy

To expand the base of Subaru fans and customers and increase sales by offering enhanced Subaru brand value

Technologies

Safety: To become the world's leading brand in safety performance by providing all-around safety that comprises risk-avoidance technologies (active safety), systems in collision safety (passive safety), and pre-crash safety features

Environment: To review and improve the efficiency of all automotive power units, so that an average improvement of 30% in fuel economy will be achieved across the board in Subaru vehicles

Products

To enhance the Subaru product lineup through the introduction of three all-new models and a hybrid car (planned for 2013) and through the availability in more models of advanced technological pre-crash safety features like the EyeSight, Subaru's unique Active Driving Assist System that uses stereo camera technology

3. Accelerate sales expansion

Sales plans

To focus management resources on the U.S and China markets as key markets and substantially expand the sales

Production capacity enhancement plans

To begin production in China in order to expand production capacity and mitigate the sensitivity of foreign currencies

To refurbish the Gunma Main Plant to produce passenger cars instead of mini cars

To expand the Oizumi Plant's production of the new-generation boxer engines that excel in environmental friendliness

To begin assembly of KD units in Malaysia, thereby making inroads to the growing markets within the ASEAN Free Trade Area

4. Solidify operational foundation

Upgrade of quality

To enhance the quality based on the view point of customers and strengthen the global quality control system responding to diversification of sales globally

Overhaul of cost structure

To strive for a 20% cost reduction in new models under development despite increasing cost factors, such as for required development of environmentally friendly technology

Alliance with Toyota
Development

Joint development: A jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car will be launched in spring 2012. FHI will study enhancement of product appeal of the model toward the future.

Technology development: FHI, in consultation with Toyota, will pursue synergistic effects by participating in the developmental work on next-generation environmental technologies.
OEM

Minicars: All Subaru minicar lineups will be supplied by Daihatsu under an OEM agreement by spring 2012.

Compact cars: FHI plans to continue the OEM arrangement for its compact car supplied by Toyota and will study enhancement of product appeal.
Production

North America: Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. will continue production of the Toyota Camry.

Japan: FHI will begin production of the jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car.

5. Improvement in management

Aerospace Company, Industrial Products Company, and Eco Technologies Company

To review and determine those operations' future growth and independence, with securing profits as a premise

Human resources

To recruit and nurture employees with a global a perspective who accept the challenges of lofty goals

To become a company where employees can get satisfaction from their work within flexible working arrangements

Corporate governance

To invite outside directors to the board of directors and add independent directors

Return to shareholders

In taking account of financial results, capital expenditure and current business environment of each year, continuous dividend policy is our basic idea. In closely examining future improvement of ROE (Return of Equity), consider payout ratio idea linked to financial performance.

[ej25ti]

finally some new news... though didnt say much, but i support it
though
i forget what portion of Subaru stocks Toyota owns now, but I surely hope FHI doesnt make the mistake of ever letting Toyota buy them out. "It's what makes a Subaru a Toyota"?

[Cal]

A RWD scoobie still seems weird. If Subaru is launching spring of next year I wonder if that means Toyota will be launching November/December this year......

[ForRealSomeday]

I'd think that Subaru would come out with their version before Toyota. Since Subaru has more invested. IE: the majority of the mechanicals, and production.

[HyperFX]

The news from Subaru is finally an admission that this was not just a concept excercise. I still think that a "clear shelled" car car would be the most unique ride ever produced. Obviously it wouldn't pass crash test standards but one can dream.

[Cal]

I'd think that Subaru would come out with their version before Toyota. Since Subaru has more invested. IE: the majority of the mechanicals, and production.

Except for the fact Subaru hasn't even shown a true prototype yet.

[ForRealSomeday]

True. But Subaru, unlike Toyota, doesn't have a bunch of money laying around from selling a TON of worthless Camrys. So, they won't put out a bunch of teasing concepts. They'll probably just unveil the production version next to the toyota, then put the damn thing on sale. Since Subaru will be in charge of production it wouldn't be to big of a surprise if their version came off the line first.

[genspatz]

Hello from the old world,

German motor press (auto, motor & sport / Autobild) says that the presentation of the Ft-86 is planed to be in september on the IAA auto show in Frankfurt. I don't know how likely that is, motor press isn't as good as it could be here...
But the pictures of the prototypes look quite as if presentation isn't far away.
They also think that it's name would be Celica. How possible is this?

[Toyoriffic]

Might call it Celica in Europe, I would guess anyways.

[Cal]

Welcome!

My guess is they will just show off the same concept.

[modifiedMR]

Welcome!

My guess is they will just show off the same concept.

The 5-axis one?

If you read through that, which I just did and didn't do before, basically Subaru will now become a subsidiary of Toyota, even though it still manages itself (IIRC Toyota now owns something like 16.5%). How do I come to that. #1, Subaru actually builds Camry's at their plant in Indiana. #2, Daihatsu will be making mini cars for FHI, which is what Toyota is doing too, making it a three way partnership (Toyota-Subaru-Daihatsu). #3, The ft86 and other joint efforts are all "consulted" with Toyota. Basically, Toyota helped pays some bills and has enough clout that Subaru is going to change in order to help Toyota and expand their own product line. Subaru is not going to keep making just boxer awd vehicles. If they partnered with Daihatsu and are making their own ft86, they will have both fwd's and rwd's in the future.

[Toyoriffic]

That is a very accurate and helpful summmation of the current partnership between Toyota and Subaru, modifiedMR.

[ej25ti]

I hope not, FHI is still separated from Toyota Motor Corp though.
I agree, my guess is it will be the same (FT86-II) concept for Frankfurt.
I am also guessing the production model will be set for the Tokyo Auto Show.
IMO

it would actually be nice if i was wrong though lol

[Cal]

The 5-axis one?

If you read through that, which I just did and didn't do before, basically Subaru will now become a subsidiary of Toyota, even though it still manages itself (IIRC Toyota now owns something like 16.5%). How do I come to that. #1, Subaru actually builds Camry's at their plant in Indiana. #2, Daihatsu will be making mini cars for FHI, which is what Toyota is doing too, making it a thIree way partnership (Toyota-Subaru-Daihasu). #3, The ft86 and other joint efforts are all "consulted" with Toyota. Basically, Toyota helped pays some bills and has enough clout that Subaru is going to change in order to help Toyota and expand their own product line. Subaru is not going to keep making just boxer awd vehicles. If they partnered with Daihatsu and are making their own ft86, they will have both fwd's and rwd's in the future.

The latest FRS concept. At first I didn't really read it but your post made me interested. It's hard for me to believe Subaru is bulding camry's. It's like if Gm got Chrysler to build Impala's.

While I like the idea of the FRS and 216A, I am not so hot on Toyota making Subje it's bitch.

[Toyoriffic]

I think there are Subaru fans and Toyota fans and there are those like me, who are fans of neither but are very willing to cherry-pick a great new car like the Scion FR-S off the vine for a fair and reasonable price. Some people don't geek out ta the max on car sites and magazines and dealers like we do. Just sayin'.

Having said that, let's geek out. The internet has changed everything and those of us that love cars can have at it with glee 24/7. We already know what we want before the salesman has butchered all the facts about the car we like during the test drive.

I may jump career fields here in the next week and start selling cars for Dave Smith Motors here in Kellogg, ID. They are looking for salesmen to sell their Chrysler and GM products. They are internet-driven and their business is booming. You would have a workout gym on site, great pay (they say you can make $50,000 up to $100,000 if you're a real aggressive salesperson), medical/dental, 401K, etc. They keep buying up pieces of Kellogg and turning it into their service center, parts houses (they're literally all over...this is a carlovers dream, guys!!) and car lots. Dave Smith is the No.1 seller of Chrysler's in the world. He is also the No.1 GM dealer in the Pacific NW.

He has lots of pickups, SUV's and GM/Chrysler cars all over this town of some 2,700 people here in the panhandle region of Idaho. Montana is only 25 miles east. I filled out an online app and got called back by Eric Smith, one of Dave's sons. Dave Smith, founder, was killed in a snorkeling accident in the Caribbean several years back.

Eric called me when I was in Spokane looking for a used rig for our son. He said to call in and ask for so and so or so and so, so they want me to go to work for them. I'm getting really fed up with the medical industry, it basically sucks.

I'm trying one more medical job to see if I get it. I'll know next week. If I don't, I'm calling Dave Smith Motors. I may call Dave Smith later today even if the other job does call or doesn't call...sounds like I can make more money selling cars and they're obviously my passion. There's more a-holes in the medical industry than you can shake a stick at, guys. Sick of it. The payoff isn't good enough, I like to help patients but management are the usual asshole suspects.

One new Chrysler I'm pining to see is the Caliber replacement. It will sit on the 2011 Alfa Romeo platform, and that is the only reason I'm taking this car seriously, folks. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta brings back the old Italian sports car charm of the late 50's, it is built to run hard and has a 6-speed tranny, 1.4L MultiAir Fiat motor installed, that's a great engine. If Chrysler doesn't muck it up I'd be interested in one of my own, I really would. It now rivals the FR-S and the Mitsubishi Lancer GTS Hybrid model and the Mitsubishi Outlander ACTiV and Outlander Sport and 2012 Kia Rio hatchback for my attention to research for futures purchases. But working at Dave Smith, sheesh, I'll get an outrageous deal on the Dodge when it comes out later next year and I'll be test-driving it right when it comes off the truck, too. Hopefully.

Of course, as soon as something breaks I'll let ya know. But it sounds like an opportunity is awaiting that is too good to pass up here. You need to be honest and you need to be organized and they'll train you from there. WHOO-HOO!! We drivin'!

[modifiedMR]

Toyoriffic> You do realize the cars you are interested in are very different beasts? Also, Chrysler and Fiat are considered some of the most UNreliable cars ever?

Ratings | J.D. Power
Top 10 reliable car manufacturers - March - 2011 - Which? News

^The last link shows that if toyota, subaru and daihatsu do really well and work together, they'll probably dominate the world market. Reliability owns.

I do like the look of the alpha's. Much better than dodges, which I really dislike. I mean, who the hell makes a car called the "neon?" lol.

GM and Ford are both bouncing back for making sub-par cars in the past. Ford, especially so. To me, I think Ford and Toyota are going to be the top cars in the future and GM will end up #3.

[Toyoriffic]

I know that Chrysler and Jeep are improving and this dealership totally has its act together, and they're looking for salespeople. If this new Fiat-Alfa-Chrysler looks good I'll be taking a good look at it. I'll be right there watching it like a hawk if I buy one, I'll be privvy to what TSB's are out, recalls, etc. It'll be a good car. Just looking for now, this FR-S sounds like it's not the rig for me, that's all. Besides, I am looking at about 5 rigs in all right now.

Quality seems to be always improving in cars. Chrysler is aggressively changing the way they do business since under Fiat. Sergio doesn't feel like screwing around. I think Sergio Marchionne has been a good thing for Chrysler. I respect his leadership and aggressiveness. Probably an a-hole, too. But I won't be working for him, I'll be working for the sons of the founder of this very, very, very successful Idaho car dealership.

I agree, the Dodge Neon was a joke. That car is way in the past for Dodge. Believe me.