Turbo Subaru 216a "FT-86" Doubtful

[West]

TOKYO -- Subaru will display the production version of the long-awaited sporty car it is co-developing with Toyota at the Tokyo Motor Show in December.

The rear-wheel-drive car, which has a Subaru-designed drivetrain and Toyota-styled body, goes on sale next year. Toyota will sell its version as a Scion in the United States.

Subaru expects a longer-than-average life cycle for the car and is looking at variant packages, including a possible STI version, to keep the offering fresh, says Toshio Masuda, a Subaru senior general manager of product planning.

Subaru's STI tuner package typically offers turbocharging, lower profile tires, more powerful brakes and sport-tuned suspension. But going turbo is doubtful: Subaru officials say the vehicle's original concept calls for keeping the engine naturally aspirated.

The car will be built on a new line at Subaru's plant in Gumma, Japan. Styling will draw from Toyota FT-86 concepts that have made the auto show rounds since 2009.

Power is expected to come from a new generation 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine that will be used in the redesigned Subaru Impreza arriving this fall. But the engine will be positioned nearly 5 inches lower than in the Impreza to bring down the car's center of gravity and improve handling.

The car also will have Toyota's D-4S fuel injection system. And unlike the new Impreza, which gets an option for a continuously variable transmission, the sporty car will get a manual or automatic.

Subaru hasn't officially commented on the price. But Japan's Nikkan Kogyo business daily said the company plans to price the car in the $20,000 range.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...305309986/1423

and autoblogs counter.

Automotive News has dug up a few details on the Subaru sports coupe co-developed with Toyota. The production version of the two-door is set for an official unveil at the Tokyo Motor Show this December, and when it bows, AN expects it to show up without the company's trademark all-wheel drive system or a turbocharger. That sound? It's the lonesome wail of a sad trombone.

The good news is that Subaru is reportedly planning on a longer-than-average lifecycle for the coupe, with multiple packages popping up down the line to keep the car fresh. Those include an STI model, and while those three letters typically signify forced induction, Automotive News suggests that's not the case for this vehicle. According to their sources at Subaru, the Subiyota was always intended to be all naturally aspirated, all the time. Curiously, Autoblog's own well-placed sources assure us that isn't the case, suggesting that turbo power is still very much in the car's future.

Even with a 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder behind the headlights, the Subaru coupe should be a blast to fling. The company's engineers have positioned the engine five inches lower in the chassis compared to the Impreza, which should translate into a better center of gravity and improved handling dynamics. Here's hoping that all-wheel drive shows up before long.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/s...-turbocharged/

[RJF]

I'll start making my travel plans.

[ej25ti]

wonder where they received this from, and what the STI variant will cost...

[Cal]

I'll start making my travel plans.

Take me with you!!!!!!!!!

I am with Ej25ti, I want to know where this info comes from. I just can't see them making it NA only. Even the miata has a turbo.

[LilJohn]

oh poop it looks like its getting struts upfront. I was hoping it would get a more trackable UCA/LCA type suspension, like miata's or 370z's . Lower CG is nice though.

[modifiedMR]

porsche uses them, so i think they'll be ok.

this car will probably get a turbo. no doubt in my mind. they are probably keeping it under wraps so that everyone goes and buys the NA and then a year or two later, they'll drop that bomb. lol

STI without a turbo? wtf are they gonna do to make any real power with it? oh yeah, a turbo!

[blofeld42]

If they're not going to use a turbo in the STI version they can still drop in the 2.5L engine instead of the 2.0L engine. With direct injection it might get to mid-200's HP.

[Cal]

If it truly is NA I want a 9:1 compression with forged pistons and rods.

[modifiedMR]

If it truly is NA I want a 9:1 compression with forged pistons and rods.

no way they'll do that. Thinking of boosting it? lol. It would probably be something like 10.5:1 or maybe as high as 11:1 because of the better injection setup. I could see them hitting the 250 or maybe 260 hp mark with the injection and larger displacement. Torque though, would probably be lower, maybe 200 tq? IDK, but that would be kind of cool. Still though, why not turbo it and push 300 hp?!?!

[Cal]

no way they'll do that. Thinking of boosting it? lol. It would probably be something like 10.5:1 or maybe as high as 11:1 because of the better injection setup. I could see them hitting the 250 or maybe 260 hp mark with the injection and larger displacement. Torque though, would probably be lower, maybe 200 tq? IDK, but that would be kind of cool. Still though, why not turbo it and push 300 hp?!?!

Yea it's my pipe dream. I would almost bet it would be 11:1 if it is NA only.

[modifiedMR]

Yea it's my pipe dream. I would almost bet it would be 11:1 if it is NA only.

It is possible for it to be even higher than that. With both types of injection, they can push the compression even higher. The 2gr-fse has a 11.8:1 compression ratio and the 4gr-fse has a 12:1 compression ratio. Both are in the Lexus IS.

[ForRealSomeday]

I wouldn't get too excited about seeing high NA out put from this car. Porsche has been making boxer engines for decades, and the best they've managed is 118 hp/L.

[modifiedMR]

I wouldn't get too excited about seeing high NA out put from this car. Porsche has been making boxer engines for decades, and the best they've managed is 118 hp/L.

yes, but they are not using a dual injection setup either.

[ForRealSomeday]

I stand corrected. There's a GT3 RS 4.0 that makes 125 HP/L. It'll be interesting to see what Subaru and Toyota can do with this motor, as it is kind of a turd in its current form.

[Cal]

I say just slap on a turbo and call it a damn day. Do what Hyundai did make it weak in stock form with lots of upgrade potential.

[ForRealSomeday]

I say just slap on a turbo and call it a damn day. Do what Hyundai did make it weak in stock form with lots of upgrade potential.

I'd like to see that too. They might be having packaging problems with a turbo. With the engine so far back and so low where would they put it? You can't just have a turbo hanging out the bottom of the car.

[ForRealSomeday]

Something like this would be awesome, but there's probably not room.

[Cal]

Even if there was, never in a million years would a manufacturer do something that awesome from the factory.

[Kad]

Hi guys. Been lurking around this forum on and off for a year or so it feels like, but never really posted. You have some great stuff here. Lately I was thinking about the turbo..

I'd like to see that too. They might be having packaging problems with a turbo. With the engine so far back and so low where would they put it? You can't just have a turbo hanging out the bottom of the car.

In a way, you can! How do you all feel about what Subaru did with the newest generation Legacy? With such a deviation from the norm here, it makes me wonder that if they did pursue a turbo option with the FR-S, maybe they would go this route as well. I kind of hope that they would, or that those of us who are adventurous and wealthy would consider it an option--the new turbo location has amazing response, and with a simple retune it can do amazing things!

It's a blast to drive in the Legacy, and that's a ~3800 (I think) lbs sedan. In something Toyo/Subie hopes to be fun and tossable, I think it'd be perfect. It has its cons (spatial limitations and worse, no UEL header grumble), but for your every day owner it's worked out great.

[Cal]

^^Welcome

I feel any turbo option would be better than NA. I want the car to be able to handle 350whp without having to touch the internals.

[ej25ti]

^^Welcome

I feel any turbo option would be better than NA. I want the car to be able to handle 350whp without having to touch the internals.

what cal said

[modifiedMR]

what cal said

x2.

IMO, this car would be perfectly set with 300-400 whp on tap. A little weight reduction and it'll be time attack ready!

[Kad]

Yeah, I'm with you guys. A turbo version that could do 250hp/tq from the factory would be a great start imo, and the more you could get out of it before having to rebuild would be awesome. After my experience with Subaru's relocated turbo, if they could do it with that setup, even better!

[Cal]

205-250 factory to keep the price down, then let me turn to GRreddy to get 350.

[ej25ti]

205-250 factory to keep the price down, then let me turn to GRreddy to get 350.

unless they pull an HKS :O

[Cal]

unless they pull an HKS :O

?? Enlighten me on what you mean.

[modifiedMR]

?? Enlighten me on what you mean.

hks pulled out of the US. All sales now come from japan.

[Cal]

hks pulled out of the US. All sales now come from japan.

Oh yea that. I am surprised GReddy has stayed in the US this long.