Toyota Confirms Convertible for FT-86

This car just keeps getting better! C'mon Honda, next gen P-R-E-L-U-D-E....
Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://www.autobild.de/bilder/toyota-gt-86-als-cabrio-2882924.html

Toyota FT-86 Get Production Name GT-86

We finally have official specs and details about the production model of Toyota's FT-86 small sports car, one of which is its new name: the Toyota GT 86.

At least, it will be known as the GT 86 in the European market. In the Japanese market, it may be simply known as the Toyota 86 or Hachiroku in the Japanese tongue. And when the model reaches U.S. shores next year, it may do so wearing a Scion badge with an FR-S or similar nameplate.

We already knew that Toyota's small sports car would be motivated by a Subaru-developed 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine that sends power to the rear wheels by way of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, but now we have an officially quoted output of 197 horsepower. The D-4S engine, as it is called, makes use of a combination of direct and port injection to generate 151 pound-feet of torque. That torque is then split between the rear wheels by way of a limited-slip differential.

That's not a ton of power, but Toyota thinks it will be plenty for sporty acceleration, thanks to the 86's emphasis on low weight and low center of gravity. Toyota hasn't officially unveiled the curb weight, but rumblings around the Internet indicate that the coupe will tip the scales at about 2,600 pounds. This means that the each of the 86's ponies has to pull about 13.2 pounds of car, that's a weight-to-power ratio that, on paper, translates to acceleration that is slightly better than a 2012 Mazda Miata or a 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T. Toyota also makes it a point to note that the horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is mounted low and aft in the engine bay to promote a lower center of gravity and a 53:47 weight balance between the front and rear axles.

In the cabin, the compact GT 86 is revealed to be a 2+2 with an actual rear seat, although exactly how useful the back seat will be in a vehicle that's actually about an inch shorter than the Nissan 370Z, but if Toyota figured out how to fit 3-plus adults in an iQ, it should be able to work similar magic here as well.

Source;

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57332107-48/toyotas-ft-86-gets-production-specs-new-gt-86-moniker/

Subaru BRZ STI Concept: New Photos Released Ahead of LA Auto Show Debut

Revealed yesterday for the first time, Subaru has since released a selection of photos showing the new BRZ STI Concept from many more angles. The first up-close look at the car won’t come for another two weeks with the reveal set for November 16th at the LA Auto Show.

Taking design cues from the more dramatic FT-86 II Concept, despite the name this STI concept won’t be turbocharged, but will instead use the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated motor found in the FT-86/FR-S. If leaked specs of the FT-86 are any guess, the car will deliver 197-hp with a curb weight of around 2700 lbs.

Look for full details November 16th, with the start of AutoGuide’s 2011 LA Auto Show coverage here.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/subaru-brz-sti-concept-new-photos-released-ahead-of-la-auto-show-debut.html

Woodyscarsite: Toyota FT-86 Getting Closer to Production

And here we have the Toyota version of the Subaru BRZ, the FT-86, getting closer to productions form. I've got to say, very nice design!

Source;

http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/10/ft-86.html

Subaru BRZ: new tech details

The new Subaru BRZ coupé will have the lowest centre of gravity of any production car when it goes on sale next summer, according to the manufacturer.

The BRZ’s rear-wheel-drive configuration has meant that Subaru's compact 2.0-litre Boxer engine can be mounted even lower in the chassis than would normally be permissible in the manufacturer's conventional four-wheel-drive layout.

Despite being co-developed with Toyota, the vast majority of the engineering work has been undertaken by Subaru; although the company has confirmed that the BRZ's flat-four unit will incorporate a Toyota direct fuel-injection system.

Power outputs, however, will differ with a Subaru-spec ECU liberating the BRZ’s power to “less than 300bhp,” compared with the FT-86’s 200bhp figure.

Details of the car’s final spec remain under wraps - even Subaru's UK new MD admitted to Autocar that he'd only seen a clay model of the finished product - but insiders suggest that the grille and bumpers will differentiate the RBZ from its Toyota-badged sibling.

A roadster version could yet play a part in future model plans, but a topless car is ‘under consideration’ rather than developmental reality.

Subaru insists that no costing strategy has been established, but with the Volkswagen Scirocco confirmed as the main rival, expect the RBZ’s price tag to land somewhere in the current coupé ballpark.

The lack of a final figure - or even an image of the production car - has apparently not dissuaded Subaru fans from already registering their interest with the company's dealership network.

While the new 2+2 coupé is expected to fill a healthy new niche for the manufacturer, Subaru UK has made it clear that it intends to focus much of its energy on 'lifestyle' products, such as the new XV crossover, as it looks to achieve a sales target of 7500 units in 2012.

The Subaru BRZ will be unveiled at the Tokyo show next month.

Nic Cackett

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=259739

SPIED: Subaru BRZ Coupe Shows its Face

Upon viewing these pictures of the Subaru BRZ prototype we can hear some of you shouting, "just come out with it already", and we couldn't agree more. The same can be said about for the BRZ's twin sisters, the much-teased global Toyota FT-86 and the North American Scion FR-S.

Anyway, if the current buzz is to be believed, then we should catch our first glimpse of the BRZ in concept form at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November with the final production model to make its world premiere alongside the FT-86 at the Tokyo Motor Show in December.

If you're having a hard time figuring out the differences between the swirly covered BRZ test car and the FT-86 prototypes, that's because the two models will be almost identical minus some extremely subtle cosmetic differences.

If you compare these pictures with our previous spy shots of the FT-86, you will see that the BRZ seen here features a slightly different nose with a reversed grille (and by that we mean that the upper side is longer than the lower side) and redesigned fog lamp housings.

The mechanics are already known with all three cars featuring a Subaru-sourced, 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-four matched to a standard six-speed manual or an optional (depending on the market) automatic transmission that will power the rear wheels only.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/10/spied-subaru-brz-coupe-shows-its-face.html

Next Gen Toyota Supra underway!

Lexus plans super LFA Tokyo Edition, new Supra underway
By Tim Pollard

Lexus will launch an LFA Tokyo Motor Show Edition at this autumn's 2011 Japanese show, CAR has discovered - and we can expect a brace of additional new Toyota/Lexus performance cars in the coming years, including a likely Supra replacement.

The Lexus LFA Tokyo edition will bring an M3-esque exposed carbon roof and (still hydraulically adjustable) carbon rear spoiler. Presumably this just means the weave is exposed, as the LFA is already made from carbonfibre.

CAR understands the LFA Tokyo will cost about €40k more than a 'regular' Lexus LFA.
What else is planned for the Lexus LFA?

A spider roadster was planned and its carbonfibre construction meant the open-top LFA was nearly as rigid as the coupe. But our sources in Japan have confirmed the roadster LFA has been canned owing to the economic uncertainty in markets around the world.

And what's this about new performance cars from Toyota/Lexus?

Toyota is working on two other performance cars separate from the FT-86 and LFA projects.
Information is sketchy at this point, but CAR understands one is a front-wheel drive car (possibly a go-faster CT200h) and one is a potential successor to the Supra.

Officially, a Supra replacement is denied. But we hear a skunkworks, unofficial project is underway to replace the RWD coupe and some insiders predict a 2014 launch.

It also sounds like future fast Toyota/Lexus models will switch from high-revving naturally aspirated engines - as in the LFA, ISF and FT-86 - to smaller, turbocharged engines. Interesting times at Toyota, as it attempts to play catch-up after a decade away from the performance heartland.

Source;
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Lexus-to-launch-super-LFA-Tokyo-Edition-plus-new-Supra-underway/

Subaru BRZ Revealed as Name of Subie’s Toyota FT-86

Subaru has announced its name for the joint sports car project developed with Toyota, dubbing the rear-drive coupe the BRZ.



The news comes in a release by the Japanese automaker, announcing it will show a second rendition of the Boxer Sports Car Architecture, cumbersomely named “Subaru BRZ Prologue – Boxer Sports Car Architecture II” at the Frankfurt Auto Show.



The BRZ name stands for “Boxer engine”, “Rear-wheel drive” and “Zenith”. Subaru has also created a teaser webpage for the car which can be viewed here.



Source;

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/08/subaru-brz-revealed-as-name-of-subies-toyota-ft-86.html