Toyota Confirms 2.0-liter Boxer Engine, Six-Speed Gearboxes and LSD for 2012 FT-86

In keeping enthusiasts on their toes, Toyota’s European division came out with a new release today on its upcoming FT-86 sports coupe. The Japanese automaker confirmed that the production version will go on sale in 2012 with power coming from by Subaru's new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine fitted with Toyota's D-4S technology. The latter consists of direct injection combined with port injection.

We still don’t get any output numbers although Toyota says the D4-S technology “results in increased horsepower and torque without sacrificing fuel consumption and environmental performance.” Subaru's latest 2.0-liter horizontally opposed gasoline engine, which is offered on the all-new Impreza, develops 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) of torque, but in the case of the FT-86, output is expected to increase significantly.

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All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza

The New York auto show hosts the world premiere of the fourth generation Subaru Impreza, showcased in both 4-door and 5-door body styles. Developed under the Subaru’s concept of “Redefining Value, Redefining Class”, the new Impreza is allegedly more fuel-efficient and fun to drive, while offerings better interior space, despite having the same exterior dimensions as the outgoing model.
The wheelbase has been enlarged by 25 mm, the bottom end of the A-pillar has been extended 200 mm toward the front and the door structure has been redesigned, with all these changes resulting in increased shoulder and elbow space, extra foot room for the rear passengers and an improved field of vision for the driver. Naturally, cargo space is larger in the sedan with Subaru claiming that it can transport four golf bags, while the hatchback can accommodate three.
Mechanically, the base U.S. models feature Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and the third generation 2.0-liter boxer engine, mated either to a 5-speed manual, either to the new Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission.
Rated at 148 horsepower (22 less than the outgoing model’s 2.5-liter unit) and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) of torque, the smaller engine achieved a preliminary in-house fuel consumption rating of 36 mpg (6.5 liters/100 km), a record for a U.S.-market AWD production car. This is also due to the vehicle's low weight (1,320 kg/2,910 lbs), the optimized aerodynamics and the standard low-rolling resistance tires.
Subaru says the exterior design follows the “Smart & Classy” concept, with the result being an elegant but somewhat understated look. The car's styling highlights include the hexagon grille with spread wings in the center, “hawk eye” headlights and bulged wheel arches, with the latter being a reference to all-wheel drive capability.
The new Impreza's interior appears to be inspired by German cars, with ergonomically placed controls and a classic setup. The three-spoke steering wheel and the round speedometer and rev counter add a hint of sportiness, but nothing to get excited about. Subaru didn't offer any details on pricing and launch dates.

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VIDEO: 2012 Subaru Impreza Sedan and Hatchback on the Road

Yesterday, we brought you a first look at the redevelopment of Subaru’s Impreza Sedan and Hatchback from its world premiere at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. Today we have the first videos of the redesigned compact model in both four-door saloon and five-door hatchback guises, thanks to the official B-roll footage from Subaru.

Bypassing the somewhat disappointing styling as the visual impact of last year’s LA Show Impreza Concept was lost in the translation from concept to production car reality, Subaru’s Honda Civic rival boasts a roomier passenger area despite the fact that exterior dimensions remain the same.

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All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza Brings Smaller Engine with less Horsepower but Promises for 36 MPG

The New York auto show hosts the world premiere of the fourth generation Subaru Impreza, showcased in both 4-door and 5-door body styles. Developed under the Subaru’s concept of “Redefining Value, Redefining Class”, the new Impreza is allegedly more fuel-efficient and fun to drive, while offerings better interior space, despite having the same exterior dimensions as the outgoing model.

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Subaru XV Concept is a High-Riding Impreza Crossover

We’re going to see both the four- and five-door versions of the all-new 2012 Impreza at the New York Auto Show this week, but at the Shanghai motor show, Subaru lifted the wraps off a concept version of the hatchback model in a crossover guise. Named the XV Concept, the study essentially offers us our first glimpse at the successor of the North American market Impreza Outback Sport as well as the Impreza XV that is offered in Japan.

The lime-green XV Concept combines Subaru’s all-wheel drive system with a jacked up suspension and an array of SUV-like styling cues. The five-door model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,620 mm in height sporting a 2,635mm long wheelbase. It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine linked to a CVT.

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ISIS AM01 is a Subaru STI-Powered Coachbuilt Sports Car [with Videos]

This odd-looking creation is the AM01 and it’s the work of a Dutch company named Isis Cars that is led by Anton van Nunen and Max Alting Siberg. In an even stranger twist, the AM01 is based on another coachbuilt sports car from the Netherlands called the Saker.

Underneath the composite body shell lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine sourced from a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The four-cylinder unit churns out 275HP and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), with power being transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

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New Subaru XV Concept Teased Ahead of 2011 Shanghai Auto Show

In the run-up to the Auto Shanghai 2011 that takes place in China from April 21 through 28, Subaru has released the first official photo of a brand-new crossover study called the XV Concept. The Japanese company did not give out many details on the concept simply stating that the XV is a stylish proposal for a crossover model. Read more »

All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza: First Official Photo of the Production Version of the LA Show Concept

At last year’s LA Auto Show, Subaru unveiled an impressive concept for the new Impreza hinting at the production model that would follow. Now it’s time for the Japanese company to give us our first glimpse of the all-new 2012 Impreza, which will receive its world premiere in both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback version at the 2011 New York International Auto Show (April 22- May 1).

For now, all we get is a single view of the 2012 Impreza sedan’s side and the promise from Subaru that the new design will provide “a roomier interior and improved levels of comfort and refinement” with the company adding that it will deliver up to 36mph on the highway (equal to 6.5 lt/100km).

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Power Boost and Standard Sat Nav for UK Market Subaru Impreza WRZ STI

Subaru has a treat in store for its UK buyers as the Japanese company is offering its Impreza WRX STI with a power upgrade and a satellite navigation system as standard with no increase to the on-the-road price of £32,995, albeit for a limited period only. Read more »

Subaru Also Extends Production Halt at all Car Plants in Japan

The situation in Japan for the country’s automobile industry appears to be much worse than originally believed with many carmakers struggling to resume domestic output following the magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that killed thousands of people and damaged factories as well as infrastructure.

Following yesterday’s announcement from Toyota, Subaru said today that it will extend closures at all five of its automobile assembly plants in Japan until Monday, March 28. The automaker’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) had previously announced its production suspension until March 24.

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Honda, Nissan and Toyota Donate $3.75 Million Each for Japan

The massive earthquake followed by the even more devastating tsunami that struck the north-east coasts of Japan last week has brought together the country’s biggest automakers including Honda, Nissan and Toyota, which announced today that they will donate $3.75 million each for relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the disaster.
In addition to the contribution in money, Nissan said it is also studying further relief efforts including complimentary provision of vehicles, such as trucks and forklifts, donation of medical supplies and daily commodities including blankets, antiseptics and masks, gift matching donation from Nissan employees, promotion, and support of blood donation activities.
Honda announced that it will donate a total of 1,000 power generators along with 5,000 gas canisters to the people left without electricity, while Toyota is considering the provision of goods and services as needed.
The three automakers have also announced the closure of some of their factories in Japan. From March 14 through March 20, Honda will suspend all production activities at its plants in Sayama, Saitama, Ogawa, Tochigi, Hamamatsu and Suzuka, plus all facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious. From March 15 through 20, Honda will also suspend production at the Kumamoto factory.
Nissan announced that operations at the Tochigi and Iwaki plants are suspended until March 18, while the Oppama, Kyushu, Shatai and Yokohama plants will be closed until March 16. As for Toyota, officials announced that the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Miyagi and Iwate plants are closed, with all employees having been evacuated to safe areas. The factories will remain closed at least until March 16.
Other automakers affected by the earthquake include Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki, which have either suspended or slowed down production because of supply shortages.

Video

Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept

Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.  

The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.
On a side note, a couple of weeks ago the car was initially referred to as “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept”, but now, the Japanese automaker says it has changed the name to "BOXER Sports Car Architecture”.
The coupe concept will be joined in Geneva by the Impreza study that was first shown in LA last November and the Trezio, which is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV and will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engine.

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