7Tune’s got an update as well, and thankfully, this one has some substance.

Cost cutting is proving to be a problem for Toyota’s compact FR sports car.

As is usual for many Japanese car magazines (Best Car and Holiday Auto in particular), renders are aways included in the article to give the reader an idea of what the final car could look like. These images from Best Car of Toyota’s compact FR sports car are only “informed guesses”, however, we are told that Toyota has decided on the final shape of the compact FR sports car and that it will have a “wonderful style”, in an attempt to change peoples opinions of Toyota and its bland image.

Based on a 100mm shorter Subaru Legacy platform, the Toyota compact FR sports car still retains the 2.0L four cylinder boxer engine from the Impreza with a power output of 190ps (with a development goal of 200ps) and 21.0kg/m of torque. With the low positioning of the boxer engine Toyota hopes to achieve a low center of gravity which in turn will dictate the low profile of the body, making it a sleek and attractive FR sports car. Weight is expected to be around 1200kg, so even with a moderate output from the 2.0L engine,  performance is expected to appeal to younger buyers who are looking at an entry level sports car – much like AE86 buyers were 25 years ago. A 6-speed gearbox will be offered initially with an automatic transmission being offered later and the possibility of an open top version as well.

With the Legacy’s platform, the compact FR sports car will also retain the Subaru’s suspension, struts up front and multi links at the back. The platforms 4WD origins may affect the compact FR sports cars ultimate handling ability as being one of the major cost-cutting exercises, only minor changes to the geometry are expected to be carried out. Turning a 4WD platform into an FR one may not be ideal, but it seems it’s more a case of using what’s available. Members of Toyota’s development team have admitted that the suspension from the Legacy is “weak and terrible” but have endeavored to make some changes that will produce more sports car-like handling. Apparently a modified Legacy test mule had been used for suspension testing and that phase of development is now complete.

Best Car says that rising fuel prices may affect the Toyota compact FR sports car’s overall power output, claiming that although the markets expectation of fuel economy for a sports car is typically lower, Toyota still wants to achieve good fuel economy from the 2.0L boxer engine even though it might mean having to reduce power.

The compact FR sports car is still expected to go on sale for around 2,000,000 yen.

Justin Karow

Images: Best Car

Looks like I was right in guessing that the mule caught testing earlier was in fact the new coupe using a chopped Legacy platform.

Too bad about the suspension though.  I really would have hoped that they’d have changed/tweaked it more than what’s being reported.

Autocar’s posted an update on the Subaru Coupe, though it’s nothing new.  Just a rehash of everything we already knew.

I’ve copy/pasted the txt of the article below:

More details about the new sportscar that is being jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru have emerged.

Subaru is planning to aim its version of the car at the sub-£20k performance market traditionally dominated by hot hatches and cheap roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 when it goes on sale in 2011.

As previously reported, the car will be a compact, rear-driven two-seater, with power coming from a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine with close to 200bhp.

Sources inside Subaru indicate that it will cost significantly less than £20,000, putting it into direct competition with the Mazda MX-5 and the new Renault Alpine, which is also expected in 2011.

Toyota owns around 16 per cent of Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, hence the joint venture. Both cars will be built at a new factory in Gunma, Japan, with Subaru developing the basic platform, chassis and engine of the car, while Toyota concentrates on the design and engineering of the car’s cabin.

A Subaru spokesperson was quick to point out that the car was not intended as a replacement for the Impreza, which will continue in its current form well into the next decade. “This will be a smaller, lighter car with more niche appeal,” he said.

He also ruled out turbocharged ‘WRX’ and ‘STi’ badged versions of the car: “Subaru already has a big challenge ahead to conform to the EU’s 120g/km carbon target by 2012.

“We need new cars that make that challenge more achievable, not more difficult.”

Toyota’s European arm has not confirmed whether its version of the car will be made available anywhere in the EU.

Insiders suggest that, given the predilection of the UK market to affordable performance cars and the model’s native right-hand drive layout, if it comes to Europe, we will take it in Britain, possibly with the Supra brand.

Matt Saunders

The one interesting bit is the comment about the CAFE standards.  More on that later.