1SICKLEX
10-20-2008, 10:54 PM
http://seventune.squarespace.com/storage/rumors-oct/toyota_fr_oct_08.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=12 24379156338
18Oct
2011 Toyota Compact FR Sports
Saturday, October 18, 2008
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
http://seventune.squarespace.com/storage/rumors-oct/toyota_fr_oct_08_2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION= 1224383364905
Source (http://seventune.squarespace.com/main/2008/10/19/2011-toyota-compact-fr-sports.html)
18Oct
2011 Toyota Compact FR Sports
Saturday, October 18, 2008
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
http://seventune.squarespace.com/storage/rumors-oct/toyota_fr_oct_08_2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION= 1224383364905
Source (http://seventune.squarespace.com/main/2008/10/19/2011-toyota-compact-fr-sports.html)