*While realistically done (props to me), the above image is just an MS Paintbrush creation[Caution; a sense of humor required beyond this point] According to the great barrier mill, our friends at Toyota are working it out on a four-door coupe variant of the rear-wheel drive FT-86, which was shown in concept form at last year's Tokyo Motor Engine Salon Show, just outside Japan, south west north of India. The four-door sport saloon will most likely be called WTF-86.
Question 1: Why? According to the report, the mounting development costs of the FT-86 are pushing the sports car's market price over instead of under $20,000 that Toyota originally aimed at, so the Japanese automaker decided to create a second small RWD coupe priced about $5,000 less.
Question 2: The magazine's source? Unknown, with the author of the article stating the vaguer-than-vague "we hear Toyota is also working on milder sports car" - whatever that means...
Being that the article was written in Japanese, details are limited, but we assume that the magazine suggests the "F" version would fit between the standard FT-86 and the track-ready "G" model that was previewed in concept form at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
In a couple of shots, Toyota remembers its sporty past depicting the FT-86 alongside the Corolla AE86, Celica and Supra coupes. The updated gallery also includes some of the original sketches from the ED2 center.
During the company's press conference at the Geneva Show earlier this month, Andrea Formica, Senior Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe, noted that the FT-86 would reach showrooms in early 2012.
Or at least that's what the troubled Japanese automaker wants us to believe with the release of this family portrait that places the FT-86 (Future Toyota-86) Sports Concept alongside its closest relative, the Corolla AE86 as well as the Celica and Supra sport coupes.
The FT-86 study, which was designed at Toyota's ED2 studio in Nice, France, had its European premier this week at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
And what a better way to grasp the attention of buyers and petrol heads alike for the new G Sports models than to reveal a specially modified version of the FT-86 concept that previews Toyota's upcoming rear-wheel drive compact coupe.
The FT-86 G-Sports Concept that made its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon boasts an array of upgrades the most important being the turbocharging of the Subaru-sourced, 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine.
Neither Toyota or Gazoo disclosed any further details on the mechanical improvements or performance figures.
As you can see from the photos, the FT-86 G Sports Concept boasts a wide body aero kit with blistered wheel arches, a carbon-fiber hood with air-vents, redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as jumbo-size rear wing.
The concept model's exterior mods are rounded off by a new set of 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Potenza RE050 tires size 245/40 R19 up front and 275/35 R19 at the rear.
The only interior upgrade that is mentioned by Gazoo is the addition of a pair of Recaro bucket seats.
Photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron
What's special about the concept study is that there will be a similar G Sports version of the production FT-86 when the rear-wheel drive sports coupe goes on sale in late 2011.
The prototype model featured many upgrades over the standard FT-86 concept shown in Tokyo last October including a turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter boxer-four and a wide body aero kit. Follow the break to watch the video from the Tokyo Auto Salon or click here for more details.
Video via: Youtube/GT Channel
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We remind you the FT-86 G Sports is a conceptual proposal based on the prototype version of Toyota's forthcoming rear-wheel drive sports coupe featuring all sorts of aero and performance upgrades, including a turbocharged version of the FT-86's 2.0-liter boxer engine. Follow the jump for the video and a photo gallery.
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We're pretty much used to seeing sketches and computer generated images of future models in magazines, but a decked out version of a car that has yet to be revealed in production form is a rarity, to say the least. The customized Toyota FT-86 coupe is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Japan's Option car magazine . Aside from the two-tone paint scheme, the artist's proposal also includes a bodykit and deep-dish alloy wheels.Via: Noriyaro , Source: Option
The Toyota FT-86 coupe concept was only just introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last week, but the internet-grapevine is already abuzz with speculation and chatter on its Subaru twin. These new speculative renderings of the Subaru-badged coupe that are based on Toyota'sFT-86 concept model were published in the latest issue of Japan's 'Best Car' magazine. The CGI's are accompanied by rumors of all-wheel drive and a turbocharged boxer engine for the Subie.
However, let us remind you that when Toyota and Subaru first announced that they jumped into bed together to give birth to an affordable pair of compact sports cars, the two Japanese automakers were pretty clear about both models featuring a rear-wheel drive setup.
Here's what the two companies said in a joint statement about the coupes in April 2008:
"Toyota Motor Company (TMC) and Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) - Subaru's parent company - are to jointly develop a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car that will be marketed by both TMC and FHI."
"The compact rear-wheel sports car to be jointly developed by TMC and FHI is envisioned to offer a new "fun to drive" experience based on an all-new vehicle platform powered by an FHI core-technology horizontally-opposed engine. Market introduction is targeted for the end of 2011. Production is to take place at a new plant to be built at FHI's Gunma Manufacturing Division in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. TMC will consign production to FHI."
We're not saying that AWD or even more plausibly, a turbocharged version, are out of the question, but we won't take anything for granted until we see an official statement or better yet, a concept version from Subaru that will give us an idea of the company's intentions.
The only thing that we can be sure about now is that Subaru will market its own version of the coupe. If it will be available in all markets or if Subaru will offer the option of AWD and/or a turbocharged engine is something that remains to be seen.
Photos: Best Car
