Written by: Autocar staff
http://www.autocar.co.uk Date: 12/26/2008 - 08:43 AM
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Toyota and Subaru have postponed production of their jointly developed sports coupe in the wake of the new car sales slump.
The “Toyobaru” - a 2+2 that could become the spiritual successor to the Supra – will not arrive until 2012 at the earliest, according to reports. That’s a delay of at least 18 months.
“We’re discussing with Fuji Heavy the timing for the start of production and other details,” is all Hideaki Homma, a Toyota spokesperson, would tell reporters.
Toyota recently doubled its stake in Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industry to 15 percent. But Japan’s biggest car maker has posted an unexpected loss for the year and is reluctant to embark on any risky projects.
The plan was for Fuji Heavy Industry to build the coupe for both Toyota and Subaru. Both models would have had different styling and marketing. The designs were thought to be at an advanced stage and test mules have been spotted.
But as Japan’s domestic market continue to contract, analysts are predicting the project will be shelved for some time.
Dear Toyota;
If you make this car, and price it reasonably. I will buy it. I will not buy anything else you currently make, as it's all very boring to an automotive enthusiast. Don't waste your money on expensive options with this car, or I will not buy it. Make it simple, make it cheap, make it light, make it aftermarket friendly, and you will not post a loss with its release.
Signed,
The People that will actually buy this car.
P.S. Please fire all of your focus groups, they're what's putting you under.
The Toyota giveth, the Toyota taketh away.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
I'm not surprised. A performance, fun car from Toyota? Sounded like a carrot on a stick to me.
Brust
New Reader
12/30/08 12:20 p.m.
Bummer. Sounds like it woulda been fun. I passed a late 90's early 00's celica the other day and wondered why it wasn't rwd. Toyota could have had the next big thing with that- make it like the original miata- bare bones, light and rwd and you'll have a huge contingent waiting to buy.
this could play into hyundais favor if hyudai doesn't berkeley up the Gen coupe.
Could end up being nothing but hype. Remember when honda was gonna release the "next Gen CRX" and everyone lost their minds for about 11 minutes? That was until Honda said "...oh yeah by the way it'll be a slower-than-a-box-of-plastic-dog-poop hybrid" and all automotive enthusiasts around the world let out a simultaneous "WTF!!!" all at once. And also, VW said "we're gonna make another scirocco". But then they said "...but all it will be is a base golf with a crazy retarded nose" and we were all let down again. Yeah...probably the same thing
