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Toyota and Subaru are working on their next generations of the 86 and BRZ respectively and it is rumored that the concepts of the next generation cars will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show next month. The production versions would follow in 2021. While there is talk of a new platform, it is likely that it will be an upgraded version of the existing platform as neither of Toyota's TNGA or Subaru's Global Platform allow for the size and rear-wheel drive nature of the cars. Power will still come from a boxer 4-cylinder, but it will be upgraded from 2.0 liters to 2.4 liters producing around 220 horsepower. A 6-speed manual will still be available along with the 6-speed automatic. The change of engines would address one of the biggest complaints about the 86/BRZ twins, namely by boosting power. View full article

With the introduction of the Toyota Supra, rumors have been swirling that the 86/BRZ twins might not be replaced when their production lives were up. Autocar UK has a quote from Toyota's European Marketing Chief saying "[the GT86] has been a successful halo product for us" and added that "...the Supra is not to replace that car." The 86/FR-S/BRZ was released in 2011 as a co-development between Toyota and Subaru. It uses Subaru's boxer engine and transmission. It is highly likely that the next generation model would continue to use the signature engine. The new car would continue sit below the Supra in the Toyota lineup. Akio Toyoda has stated interest in building a full lineup of sports cars. Whatever comes from the next generation 86, we're just glad that SUVs haven't killed yet another sports car. View full article

The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ coupes have earned a lot of praise agile and nimble handling. But many agree that they could use more power. The 2.0L boxer-four only produces 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. Rumors have been swirling about possibly turbocharging the engine. But the chief engineer on the 86 and BRZ said that turbocharging is not in the cards for this generation. “When we launched 86, I got literally millions of questions from around the world of ‘when would you be launching the turbo version? I believe that often times I answered that there won’t be a turbo version, and there were some articles in the media that Mr Tada doesn’t like a turbo," said Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer for the two coupes to CarAdvice. “That’s not really true. I do like turbos, however if we come up with a turbo version of the 86 and boost up the power that would result in the necessity of changing the basic configuration completely, to come up with a car that I would be satisfied with.” Emphasis ours. Tada said the current car's weight distribution was designed the 2.0L boxer-four in mind. “One characteristic of the 86 is that in terms of the front balance its slightly front loaded so it makes the handling more fast and agile. So if we were to come up with a turbo version, we would have to go change the weight balance between the front and the rear. That means we have to come up with a completely new platform, so it’s not about just changing or slight modification in the engine parts,” said Tada. But considering how much demand there is for a turbocharged model, it might cause Toyota and Subaru to look at it for the next-generation models, whenever that may be. In the meantime, there a number of aftermarket suppliers who are willing to add a bit of turbo for your current GT86 or BRZ. Source: CarAdvice View full article

AutoGuide recently found patent filing in Japan for a possible hardcore version of the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GT86. The filing features renderings of a coupe with a new front end, large rear wing, and a new set of wheels. This looks similar to the Subaru STI Performance Concept shown at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. Now the filing has Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries - Subaru's parent company - listed as the creators. Not surprising since both have been working together on this coupe. One of the big questions lingering over this filing aside from when we could actual see this, is how much performance could this coupe have. The STI Performance Concept boasted around 300 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0L boxer-four. Source: AutoGuide View full article

Toyota and Subaru's partnership on the GT 86/Scion FR-S/BRZ is well known, but it could be a one time thing. Toyota has turned to BMW for help on a new flagship sports car, rumored to be a spiritual successor to the Supra. Because of this, the speculation has been flowing of whether this partnership could expand to other sports cars. Drive.com.au had the chance to speak with Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer for the GT 86 family. Tada said the next-generation GT 86 could be part of the BMW partnership. However when asked if Subaru will be a part of this, Tada said "Maybe, but this is not decided at the moment." When asked if BMW could take the place of Subaru in the partnership, Tada said "That is one possibility." Source: Drive.com.au William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 22, 2013 If you ever wanted to see a case of mixed messages in the automotive world, let us introduce you to the mess with Toyota and Subaru over the GT86 Convertible. Automotive News spoke with Subaru brand chief Yasuyuki Yoshinaga and asked about GT86/BRZ Convertible. Yoshinaga dismissed the notion of convertible, citing the vehicles would need a redesign of the structure for that to happen. "We make the car, so if we don't make it, it can't happen. Our engineering department told me that losing the entire roof requires a complete redesign of the structure. It would need a big change." This kind of plays into a rumorpile story from last month where the GT86 Convertible project was canned for the time-being, possibly due to the model needing a lot reinforcing, thus adding weight and ruining the perfect weight balance. Yet, Toyota is still showing off GT86 Convertible concept and creating a number of variations to show off at auto shows. Also consider the comment made by Toyota Europe President Didier Leroy made back in March when the GT86 Open concept was introduced, "I know you are all wondering about facts and figures, and body rigidity. Well, we have the same worries and Tada [chief engineer of the GT 86] and his team are deep into analysis. But GT86 was designed from the start as a cabriolet… That probably tells you all you needed to know." Someone apparently didn't tell Subaru or the two automakers disagree on the convertible idea. "I understand well that Toyota is receiving strong requests from the American market for the car. But the biggest challenge is meeting our internal safety standards. There are big technical difficulties," said Yoshinaga. We'll keep you updated. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

Chevrolet Speed - Sports Car for the People A Simple Formula 300 hp 3,000 lbs 30,000 Dollars The idea is not to build the best sports car in the world. It is to build the best sports car that the 20~40 demographic can actually afford. It is not the most powerful. It is not the lightest. And it is not the cheapest. But, it is powerful enough to equal a Boxster S at the stop light, it is light enough to approach the FT86 in driving dynamics and, most importantly, it is cheap enough to that a regular college grad can afford one. It is from this car that GM will graduate future Corvette and Cadillac-V owners. Design & Platform The Speed is heavily influenced by the Code 130R, but substantially different in most ways. It is not built on a standard Alpha Platform, but a heavily modified version called the Alpha SLC - Short Light Coupe. The wheelbase is shorten by 9.8 inches to 99.5 inches. Height is reduced by 3.8 inches to 52.1 inches. The belt line is dropped by 2.5 inches and the car is a full 23.1 inches shorter in length than the Cadillac ATS. Unlike the Alpha which is engineered to accommodate a wide variety of vehicle configurations and engine types, the Alpha SLC is tailor made for use strictly in 2+2 hardtop coupes powered by a Smallblock V4 engine. In fact, the engine compartment is so short, and the firewall is so far forward, that not even GM's upcoming 3-cylinder Ecotec will fit. Apart from the physical dimensions, the green house has a lot more rake and the nose is a lot shorter. It is almost difficult to imagine this as a RWD vehicle due the exceptionally short hood, but it is -- thanks to the V4 engine. Most importantly, the dramatic reduction in it's load carrying extents (mainly the wheelbase) and enveloped volume allows the vehicle to be approximately 400 pounds lighter than an ATS (300 lbs if you discount the disparity in equipment level and sound insulation). The Specifications Powertrain The design objective calls for maximum power output from the lightest, most compact engine. To this end, a 90 degree V4 engine that is basically a LT1 Smallblock V8 chopped in half is employed. Displacing 3.1L (188 cubic inches), the direct injected pushrod engine is about the same weight as a 2.5 liter DOHC Inline-4, but is only 2¼ cylinders long and significantly lower in height. The engine has two crank pins spaced 360 degrees apart and is supported by three main bearings. It exhibits the good overall balance of a 90 degrees full counter weighted engine, but is not an even fire design. With the crank pins spaced 360 degrees apart, the engine fires twice in 90 degrees of rotation then pauses for 270 degrees before firing twice again. This gives it a characteristically staccato exhaust note (1-1-0-0-1-1-0-0) at idle which turns into a guttural bellow when revved. The engine sounds almost like a Honda VFR750 motorcycle which has the same firing order. Synchronous cam phasing is used as on the Corvette V8 (LT1), but Active Fuel Management (Cylinder Deactivation) is not fitted owing to the impracticality of running the engine on just two cylinders. Direct Injection is employed using a combustion system identical to that on the LT1 V8. The engine offered in naturally aspirated form with 230 bhp @ 6000 rpm with 230 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm, or fortified with an Eaton TVS R1050 (1.05L) supercharger good for 300 bhp @ 6000 rpm with 300 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm. Eschewing the high costs of an 8-speed automatic or dual clutched manumatics, the transmission choices are relatively traditional. Both the base vehicle and the SS are available with either the GM Hydramatic 6L45 automatic or a Tremec 3160 manual -- both offering 6-speeds and automated rev matching. An electronically controlled active rear differential is optional on the base car, standard on the SS. Stability control is standard on both but launch control is featured only on the SS. Suspension, Brakes & Tires Suspension geometry is identical to the Cadillac ATS -- strut fronts, multi-link rears. Magnetorheological shocks are not offered to keep costs down and the Speed relies on traditional coil springs, tube shocks and anti-roll bars to keep vehicular motions under control. Brakes are lifted straight from the ATS with 11.8 x 1.0 inch front rotors on the base car and 12.6 x 1.2 inches on the SS. Both trims get 12.4 x 0.8 inch vented rears. The SS also gets Brembo floating calipers. Rubber on both trim levels are 225/45 R17 with alloy wheels. The base car is fitted with Goodyear Eagle GT All seasons while the SS gets Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 Maximum Performance summer tires. The Competition

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 3, 2012 Subaru is doing its best to keep up with the demand of the new BRZ coupe. Since its arrival at dealers in May, Subaru has sold 3,467 BRZs; well over half of the 6,000 BRZs that Subaru of America has asked for annually. "We are selling all the BRZs we can get.We have been sold out since the car was introduced," said Subaru of America's COO Tom Doll. Doll told Automotive News that they will be getting an extra 2,000 BRZs over the next four months to help keep up with demand. At this point, its unclear if Subaru of America will continue with the boost in volume. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 23, 2012 According to a new report from Automotive News, Subaru is working on a turbocharged version of the 2.0L boxer-four used in the BRZ. A source tells AN that this 2.0L will utilize a new a twin-scroll turbocharger and a new direct-injection system that will produce an estimated 280 HP and a excess of 250 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged BRZ will arrive sometime in the 2014 model year. This is a 180-degree turn from earlier this year when Subaru global marketing manager Atoshi Atake said there would be no turbo BRZ due to space constraints of the BRZ's engine bay and wanting to keep turbocharging separate from the BRZ to the rest of the Subaru lineup. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

Subaru Reveals The BRZ Concept STI William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com November 1, 2011 You have to wonder if Subaru was getting a bit jealous with Toyota since the spotlight for the past week or so has been on FT-86. Now, Subaru is taking back the spotlight by releasing a picture of the BRZ Concept STI. The coupe seems to share a lot of design cues from the FT-86 except for the unique fender vents, hexagonal front grill, hawk eye headlights, and hard to miss rear spoiler. Under the hood lies a 2.0L naturally aspirated Boxer four, not a tubrocharged version of the same engine that has been rumored (though that could change when the production model is introduced). The BRZ Concept STI rides on 18-inch wheels with brembo brakes and upgraded suspension bits. The BRZ Concept STI makes it's debut at LA Auto Show in a couple of weeks. Press Release is Below. Subaru BRZ Concept – STI to Debut at Los Angeles International Auto Show First look at Subaru BRZ styling STI-tuned chassis and carbon-fiber roof deliver the ultimate in handling and CoG First RWD Subaru sports car LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that it will show an all-new concept version of its upcoming BRZ sports car at the 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show. Dubbed the Subaru BRZ Concept- STI, the concept car represents the next step in lightweight performance sports cars combined with the race-bred tuning of Subaru Technica International (STI). The first BRZ concept car to be shown with bodywork, the Concept – STI strongly hints at the styling of the production BRZ and features unique STI performance features. Styling Sleek, low and tightly coiled bodywork blends with STI performance touches for a sporting profile. A hexagonal front grille, hawk eye headlights and fin-shaped fog lamps are instantly recognizable as Subaru. The exterior colour "WR Blue Pearl II" is a new generation of the iconic WR blue paint scheme that has adorned both racing production STI's. The body is set-off with aero-tuned lower front spoiler and unique rear fascia, a rear wing for added down-force and a carbon-fiber roof to lower its already record setting center of gravity specification. The rear design features bold rear fender flares and large rear-diffuser giving way to polished stainless-steel quad-tailpipes. Vented rear bumper corners contribute to improved aerodynamics performance. Engine The concept car employs the totally new Subaru "FA" Boxer engine exclusively designed for the RWD BRZ sports car. In order to achieve properties best-suited for the BRZ sports car, the overall structure of this 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine has been designed with a square bore and stroke of 86 X 86 mm. The inherent qualities of the Subaru Boxer engine were mated to a direct injection fuel system, which further improves combustion efficiency, running smoothness up to high rpm and high environmental standards. Chassis The lightened Concept – STI features an STI-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and unique 18-inch wheels and tires. The Subaru-engineered and built chassis boasts a rigid frame housing a two-plus-two interior and front engine/rear-wheel drive layout. With the engine mounted low and rearward in the engine compartment to allow for near-perfect balance and one of lowest CoG's of any car on the market. The BRZ Concept – STI is designed to combine lightweight, a low polar moment and razor-sharp reflexes for the ultimate handling machine. The low engine placement also allows for a very low and blade-like hood design. Short front and rear overhangs reduce the yaw moment of inertia. Compared with other Subaru models, which already feature a low centre of gravity and optimal weight distribution, the engine in the Subaru BRZ - STI - sits even lower, 4.7 inches lower in fact and is positioned 9.4 inches closer to the centre of the chassis. The first RWD Subaru, the production Subaru BRZ will begin production in spring 2012 as the only mass-produced front-engine, Boxer engine rear-wheel drive sports car in the world. SUBARU BRZ Concept – STI Specifications Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 166.7 X 70.9 X 50.4 inches Wheelbase: 101.2 inch Engine: Subaru Boxer "FA" engine - 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine Tire size: 215/45R18 (Front), 225/45R18 (Rear)