return of the AE86???

Mr Kleen · Post by **Mr Kleen** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:43 am

Autoblog posting with pix

Rumoured New Toyota AE86 - more details

Within days of announcing Toyota's formation of a "Committee to create interesting cars," this summer's Best Car Plus magazine reveals that the long-rumoured new AE86 type car has indeed been spawned by the group and should be in showrooms in the winter of 2008.

The new article goes into some detail of the new car's spec. Under 4m long and 1.7m wide, it's pretty low at 1.35m tall, and engineers have been directed to keep weight below 1,000kgs. Power will come from a 1.5L 2NZ-FE good for 120 horsepower. What has been unknown until this time is where Toyota would source a cheap RWD drivetrain, but Best Car has learned that it will come from new partner Fuji Heavy Industries - better known to you and me as Subaru.

And the best news of all? The committee's final directive is to keep the new car's sticker price below 1.5million Yen. That's about $12,300 USD in today's money.

Bluestreak2006 · Post by **Bluestreak2006** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:24 am

Now I would take that over just about anything sub 20 grand. Great idea if the actually mover forward w/ it.

boomee · Post by **boomee** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:59 am

ITS ABOUT TIME TOYOTA FINNALY GOT BACK INTO THE PERFORMANCE GAME

zaxrex · Post by **zaxrex** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:39 pm

boomee wrote:ITS ABOUT TIME TOYOTA FINNALY GOT BACK INTO THE PERFORMANCE GAME

You think 110 hp/ton is performance oriented? Can I interest you in a Smart car, or possibly a Mini Convertible, Suzuki Swift, or Ford Fiesta or Focus?

Not saying that smal cars can't be fun to drive, Minis can be a blast, but there comes a point where you can't accelerate out of a turn. With these small platforms, you will have most of your fun turning <35 mph. But at least then you wont get assreamed in VA for speeding...

WRXWagon2112 · Post by **WRXWagon2112** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:24 pm

zaxrex wrote:With these small platforms, you will have most of your fun turning <35 mph.

Which means it'll be GREAT for something like autocross. Maybe not so much for a large track, though.

--Alan

Post by **Sabre** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:47 pm

I like the styling... now just up the horses!

Bluestreak2006 · Post by **Bluestreak2006** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:56 pm

I see a TRD supersharger as an option. They should just through the 2.4 from the tc in the thing and call it done. Somewhat torque in a light rwd. Sounds like cheap fun to me.

Post by **complacent** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:03 pm

You know the aftermarket will have a field day with this car when it comes out.

I'll admit that the prospect of a cheap, light, rwd platform is very cool.

OTOH, I can see every other ricer/high-shcooler/brain-dead punk kid practicing their 2Fast 2Furious mad doriftoro skillz in school zones.

So, I guess I'm torn.

<---- Is getting old, and it is starting to show.

Mr Kleen · Post by **Mr Kleen** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:07 pm

bringing up the tC highlights one of the trouble spots for Toyota corporate: the AE86 is essentially a RWD tC. the tC has been the best selling Scion. the second best seller is the xB who's redesign hasn't been getting good reviews.

so either the new '86 will be a Scion, or (scary possibility) it won't come to the US, or it won't happen at all. I wouldn't mind seeing a Scion aE replacing the tC when it's due for a redesign and I hope Toyota management agrees with me and keeps the team responsible for the new xB far, far away.

Cereb Daithi · Post by **Cereb Daithi** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:13 pm

i know next to nothing about toyotas.... so correct me if i'm wrong.. the original AE86 wasn't exactly a speed demon either was it? It got the after-market treatment as well. toyota has definitely been gearing towards actually ENCOURAGING people to mod their cars

Mr Kleen · Post by **Mr Kleen** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:07 pm

Autoblog is posting again about the return of the AE86. this post has the best news yet:

Autoblog wrote:The entry-level sports car would be branded as a Toyota but would feature a FHI-sourced boxer engine of 2.0 liters or less underhood.

OK, so the "or less" part isn't so great. but if the chassis will fit a flat 4, I'll bet it will fit a turbo flat 4...

zaxrex · Post by **zaxrex** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:42 pm

That is some good juju!

Post by **complacent** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:30 am

EJ series + snail + rwd + cheap $ = WIN.

Bluestreak2006 · Post by **Bluestreak2006** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:06 am

^^^ Can you say giant slayer!

Libra Monkee · Post by **Libra Monkee** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:13 am

It looks the the Hachi-Roku is due for a triumphant return!

Mr Kleen · Post by **Mr Kleen** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:00 pm

news update: some good, some bad:

Autoblog wrote:More details have come to the fore about the ongoing development of a lightweight sports car birthed from the union of Toyota and Subaru. Our friends over at 7Tune were kind enough to translate the finer points of an article in Daily Car, and the one burning question -- what platform the new coupe would be derived from -- has been answered.

A test mule has been spotted running around Toyota's test track in Toyota City, built off a shortened Subaru Legacy chassis and powered by the firm's SOHC two-liter flat-four. Although the mule's underpinnings are currently derived from the Legacy's (with about 200mm lopped off), it's expected that a version of the Impreza 15S's platform will be used instead. This gives credence to the idea that the new coupe will send power to the rear wheels, as the AWD chassis could be modified to be exclusively RWD. Currently, the test car is running the all-wheel driveline with the front drive shafts removed.

Subaru's 108 HP 1.5-liter boxer (EL15) is likely to be used to power the new coupe, apparently due to the rear differential's fragility and Toyota's aim of making the coupe as fuel efficient as possible. While barely cresting the 100 HP mark won't set the spec sheet ablaze, the fact that the vehicle will tip the scales at 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs.) should make it a competent performer in the same way as its AE86 forbearer.

If Toyota can keep the weight down (a constant challenge), while keeping the price below 2,000,000 yen, it's rumored that we could see the coupe make its debut sometime next year, with sales beginning later in 2008.

Autoblog Posting

snaab · Post by **snaab** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:35 pm

This is indeed promising.

Post by **complacent** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:46 am

snaab wrote:This is indeed promising.

agreed. i'm quite curious to see what happens...

Libra Monkee · Post by **Libra Monkee** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:18 pm

Underpowered yet extremely lightweight. The crowd is on the edge of it's seats.

WRXWagon2112 · Post by **WRXWagon2112** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:18 pm

Libra Monkee wrote:Underpowered yet extremely lightweight...

That sounds like the Lotus philosophy. And they've frequently made it work with outstanding results.

--Alan