Toyota FT-86
• they have a much lower center of gravity and are shorter than a traditional 4cyl. allowing the engine to be mounted further behind the front axles for a more even weight distribution.
• flat-4's are inherently balanced because the pistons act as counterweights for one another; that added benefit makes the boxer engine MUCH lighter than most 4cyl cars of equal displacement because they don't need to be balanced.
• i don't know if this part is true but i've also been told that because of the way flat-4's are constructed, casting the block is much less prone to defects/manufacturer error.
not to mention, avoiding the cost of R&D to make a boosted and reliable 2.4L from the tC makes this car [relatively] cheaper.
if Toyota is in fact 'reconnecting' with it's consumers, this was a smart choice when they decided to build a sporty, fun-to-drive, economical, coupe IMO
Last edited by GD3_Wagoon; Oct 7, 2009 at 11:16 AM.
i like it! the front could use a little style tweaking, but overall i like it.
the ae86 was never a power-house car, but it was always in competition with similar hondas. so if the current Si has 197hp, a 200+ hp ft-86 sounds right.
the ae86 was never a power-house car, but it was always in competition with similar hondas. so if the current Si has 197hp, a 200+ hp ft-86 sounds right.
UGH. thats an AWFUL idea. this thing is supossed to be abot finesse...not just stuffing a camry engine in there and turbo-ing it.
(the tc is a great example of a car that gets way more attention than it deserves imo).
besides, subies horizontally opossed four bangers are fantastic feats of engineering....and like gd3wagoon stated, have various benefits besides.
oh btw
GD3wagoon: the sti DOES have the balls to run with the evo...every acceleration test i have seen supports the idea that the new sti is as fast and in most cases faster than any evo in stock form thats available stateside.
where it falters against it is the handling dept. thats the part that needs to be addressed. (its not a bad handler by ANY means...just not as great as the evo.)
^^gah.. my mistake. there was so much emphasis on power in that post that it became misleading. i [too] meant the STI was lacking in the handling department compared to the Evo.
didn't the Stig post a better track time in the STI than the Evo, despite Clarkson's trash talking during the STI lap? LoL, that was a great segment.
didn't the Stig post a better track time in the STI than the Evo, despite Clarkson's trash talking during the STI lap? LoL, that was a great segment.
problem with these j-4bangers and its turbo's is they have very little torque at low rpm. they need to tune the engine so it has more torque down low where it matters most on the street.
The Impreza WRX has 224 tq @ 4,000 rpm. That's not bad at all!
I think the heritage of the car speaks for itself. If Toyota can actually pull off a four cylinder rear wheel drive coupe again, I think I might be intereted. The motor they chose is an outstanding motor imo, and I do think this car is part of a new target market getting back to the roots of the import scene, that being small, economical, low displacement, cars utilizing reliable Japanese motors.
If all we wanted out of our cars was more power and more torque, none of us would have bought a Fit. The fact is this is the exact kind of project that the scene really needs. A well executed affordable alternative to overpriced, underengineered american muscle, that holds not only delivers good balance, but also a recognizable lineage within our community. If they hold onto the original basis for the concept and don't let the bean counters water down an excellent idea, and if they get it into production, I think the car will be a huge success.
We should all thank Toyota for realizing there are still some of us out here that want to go fast and not have to spend an arm, leg and nut (or ovary...semantics) to do it.
If all we wanted out of our cars was more power and more torque, none of us would have bought a Fit. The fact is this is the exact kind of project that the scene really needs. A well executed affordable alternative to overpriced, underengineered american muscle, that holds not only delivers good balance, but also a recognizable lineage within our community. If they hold onto the original basis for the concept and don't let the bean counters water down an excellent idea, and if they get it into production, I think the car will be a huge success.
We should all thank Toyota for realizing there are still some of us out here that want to go fast and not have to spend an arm, leg and nut (or ovary...semantics) to do it.
New Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
From: NYC
Toyota version will be >> then Subaru
here are some sick studio photos I came across: Large set of FT86 pics (non-press photos and closeups). You'll love these. - Toyota FT-86 Forum | ft86club
here are some sick studio photos I came across: Large set of FT86 pics (non-press photos and closeups). You'll love these. - Toyota FT-86 Forum | ft86club
rendered speculation of Subaru's coupe in STI trim:
article here:
Rendered Speculation: Subaru's 250-hp FT-86 coupe in STI trim — Autoblog
article here:
Rendered Speculation: Subaru's 250-hp FT-86 coupe in STI trim — Autoblog
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,888
From: Parañaque City, Philippines
rendered speculation of Subaru's coupe in STI trim:
article here:
Rendered Speculation: Subaru's 250-hp FT-86 coupe in STI trim — Autoblog
article here:
Rendered Speculation: Subaru's 250-hp FT-86 coupe in STI trim — Autoblog
Still looks nice though.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,888
From: Parañaque City, Philippines
Same here! Last I've seen of those was about five years ago...when Mazda was still making freehand designs for the first-generation Mazda3 and the NC-chassis MX-5s.
The crew from Japan's BestCar magazine have apparently taken the initial pics of the Toyota FT-86 concept and grafted a unique nose, rear fascia and wheels onto ToMoCo's new sports coupe, and while the result is less-than-fetching, the accompanying report offers a pseudo-confirmation of what's been suspected all along.
According to BestCar's (notoriously unnamed) sources, the Subaru coupe (internally dubbed 216A) will come equipped with all-wheel drive, and a choice of two engines in Japan – the 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EJ20 or the worked over, 300-hp boxer four from the WRX STI.
Naturally, the additional kit will result in a substantial price increase over the Toyota version, not to mention a 220-power weight penalty courtesy of its AWD drivetrain.
There's also talk of a slight increase in height, width and wheelbase, but no word on whether the Subaru coupe will make it to U.S. shores. If it does, expect it to arrive sometime after its introduction in Japan in 2011, with a price tag somewhere around the $30,000 mark.
VIA AutoBlog.com: Rendered Speculation: JDM rumormill reports Subaru's FT-86 will get turbo power, AWD — Autoblog
these cars are looking more and more like nissan's.... like that subaru looks like a G37coupe...
but it's good to see japan's bringing back this segment. hell,
i might get one just for kicks. (no, not the toyata but the subi, maybe).
but it's good to see japan's bringing back this segment. hell,
i might get one just for kicks. (no, not the toyata but the subi, maybe).
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,888
From: Parañaque City, Philippines
Noticed this just now. No that's not Suzuka - that's Fuji Speedway in the gauge cluster. Toyota owns that circuit, while Honda owns Suzuka and Twin Ring Motegi. :)
