Toyota plans to spin a new small sports saloon off the rear-drive platform that will underpin its FT-86 as an “insurance policy” if the coupé never makes it into production.
The FT-86, co-developed with Subaru, has been postponed until 2013 due to “economic reasons”.
See exclusive pics of Toyota FT-86
Toyota is looking at ways of applying the FT-86’s platform to a sports saloon to cover any shortfall in FT-86 sales while, at the same time, making the most of the rare rear-wheel drive platform.
Industry figures in Japan have suggested that the sports saloon project is a safety net, just in case the FT-86 fails.
One source told Autocar that the saloon would get the same 197bhp Subaru 2.0-litre boxer engine and six-speed manual transmission (or CVT) as the coupé.
Read more on the Toyota FT-86, including pics and video
The saloon is expected to slot between the BMW 1-series and 3-series in size. It should cost about £20,000 in Japan when sales start in 2013.
Toyota also has the option of bringing the Subaru Outback’s 3.6-litre flat six engine to the saloon.
But by the time the sports saloon and FT-86 appear in 2013, Subaru will have launched its own hybrid boxer powertrain.
This will create yet another opportunity for Toyota. Petrol-electric versions of the RWD pair would be far more exciting to drive than any of Toyota’s current hybrids.
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Re: Toyota plans new sports saloon
Good news from Toyota.
Come back in WRC!
Re: Toyota plans new sports saloon
This is the car Toyota should use, if and when they re-enter the WRC. Rather than the boring Auris/Yaris hatch.
Re: Toyota plans new sports saloon
3 years is a long time and will look aged by that time and the technology will be very old hat by then and will be outdated and get out performed by everyone else.
Sod the economic climate bring it out ASAP see what the reaction is and if it fails have the saloon body ready to bolt on.
2013 is a long time to wait to see if the car will be a big hit or a sinking ship.