The latest update of the upcoming Subaru sports coupe that is being jointly developed with Toyota points to the coupe not being a coupe at all, but a three-door hatchback instead.
The newest reports, originating from U.K.-based AutoExpress, have the car’s base engine displacing 2.0 liters and making around 180hp, staying true to Subaru’s flat-four engine layout, and lacking a turbocharger. This version will be rear-wheel drive, as previously reported, but an up-level version will feature an all-wheel drive system. It will get power — all 300 ponies — from the same 2.5-liter turbo flat-four that is found in the STI.
The photo reveals a very aggressive looking front end, with a big hood scoop and a headlight / grille treatment very similar to the Impreza STI’s. It’s likely the model pictured is the more powerful version of the car, as Subaru has recently stopped using hood scoops as ornaments in its range. The seven-spoke alloy wheels hide under bulging fenders, with sharp edges and creases elsewhere that visually differentiate the car from anything else on the road.
The still unnamed car is due to launch in Japan in 2010, with a North American release coming late in 2011, if not sooner. Base versions should start at under $20,000, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed.



06/04, 2:34 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
First bitches
06/04, 2:36 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
I do like it, would like to see more photos.
P.S. **** Canada. And Cuba. And Michael Moore.
06/04, 2:51 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
hooooooooleeeeee schiltz. You mean the Japenese finally found out that it was possible to make a NON 4-door car?
06/04, 3:11 PM
posted by:
brentray
Ummm….. that’s a rendering. Not a photo.
06/04, 3:13 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
the link didn’t work for me but the LLN thumbnail says enough. I already like it. They might as well have said, though, that it would be a 3 door Impreza & I would have gotten the hint.
06/04, 3:14 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Looks like circumcized Imprezza
06/04, 3:16 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
yeah, wtf, It also won’t work for me when I click the link. I’m using Firefox I wonder if it’s the browser…
Well from the top image it looks interesting from the portion I can see. Doesn’t look too bad but I need to see more.
06/04, 3:22 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
I’ve been in visual effects for years, and good friends of mine are senior engineers at rainbow studios. We all say that photo is a render, not an actual image.
06/04, 3:25 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Yeah it totally looks like it 02WRXPSM. Ok so why can’t Subaru get away from the hatch/wagon look?? They come out with a “coupe” or say they are and it ends up looking like a 2dr Mazda 3? I’m glad the Toyota version isn’t coming stateside if it’s going to be another 3dr hatch.
06/04, 3:36 PM
posted by:
livelyjay
If you click the link, take out everything after the “.jpg” and you can see it. It’s a rendering, not a real photo. Too bad they won’t be marketing it under the Toyota brand as this could be the rebirth of the MR2. It will never be a sub-$20k car, but will likely aim for Miata/Solstice (base model) pricing. If they get the suspension right it could do extremely well in that market.
06/04, 3:42 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Thanks livelyjay.
xyunya: if this looks like a circumsized Imprezza then get the knife because I’m about to look like George Clooney.
06/04, 3:57 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
That wasn’t caught on camera; it was caught on photoshop.
.
And quite poorly too. It looks like a 3rd grader design. Honestly, the Genesis Coupe looks far better.
06/04, 4:52 PM
posted by:
inline6
This thing looks like a photoshopped ‘08 WRX STi.
I’ll bet that’s exactly what it is.
06/04, 4:54 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
So I was right. It is just an Impreza coupe… and it’ll probably end up costing more than the Impreza itself. Nothing special to see here folks… move along.
06/04, 5:03 PM
posted by:
Jordan
i really like that. when lln said it had a sti-look front end, i was scared, but they pulled it off very well.
the overall shape reminds me of the euro civic type-r.
06/04, 5:03 PM
posted by:
xyunya
johnnycanuck, that would be Clooney’s problem not mine
06/04, 5:49 PM
posted by:
mr.meanpants
That is the most bananas thing I have seen in a long while.
06/04, 5:49 PM
posted by:
mr.meanpants
I like its bulldog toughness, but after owning two Subarus, I’ll have to pass.
06/04, 5:53 PM
posted by:
Shift.wav
Damn that’s nice.
06/04, 5:56 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Yeah, that’s what I meant to say. What inline6 and RaineMan said. It really does look just like a 2dr Impreza hatch. However if Subaru could offer it like at 18-19k base I would maybe consider looking into one.
06/04, 6:07 PM
posted by:
F451
Mr.meanpants, but this is a Sutobayoruta…you shouldn’t have any problems.
06/04, 6:53 PM
posted by:
brocky
The designers at Subaru aren’t this creative. That picture is one beautiful looking car and I doubt that their next coupe would look half as amazing.
06/04, 7:19 PM
posted by:
car-dude44
Looks cool.
06/04, 8:31 PM
posted by:
mr.meanpants
That’s a good point, F451… in that case it reminds me of a Group B rally car from the naughty ’80s.
06/04, 8:32 PM
posted by:
mr.meanpants
Which means I love it and I want to get it on a gravel fire road.
06/04, 10:58 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Why do people on here always think that rendering shows what a car will be?
06/05, 12:11 AM
posted by:
Veda
A cheaper lighter Subaru STI is always welcome. Who cares if it looks ugly… Subaru was never about looks.
06/05, 11:00 AM
posted by:
trooper1
This thing looks sweet, I love Subaru’s. Just came from a police confrence in the UK, and those guys use Subaru Sti’s, EVO’s, 5 series BMW with the M5 V8 engine, but all the UK cops love the Subaru which they call “scooby” Looking at our cop cars, I must say I’m disapointed when comparing what I saw in the UK.
06/05, 2:56 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Most of the politicians in Britain get Jags and Range Rovers though.
06/07, 12:33 PM
posted by:
Gundy
This looks like the BMW X6 “coupe”, if they made such a thing.. or, like the X6 and a 1980 AMC Spirit had a love child.
06/10, 12:25 AM
posted by:
nickkop
THE STI VERSION OF THIS THING LOOKS ****IN HOT !