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Subaru bosses in Japan are apparently concerned that the 2011 rear-drive coupe that it’s co-developing with Toyota could ‘cannibalise’ sales.
Mat Nagato, chief of overseas sales at parent company Fuji Heavy Industries told reporters that “we may lose our longstanding territory, or we may lose the great niche brand image. The potential risk is there. We have to be very smart on marketing strategy."
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I really don't now what Subaru are even doing making automobiles! It's image is straddling like the worlds longest expansion bridge from old BBC Countryfile fuddies in Foresters to hot dog Kevs' in fire breathing Rally heated hatches. You couldn't get a bigger contrast in image if you tried!

So what Subaru is doing worrying about chassis sharing with Toyota seems to pale into insignificance to the bigger question of just what they're up to in the car market?

 

 

JJBoxster:

I really don't now what Subaru are even doing making automobiles! It's image is straddling like the worlds longest expansion bridge from old BBC Countryfile fuddies in Foresters to hot dog Kevs' in fire breathing Rally heated hatches. You couldn't get a bigger contrast in image if you tried!

So what Subaru is doing worrying about chassis sharing with Toyota seems to pale into insignificance to the bigger question of just what they're up to in the car market?

I don't really know what to say to this. Don't think I'll bother to be frank.  I know what they are about even if you don't.

Actually, I do.

Subaru produce quality, unusual cars known for their quirky engines, hugely capable AWD system and incredible longevity and reliability.  Toyota produce the white good car - it does the job without any drama but is totally unexciting - they need to separate themselves to maintain their independent image.

People who buy them don't give two hoots about what people think of their image.  I bought mine because I refuse to follow the herd to the BMW / Audi dealer and have never regretted it.

My mate had a Scooby and loved it. Then along came a family and he 'followed the herd' as your say to an Audi... RS4 Avant.

My point is Subaru doesn't appear to know who it's appealing too. It's a rag bag of a car range with 4WD drive and offroading (rally or country bumpkin) the only consistent theme.

Their design skills and branding are also very consistent. It's crap.

You wouldn't get into the Royal College of Art even as a 14 year old student if you penned anything looking like a Scoobaru. "Amateur" and "talentless crud" would sum up their reject notice.

I'm now as confused as Subaru and don't know what the point is of writing anymore. I'll stop here as my brains hurting having no direction of thought! 

JJBoxster:

My point is Subaru doesn't appear to know who it's appealing too. It's a rag bag of a car range with 4WD drive and offroading (rally or country bumpkin) the only consistent theme.

Their design skills and branding are also very consistent. It's crap.

You wouldn't get into the Royal College of Art even as a 14 year old student if you penned anything looking like a Scoobaru. "Amateur" and "talentless crud" would sum up their reject notice.

I don't want a rally car and neither am I "a country bumpkin" and I find your sneering reference to this quite offensive.

Your second comment is very subjective and laughably wrong.

I think the man that they poached from Alfa Romeo (Andreas Zapatinas - of Fiat Barchetta and Alfa 145 plus numerous BMW's under Bangle) may have something to say - as might anybody who knows the slightest bit about Subarus.

People who know cars know Subaru - you do not know what you are talking about.

Seconded - he does not have a clue.

He'll be telling us next that the powers that be are bugging his PC. 

As an owner of both a 2001 Non Turbo Impreza Hatch, and a 2005 Liberty 3.0R Spec B Wagon (the Aussie Legacy) I must say that I would not consider owning any other car. All wheel drive is fantastic in adverse weather, and I consider both my cars to have alot in the way of character. People who bag Subaru have obviously not  time spent time with a car in the current range. Sure the interior (in the Impreza at least) is not the greatest, and you will be at the pumps a bit more, but these cars are good solid work horses that are fantastic to drive, and a pleasure to own. In a few weeks I shall be getting my 2008 model Forester Turbo...and I can't wait!

And like SpecB, I am not a farmer, nor do I want a rally car. In Australia there are countless more Legacys than there are of the trio of Germans. I take it SpecB you also have a Legacy, and I must say that the flat 6 is a fantastic (if a little thirsty) engine.

My last car was a Toyota Celica, which I really liked and enjoyed driving, and when I bought it I looked closely at other similar coupes (including Nissan 350Z and Hyundai Coupe). The only reason I sold the Celica was the need for four doors and more practicality, but I was sorry to eventually see that Toyota in their wisdom had decided to discontinue it in the UK. When I sold it I looked at the Subaru Impreza but decided against it as it was poorly finished inside and seemed very fuel hungry although the performance and 4 wheel drive did appeal. I'd welcome both Toyota and Subaru producing a good-looking coupe, particularly if it was available at a reasonable cost, there aren't many of those around at the moment. I like the look of the new Impreza (unlike many) and will be interested to see what the new diesel version is like. They certainly seem to be able to produce interesting cars at very reasonable prices and that must be encouraged surely. I cannot agree with JJBoxster's comments which seem to me rather misguided.

JJBoxster:

My point is Subaru doesn't appear to know who it's appealing too. It's a rag bag of a car range with 4WD drive and offroading (rally or country bumpkin) the only consistent theme.

 

Unlike Porsche who have consistently targetted arrogant aggressive types with no imagination. The 911 is just the default step up for those who's bank balance allows them to buy something other than a BMW, the Boxster fulfils the same purposes for hairdressers who can afford more that a MX5.

JJBoxster:

Their design skills and branding are also very consistent. It's crap.

You wouldn't get into the Royal College of Art even as a 14 year old student if you penned anything looking like a Scoobaru. "Amateur" and "talentless crud" would sum up their reject notice.

Porsche are masters of branding but they seem to have targeted those who value the brand above all else - think of Patrick Bateman and his mates in American Psycho.

Porsche design is pathetic and lazy, they haven't had a new idea in my entire lifetime, just increasingly bloated rehashes of the same old same old. Their design engineering arm is pathetic too - a portable hard drive that is an aluminium box. The chef's knives are crap too.

"Amateur" and "talentless crud" is the best description for those who came up with the Cayenne - it looks like a Hackney Cab on steroids.

IMO the Legacy Spec B estate is a handsome understated car in the mould of Audis before they grafted on the stupid goatee beards. Nice inside too.
 

I would also point out that Subaru have just produced the world's first flat 4 diesel to much critical acclaim and are considering a WRX version for the Impreza and I have heard that they may even add a couple of cylinders to make an H6.

 Where have you been - nobody can say that this isn't forward thinking.

 

Darth Balls:

Porsche are masters of branding but they seem to have targeted those who value the brand above all else - think of Patrick Bateman and his mates in American Psycho.

 

Am loving that comparison.

I wanted a fast, discreet estate car. (I could have had an Audi RS4 but it would break down and the dealer would be a pain).  I have got that and am very satisfied as per our Australian poster.

You obviously just don't get it - why am I not surprised?  I think a coupe is a fantastic idea and the recent design photos look great.

It actually shows that Subaru know exactly what they are doing if they want to distance their car from Toyota's.

For gods sake!! Someone, somewhere, build us a 250ish bhp rwd hatch/saloon/coupe that has an lsd, plate/gear/electronic/viscous etc etc-with nice balance, good brakes and a respectable price tag!!

 It will sell sell sell--I can not believe the price of AE86 Toyota's at the moment!!---I remember driving one in 1988!!!-PLEASE re read that 1998, 20 years ago and its a car that sticks in my memory for its finesse---20 YEARS AGO!!!

 Lets see it, lets see the new AE86 PLEASE!!!!!