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This is the first appearance of the rear-wheel-drive sports coupé that Toyota and Subaru have been co-developing behind closed doors in Japan. It will make its world debut at the Tokyo motor show on 21 October.

In this unusual joint venture, Toyota and Subaru will each produce their own versions of the car, with sales kicking off in late 2011. Subaru will build all the cars at its Gunma factory in Japan and Subaru’s naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat four will provide the power for both ...Read the full article

if they can get it on sale without changing the interior or exterior much, at the prices mentioned they should be onto a winner ( Although they can lose the zips on the dash). It looks very small and taut, and assuming it drives well, it should be just the required image boost they are after. A turbo version has to follow though. Unless it only weighs 800kg, 160 bhp wont make much of the rear drive.

But why wait until the end of 2011? 

 

 I like the look and concept of this on the basis of what we know so far. But it does have to be light. With 160hp it can probably afford to be as heavy as 1000 kg (i.e. Opel Manta weight - and a Manta with a 160 hp twin cam conversion was a quick and amusing car) rather than 800 kg (Mark 1 Escort weight) but even that would be a huge step forward in the era of the 1400kg BMW 1 series.

Looks like a 260Z

artill:

if they can get it on sale without changing the interior or exterior much, at the prices mentioned they should be onto a winner

 

I agree absolutely.

Don't agree that it needs much more power though - keep it light (say 1000kg) and don't give it too much grip (but do give it an LSD) - think slightly tauter and more practical MX5 (since it has a roof). It doesn't need to be super-fast, but does need to be exploitable and 'chuckable'.

MX5 is a hoot even as a 1.8 with 'only' 120 bhp or so (and 1150kg).

I don't normally like the look of Japanese cars, but this cars body looks great! The interior looks naff though! Cheap, plasticy and flimsy...

Most Japanese cars have too many body creases and other lines all over the place. This seems to concentrate all the detailing in the corners, leaving the flanks, nose and tail clean and sleek. It looks fantastic and I want one.

Power seems plenty, assuming its fairly lightweight.  A turbo version will undoubtedly follow.

Love the interior - really fresh and futuristic.  Impressed that they had the balls to make it like that, rather than going conservative.  Exterior is OK - nice from the back but I'm not sure the front bumper really does it for me.

Love the external shape and detail - very Japanese ... but I hope the "concept" interior is ditched - it looks too fussy and impractical.

The exterior looks great - really good but I'm not sold so much on the interior. It will probably age poorly.

If they can build that though for £18k or so, then they should be onto a winner.

As said before, they need to watch the weight if its got 160bhp - I can see why they've kept power down though if they're aiming it at younger drivers. Trouble is in this day and age, we're used to hot hatches with 200plus bhp and a weight to match.

I really like the external body shape of the car. I think most of the interior will change, but I hope they keep the lines around the front light (reminds me of the Aston Martin 1-77) and the rear end has a Z4 look about it. Looks slim and athletic.

 Would be great for Subaru as I think some people are put off by a negative image of the typical Impreza driver.

 

 not even hot hatches, warm city cars like the 500, Mini, Mito, Punto and corsa knock out between 160 and 220bhp, they aren't all exactly heavy either, OK by old standards maybe but for new cars with all the kit that this car is likely to carry also they are not bad, this Toyubaru will likely be bigger and heavier.

Reckon it will have more power than anticipated unless its a hybrid.