Jump to content
Forums Gone... but not forgotten!
Pontiac of the Month

FBIRD69's 1969 Firebird

2024 March
of the Month

  • Rev up your passion for Pontiacs and join our vibrant community of enthusiasts!

    Whether you're a die-hard fan of classic muscle cars or you've got a soft spot for sleek modern models, you've found your home here at Forever Pontiac. Our community is dedicated to celebrating everything Pontiac, from the iconic GTO to the legendary Firebird and everything in between.

    Unlock access to expert advice, stunning photo galleries, engaging discussions, exclusive events, and more!

    Start your Pontiac journey with us today!

    Sign up now! 🏁

Car and Driver: Gettin’ Jiggy in Tochigi: Subaru Testing Mid-Engine Sports Coupe


FeedBot

Recommended Posts

Subaru-mid-engine-coupe

-

Subaru is on a roll. With sales up by over 13 percent in its main market of the U.S. last year, the company is on target to produce over 1 million vehicles a year for the first time ever. A major part of that success story lies in the bestselling Forester’s continued strong performance, with the Outback, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek also doing well. But word is that many U.S. Subaru dealers want something more, something special. And when the dealers in Subaru’s biggest market talk, headquarters listens.

-

So when a source close to Subaru recently told us of a radical experimental prototype being tested at its Tochigi proving grounds, it all started to make sense. Subaru is testing a first for the company: a prototype with a mid-mounted turbocharged boxer engine driving the rear wheels, and two electric motors powering the fronts.

-

Our source says that Subaru is testing the radical all-wheel-drive platform in a modified BRZ, since that’s the only rear-drive model in the current lineup. “Whether the end result will be a two-door sports coupe or some kind of sports crossover/CUV is still in the evaluation stage,” says our insider. “A coupe seems more likely, though.”

-

With that information, our artist came up with this aggressively styled coupe, with flowing lines and bulges, and employing flared front and rear fenders with sizable rear air intakes to cool a mid-mounted engine.

-

This prototype is the most advanced all-wheel-drive model Subaru has ever attempted. It employs the company’s just-announced new Subaru Global Platform, and a revised version of the company’s Japan-market 1.6-liter turbo is the most likely powertrain.

-

We’re told the drivetrain actually will incorporate the reverse of Subaru’s Viziv Future Concept which debuted at last year’s Tokyo auto show. The Viziv was fitted with gasoline-electric hybrid with one front-mounted electric motor and two rear-mounted motors. What we’d see on the new mid-engine coupe would be an about-face: A 1.6-liter turbo engine plus motor would sit behind the driver propelling the rear wheels, and two electric motors would drive the front wheels. A torque-vectoring mechanism would manage torque distribution between the two front motors, kind of like the system in the new Acura NSX. It’s still early days, but we could expect total output for the new sports car somewhere north of 330 horsepower, putting it in Porsche Cayman territory.

-
--
-

As for the current BRZ, which was co-developed with Toyota, there is no word from either manufacturer on a successor. We do know that this mid-engine powertrain is being tested by Subaru in a heavily modified BRZ, but we don’t know what form this concept ultimately will take. Watch for Subaru to preview it in about two years time as a show car to gauge media and public reaction, and then decide whether to green-light the most radical Subaru yet.

-iUev0i-MV4U

Read Full Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tired of these Ads? Register Today!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Tired of these Ads? Purchase Enhanced Membership today to remove them!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.