According to Egmcartech, the rumors of a new $20,000 Toyota and Subaru sports car that has been under lock and key was finally validated with a Concept making its debut in the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Toyota FT-86 will carry a 2.0L boxer Subaru engine sending power to the rear-wheels.

Since last year, we’ve been hearing about a new sports car from Toyota and Subaru that will be priced around $20,000 and would give the two brands something to be proud about. However, both automakers were very good at keeping their upcoming sports coupe out of way of spy photographer lenses and never really talked much to the media about it in terms of when it will be available or what it would be called. In fact, the car’s nickname eventually became “Toyobaru,” which to say the least, we hated. (more…)

The well-known all-wheel-drive brand will be adding a little hybrid to itself next month at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Subaru announced today that it will show the Hybrid Tourer Concept in Tokyo next month – a concept that features “Subaru’s latest evolutions in handling agility, riding comfort and superior safety performance.” It also shows Subaru’s vision for a hybrid grand touring model. (more…)

There’s a new sheriff in town at Toyota, and he’s wasting no time in making his presence felt at the World’s Largest Automaker. Fortunately, that finally means a return to building fun-to-drive cars after years of offering virtually nothing to tempt the enthusiast market. We can only hope that some of that sporting DNA finds its way into the rest of the automaker’s staid lineup as well. (more…)

Subaru’s personal tuning shop has pumped out another hardcore version of the Impreza WRX STI. Known as the spec C, this modified Impreza WRX STI is lighter and more powerful than other variants of the road-going rally-car that will only be sold in Japan. (more…)

The new Impreza WRX STI looks like a fast ride for reviewers.

I remember the last red Subaru I drove. I was in high school, and the car was my dad’s – a new ‘88 GL wagon with an automatic and push-button 4WD on the shifter. I dug that Scooby. It wasn’t powerful but it was fun — especially when it snowed. Somehow I managed to avoid bouncing it off a lamppost while sliding it around corners. This had much more to do with luck than skill, as I was in high school and clearly an idiot.

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