Subaru disses Toyota drop-top
| Sponsored by |
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » | ||
| » |
Reprints
Print
Respond
Subaru has hinted at a convertible version of its BRZ since the sports car went on sale last year. So when Toyota showed the FT-86 concept at the Geneva auto show this month, Subaru engineers were paying close attention -- and scratching their heads.
The FT-86 is a drop-top rendering of Toyota's rear-wheel-drive GT86 coupe, as the car is called in Europe. It's the Scion FR-S here, and Subaru's version is the BRZ.
Subaru engineered both the Toyota/Scion and Subaru cars, which are powered by a Subaru Boxer engine.
So what did the Subaru guys say about Toyota's Geneva concept? Well, nothing for the record, but they believe the FT-86 eats away precious rear seat room because of the space needed to hide the roof mechanism.
Toyota says the FT-86, which has a cloth top, retains "2+2 seating format with minimal impact on luggage capacity."
How would the Subaru engineers do it? They'd stretch the wheelbase by about 4 inches so rear seat room wouldn't be compromised.
That's "if we were to do it," a Subaru executive said in Geneva.
