Toybaru – urban legends
2010 Toyota Celica (Toybaru)
It seems like the cooperation of Toyota and Subaru still leaves a lot of question marks around the web. When they officially announced the concept of building a sports car together (around 2006-2007) – internet users immediately gave the project a name: Toybaru.
I spent few hours searching for info about this project, and found nothing but rumours and not confirmed information. There are no official prototype or sketches to see (if google doesn’t have them – they don’t exist! 
)
What is it all about?
Toyota and Subaru announced that they want to build a jointly designed, small RWD sports car. Subaru will provide what they’re famous for: flat four engine. There are also rumours that the engine will be 1,5 litre only, so a serious player shouldn’t be expected providing such engine, but time will see. Downsizing is now in fashion, but it doesn’t mean that power outputs are shrinking.
The input from both companies should be 50/50, but the car will be branded with Toyota logo 
Also it is told that this will mean Toyota Celica come back – with eight generation! Therefore this won’t be a super car, but a low price sports vehicle.
I wish that was true, but under one condition: It needs to be better then seventh generation Celica, which was a terrible.
Only 2 engine types were available: both 1.8 litre – one 143 HP, second around 180 HP made with Yamaha. That’s it! In a sports car with such history ac Celica – it’s a joke! Only front wheel drive was available. So the car was good looking and aggressively designed, but didn’t “run”.
I will keep my eye on the project, as in “crisis” times, after postponing and cancelling some niche cars by producers, the number of players in fun-car category is shrinking. So all Celica fans (including myself) stay put for more news about this interesting concept. I wish them the best… Toyota can give Subaru a good design lesson, when Subaru will put the “heart” to the car and make it FUN to drive.
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