Toyota FT-86 Prototype Spied!

[ahmed_7erzon]

Toyota, Subaru, their fans, and the automotive press have been talking about the vaunted FT-86 sports car for ages now. And after several concepts and auto show reveals, Toyota's version of the car has finally been spotted in the wild, though we nearly missed it.

Take a look at the pictures and you'll see what we mean. While we went so far as to call the FT-86 II Concept a "poor man's LFA," the car spotted in the real world (at least from what we can see of this camo-ed-up example) doesn't live up to anyone's hype. The show cars were stylistically wild and daring, but the prototype seen here is mild and reserved at best. From most angles, especially the rear, it looks like any nondescript '90s sports car -- only the gaping maw and narrow headlights indicate it's a modern car, something like a pumped-up Tesla Roadster. Three things made the promised FT-86 a car fan's dream: It would be a lightweight coupe, it would be driver-oriented and it was going to look cool. Scratch the last one unless they're hiding something under the swirls.

It certainly doesn't bear much of a resemblance to the dramatic and eye-popping Scion FR-S concept that Toyota's youth-oriented brand unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show. Although the New York car had several exaggerated concept cues, Scion officials indicated that its version of the car, to be officially called FR-S (which stands for front engine, rear drive, sport) when it hits U.S. streets next year, will look, sound, and perform like no other Scion before it -- although the performance bar especially is admittedly pretty low.

There's still some hope on the other two sides of the PowerPoint triangle. A few months back at the Geneva show, the product manager for Subaru's version of the car (we've been told that it will not use "86" in its name) promised it would weigh 20-percent less than an STI, which would put it at about 2700 pounds. Toyota and Subaru's cars will likely be a bit different, but the curb weights should be fairly similar. Subaru also wants its car to feel like a Porsche Cayman, so here's hoping Toyota shares that vision.

Then there's the matter of the drivetrain. Toyota recently confirmed on its blog that its car will share its engine with the Subaru, as everyone expected. It'll be a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer four co-developed by Toyota and Subaru. Toyota's version will feature the company's D-4S direct injection system, though we're unclear on whether it will be shared with Subaru. We've heard a lot of numbers thrown around, but no official power output has been released. Subaru has hinted its car will make around 200 horsepower, though its brand new 2.0-liter engine only produces 148 horsepower in naturally aspirated form, so we're curious to see the final pony count. Toyota's use of direct injection, if not shared with Subaru, could also change the equation. No matter what, we're not expecting more than 200 horsepower unless a turbocharged model is announced, which is not expected at least at the outset. The cars should sprint from zero to 60 mph in under 7 seconds.

Regardless of the output, the power will see pavement through a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, in Toyota's car at least. Subaru's as well, we believe. Toyota also says that the rear-wheel-drive car will feature a limited-slip differential for performance driving, though it doesn't say whether it will be mechanical or electronic (brake controlled). All that drivetrain will be mounted as low as possible with the engine located as far rearward as the passengers' feet allow for optimal weight balance and the lowest center of gravity.

Toyota says its car will finally go on sale next year. Final production versions of both the Toyota and Subaru-badged cars are expected to debut on November 30 at the Tokyo Motor Show and arrive in showrooms by next spring.