Toyota is keeping quiet ahead of the car’s reveal today at the Frankfut Auto Show, but it has released two pictures of the latest FT-86 II Concept. What’s new? Other than some new paint it’s not entirely clear, although Toyota did promise a “faster, lighter and sportier” version of the car.

When it does officially debut in production form at the Tokyo Auto Show later this year, the FT-86 (sold in America as the Scion FR-S) will be powered by a direct-injection 4-cylinder boxer engine, putting torque to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with a limited slip differential as standard. In Tokyo, Subaru is also expected to debut a version of the car, called the BRZ.

Look for more details and live photos later today at AutoGuide’s official Frankfurt Auto Show page here.

Get more Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ news and info at fr-sforum.com and subarubrzforum.com.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 II Concept

It’s been a long time coming but fans of the Toyobaru sports car soon won’t have to wait much longer. Expected to officially debut at the Tokyo Auto Show in both its Toyota and Subaru forms, Subaru recently announced that its version will be called the BRZ.

When it is unveiled, interested buyers won’t have to wait long to get behind the wheel with Subaru announcing the car will go on sale in the Spring of next year.

But before any of this, Subaru will give yet another glimpse at what it’s preparing to offer by unveiling what it’s calling the “Subaru BRZ Prologue – Boxer Sports Car Architecture II” at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

GALLERY: Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZforum.com

Subaru has announced its name for the joint sports car project developed with Toyota, dubbing the rear-drive coupe the BRZ.

The news comes in a release by the Japanese automaker, announcing it will show a second rendition of the Boxer Sports Car Architecture, cumbersomely named “Subaru BRZ Prologue – Boxer Sports Car Architecture II” at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The BRZ name stands for “Boxer engine”, “Rear-wheel drive” and “Zenith”. Subaru has also created a teaser webpage for the car which can be viewed here.

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZForum.com and get more Scion FR-S and Toyota FT-86 news at FR-SForum.com

A Scion is about the last car you’d expect to see at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but the FR-S concept has a design worthy of a six-, or even a seven-figure price tag.

Set to be unveiled as a Toyota model at the Tokyo Auto Show later this year, the production FR-S is then expected to be revealed at the NY Auto Show in 2012. Toyota has continued to be nearly silent on details, but what we do know is that this light-weight coupe will be powered by a Subaru-sourced boxer 4-cylinder engine, using a Toyota direct-injection system. Power will be delivered though the rear wheels using either a six-speed auto or manual (your choice) and a limited slip differential will be standard.

Click here for more details on the production Toyota FT-86.

GALLERY: Scion FR-S

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

We know what the Toyota version looks like—time and time and time again. But the camoed-up version seen stuck in traffic on the 405 looks more like Subaru’s version—and given the Subaru distributor plates, this is more likely the case.

While the Toyota/Scion model is expected to be more focused on handling dynamics and light weight, rumors continue to point to the Subaru model as a lower volume, higher output, hard-core version.

[Source: GTRUSABlog via Autoblog]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Toyota will never stop developing mutations of its FT-86 sports car, which will be released sometime between now and the real Rapture. Maybe.

But news from Japan indicates, finally, when we can see the officially official ultimate final production version: the Tokyo Motor Show, in December. Both Toyota and Subaru will launch versions of their joint sports car on their home turf then, which is more final a date than anything the companies have previously announced.

The production version of the FT-86 will reach America by 2012 as the Scion FR-S, and Subaru’s version will be released in the spring. Rumors that both cars will be equipped with a Phantom entertainment console are unsubstantiated.

GALLERY: Scion FR-S

[Source: Inside Line]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Easily the most anticipated debut of the 2011 New York Auto Show, Scion has just released its new FR-S Concept, based on the Toyota FT-86.

Powered by a boxer 4-cylinder donated by Subaru, but using a Toyota direct-injection system Scion is promising sufficient power with “surprising” fuel economy.

Described by Scion boss Jack Hollis as the perfect car for weekend warriors, auto-crossers, drifters and track junkies, the FR-S promises an even mixture of balance, manageable power and light weight in this front-engine, rear-drive package. Helping keep in control of the vehicle, the FR-S concept does come equipped with a limited slip differential.

Based on the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, the Scion model does away with some of that cars more extravagant design features to find a perfect medium between it and the original FT-86.

Toyota’s version of the car is expected to be unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show this Fall and Scion will deliver a production version of the FR-S to dealers next year!

GALLERY: Scion FR-S

GALLERY: Scion FR-S Official

Get more Scion FR-S news and info at FR-SForum.com

See video of the FR-S after the jump:

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Subaru is building hype ahead of the reveal of its rear-wheel drive sports car next week at the Geneva Auto Show, releasing a new teaser image on a web site (http://www.subaru-global.com/boxersports.html) dedicate to the vehicle.

Along with the photo of the brand’s legendary Boxer engine is a brief outline of what Subaru calls the Boxer Sports Car Architecture, which, “embodied Subaru’s new definition of driving excitement.”

Subaru hints at the cost of the car, claiming it will be more “accessible” while also delivering a driving experience that, “only a Subaru can provide.”

Set to debut in Geneva as the ‘Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept’ on March 1st, look for live photos and updates with AutoGuide’s 2011 Geneva Auto Show coverage here.

Subaru will finally reveal its version of the Toyobaru rear-drive coupe at the Geneva Auto Show this March.

The automaker has confirmed that it will display a concept dubbed the ‘Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept.’ As the name suggest, however, it will be a concept and we don’t expect to see a production version until after the Toyota model debuts – possibly at the Tokyo Auto Show at the end of 2011.

Described as a joint venture with Toyota, Subaru says the vehicle will use an all-new platform and will be powered by the company’s horizontally-opposed boxer engine, helping to deliver both a compact powerplant and one with a low center of gravity.

Get more Toyobaru news and info at FR-SForum.com

And see AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Geneva Auto Show preview here.

Official release after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

Exhibition Outline of the 81st Geneva International Motor Show

Tokyo, January 14, 2011 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today
announced that it will exhibit the “SUBARU IMPREZA CONCEPT” and the “Subaru Trezia” as European premieres at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show slated for March in Geneva, Switzerland (Press day: March 1 and 2; Open to the public from March 3 through 13, 2011). The “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” will also be showcased as a world premiere.

<SUBARU IMPREZA CONCEPT>

The Subaru Impreza Concept is the first concept model to be released under Subaru’s new brand strategy.
Designed to show a possible direction for future Impreza models, the concept also embodies Subaru’s new brand statement “Confidence in Motion”. Expressing Subaru’s brand core value of “enjoyment and peace of mind”, the Subaru Impreza Concept fuses a sleek and lean form that exudes dynamism and elegance. It also features a spacious and plush four-seat interior for a safe and comfortable ride.

-Major specifications-
Length x Width x Height: 4,520 x 1,820 x 1,430 mm, Wheelbase: 2,640 mm Power Unit: New Generation Subaru Boxer engine (2.0-litre 4-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed engine) plus Lineartronic (CVT)

<Subaru Trezia>

The Subaru Trezia represents a proposal of new value to meet the increasing demand for smaller and
environmentally friendly cars in Europe. The key phrase for this product is “New Compact Smart Wagon”. The model provides the benefits of the Subaru wagon-style in an overall body size of less than 4 meters in length. This touring compact car offers a string of other benefits, from the strong presence of the exterior to the highly efficient package of the roomy and quality interior and easy-to-use utility space. With CO2 emissions of 113 g/km*, the Trezia combines superior environmental friendliness and highly responsive SUBARU IMPREZA CONCEPT Subaru Trezia
driving.

A 1.3-litre petrol engine and 1.4-litre turbo diesel engine are available in the European markets.
*For the 1.4-litre turbo diesel models

-Major specifications-
Length x Width x Height: 3,995 x 1,695 x 1,595 mm, Wheelbase: 2,550 mm

<Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept>

A Subaru rear-wheel drive sports car is currently under joint development as part of the business alliance
with Toyota Motor Corporation. Based on an all-new platform, the vehicle will offer Subaru’s distinctive
trademark and core technology: the “Horizontally-Opposed Subaru Boxer engine”. The concept embodies
Subaru’s established know-how in manufacturing boxer-powered passenger cars; it shows how Subaru
proposes to integrate this expertise into a rear-wheel drive car to offer a new and highly enjoyable, Subaru-like driving experience. The technology concept will demonstrate how the all-new car platform
makes full use of Subaru’s engineering and Boxer technology.

Subaru is reportedly looking to scrap plans for an AWD version of the Toyota FT-86 in favor of a rear-drive only model. This is sure to have the marketing department at Subaru up in arms with the accountants, as Subaru’s whole brand identity is based on the company’s Symmetrical AWD setup.

Japan’s Best Car is reporting that the cost of making the Toyobaru AWD has become prohibitive as so only a rear-drive model is now planned. So with Toyota already scheduled to bring a rear-drive FT-86 to market, the only difference between the two models is likely to be slightly different bodywork and interior design.

Based on a modified AWD Legacy platform we still find this news hard to believe and as much as we’d love a more entry-level Toyota model, a high-powered Subaru would be plenty of fun and most likely worth the added cost.

See more Toyota and Subaru FT-86 news at FT86Talk.com

[Source: Best Car via 7Tune]

The Subaru version of the FT-86 will be larger, heavier and more powerful than its Toyota cousin. According to a recent report in Japan’s Best Car magazine (and brought to us by the team at 7Tune), the Subaru-branded Toyobaru will receive the 216A chassis code, rather than the 086A badge that the Toyota will get. (In North America, the FT-86 will go by the 087A chassis code, while European models will get the 088A code).

Being a Subaru, the 216A will get symmetrical all-wheel drive, which will add roughly 220-lbs. The car will also be slightly larger with a 20mm increase in both height and width, while the wheelbase will gain anywhere from 30m to 50mm.

The best part, however, is confirmation that the car will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged motor. Most likely this means the 250ps (247-hp) version found in the Impreza, with the 308-ps (303-hp) WRX STI motor left for a high-performance version in the future.

Neither of those powerplants are, however, offered in North America. This could mean that, much like the WRX, the 216A will get the 2.5-liter turbo motor, with either 224-hp or 265-hp.

As expected, all these additions will also come with a price hike over the standard model.

GALLERY: Subaru 216A

[Source: BestCar via 7Tune]

Get More FT-86 News Here

Some video of the Toyobaru spots car lapping the Nürburgring in Germany has found its way on to YouTube. Considering the heavy use of camo used to cover the car up, there’s reason to believe this is the Subaru version of the small sports car, rather than the Toyota model. Toyota has already released numerous images of its car, called the FT-86 in concept form.

Either way, the car looks like a hoot to drive and should offer plenty of fun to a lot of people as the MSRP is expected to be in the low $20,000 range.

We expect to hear more about this car when Toyota officially unveils the FT-86 Concept at the Tokyo Auto Show this Wednesday, October 21st.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Concept