Geneva show: Toyota to show second draft of FT-86

TOYOTA will show the latest concept for its 2012 FT-86 sports coupe at the Geneva motor show, where its partner in the project, Subaru, will display the boxer engine underpinnings for the jointly developed rear-drive four-seater.

Called the Toyota FT-86 II, the second-generation concept will build on the original concept shown at the 2009 Tokyo motor show, and is expected to be close to production ready, with Toyota saying the concept will give “the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota’s next sports car”.

A teaser picture released by Toyota ahead of the show reveal shows a re-profiled bonnet and front spoiler, with a hint of Lexus LFA supercar.

The Toyota and Subaru versions of the car will both share Subaru-developed underpinnings based around a four-cylinder boxer engine with the latest direct-injection technology from Toyota.

At Geneva, Subaru is planning to lay bare the engine, drivetrain and chassis, including the suspension and brakes.

The FT-86 Concept as seen in Tokyo

America’s Motor Trend magazine reports that the Toyota and Subaru models will boast Subaru Impreza WRX STi power and torque, from a 2.5-litre turbo engine.

In Australian spec, the STi pushes out 221kW of power and 407Nm of torque in manual transmission guise (350Nm for the five-speed automatic).

The original FT-86 shown in 2009 was fitted with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated version of the Subaru boxer, but the engine was stepped up to the 2.5-litre turbo when Toyota wheeled out an enhanced version of the FT-86, called the S Sports concept, at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Whichever engine the ‘Toyobaru’ ends up with, it will be based on Subaru’s new third-generation horizontally opposed boxer – the first all-new version of the engine in 21 years – that is about to make its debut in the 2011 Subaru Forester.

In its press release accompanying the teaser image of the FT-86 II peeking out from under a garage door, Toyota said the concept embodied the company’s reborn passion for sports car driving.

The Toyota version of the 2+2 sports coupe is now expected to go into production in late 2011 as a 2012 model, with the Subaru version to follow a little later.