Subaru and Toyota may be teaming up on another set of twins. This time, the partnership could result in a pair of new AWD hot hatches.
According to a new report from Japan’s Best Car, Subaru and Toyota are jointly developing a new “WRC machine” that will debut in fall 2022. The publication says it will have a body size similar to that of the Impreza.
Subaru’s hatch will have a – you guessed it – horizontally opposed engine installed longitudinally. Whether or not that engine will go under the hood of another Toyota product remains to be seen.
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Toyota, though, did promise in May of 2020 that it would bring a GR (compact) hot hatch to the USA. The speculation at the time was that the automaker would simply create a GR Corolla, which would be sensible. There is a chance, though, that this Subaru will be related to that GR hot hatch.
The first inklings of this project came when Toyota took a 20% stake in Subaru in 2019. “We will bring together the strengths of both companies and jointly develop the most comfortable AWD model,” the companies said in a press release.
Best Car Web’s report, though, suggests that the new Subaru will have symmetrical AWD. The system is a Subaru staple but it would mean that any Toyota based on it would be distinct from other AWD vehicles in the automaker’s stable.
After partnering with Subaru on the BRZ/GT86 and with BMW on the Z4/Supra, though, it’s clear that Toyota doesn’t mind having cars at its dealerships that are a little different.
Unfortunately, whatever comes of these rumors, we’ll have to wait a while before we get any official details.