Toyota, Subaru to launch co-developed sports car

NAGOYA/TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and Subaru Corp said yesterday that they would launch the next generation of their co-developed sports car later this year.

Equipped with a new more powerful engine, Toyota’s GR 86 will be sold in the Japanese market in the autumn of 2021 following the release of Subaru’s BRZ in the summer.

They did not disclose their prices at an online event to unveil the models.

Toyota and Subaru, which formed a capital tie-up in 2005, launched the first model in 2012, with two different brand names, making it one of the most popular sports cars in Japan.

The new edition of the rear-wheel drive vehicle has improved acceleration with a larger engine displacement of 2.4 litres, up from 2.0 litres, reaching 100 kilometres per hour in just 6.3 seconds, 1.1 seconds quicker than its predecessor.

The two Japanese automakers said the GR 86 and the BRZ share the same vehicle base, but that the design details of each give their respective models a distinct feel.

The cars will be produced at a Subaru factory in Japan.

In a separate development, Subaru said it would suspend one of its car factories in Japan for about two weeks from this weekend due to a global semiconductor shortage.

The suspension at its Yajima plant in Gunma Prefecture is expected to lead to a cut of about 10,000 units in production.

“The plant, which produced over 570,000 units domestically in 2020, will be halted from Saturday to April 27, or 13 working days during the period.

“After resuming one of its two production lines on April 21, all lines will return to normal on May 10 following the Golden Week holidays,’’ Subaru said.

The factory produces models including the Forester SUV and the Legacy mid-sized sedan.

“The potential impact of the suspension on its financial results for the year through March 2022 has yet to be determined,’’ Subaru said, adding that “operations at its two other plants in the prefecture will continue.’’

Subaru’s production cut followed other global automakers including Toyota and Volkswagen AG that have also suffered from the chip shortage since late last year.

In January, Subaru suspended production at the Gunma factories for two days and slowed the pace of output at its plant in the US state of Indiana.