The Toyota/Subaru FT-86 creation has been buzzing about the internet since the two announced their partnership, but after months of concepts->ke3538 and hearsay, a Subaru source has provided a bit of official information about the new sports car. The FT-86 will be arriving in the U.S. badged as a Scion FR-S and will feature one of the lowest centers of gravity of any vehicle out on the market. It will actually be right behind the Porsche GT3->ke617 and the Ferrari 458->ke3479, thanks to the boxer engine provided to Toyota->ke88 by Subaru. Subaru's boxer engine has a flat, low profile that balances weight efficiently and provides quick handling response and flat, confident cornering.

We're expected to see debuts of all the FT-86 variants when the Tokyo Motor Show opens its doors in December 2011 so we'll have more details on those models at that time. Subaru's version of the FT-86 is also being considered for an STI version which could come sporting a new generation, naturally aspirated (not turbocharged as with other STI models) 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine.

Speaking of the STI, Subaru sources also say that the new STI will take at least two years before coming to the market and will be drastically different from the base Impreza. In fact, this is part of Subaru's plan to separate their conventional models from their performance models. The Impreza was put together with an eye out for economy, but the STI will be a different beast altogether. It will get its own engine, one that will have nothing to do with the Toyota engine created for the FT-86 project and will make it easier for Subaru->ke86 to market the vehicle as a performance model. No specific figures were given, but we expect the new STI to carry a turbocharged version of the 2.5 liter boxer engine with more than 305 HP on tap. The engine will be mated to a fully synchronized close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission.

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