Toyota and Subaru have jointly debuted a new compact sports coupe with hopes of rekindling sportiness to the manufacturer's maligned reputation in Japan and the United States.
The car is called the Hachiroku in Japan, which means 86. However, the name of the car for the United States market, has not been released.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the new car is reminiscent of the Toyota models Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno introduced in 1983.
Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru-brand vehicles, hope the four-seat, rear-wheel-drive will attract young customers. The Hachiroku will make its public debut Dec. 3-11 at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Article Last Updated: November 27, 2011.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
A Sporty Toyota? I think they should 86 that idea. Let Subaru sell it.
Finally! Toyota comes back with a sports car that has some potential.