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Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ successor canceled?

Rumors indicate that the Toyota 86 is done for. Japanese Nostalgic Car is quoting Japanese sources as saying Toyota and Subaru have parted ways regarding the 86 and that the current car's replacement is off the table. According to JNC, the Japanese magazine Best Car is readying a report that the 86/BRZ successor has been canceled. JNC also considers the fact that in Japan, there will be a four-cylinder, 197-horsepower version of the new Supra, ready to continue where the 86 will leave the market. Back in 2016 the automaker seemingly confirmed that a replacement for the rear-drive car was under development, but plans can change and with a cheaper Supra version for sale in markets outside the U.S., we have to wonder if the 86 replacement has been shelved. The 86, while balanced, has only received mild enhancements and not a lot of extra power during its near-decade long time on the market, and it isn't such a strong seller that it would necessarily merit the effort of Toyota developing a successor on its own, particularly without the help of a partner like Subaru or BMW. At the same time, Autocar quotes Toyota boss Akio Toyoda on the Supra: "At the end of the day, is there anything better than a tight rear-wheel-drive sports car? I hope this won't be the last Toyota sports car you see from us in the future." While that is far from a solid statement of Toyota's future intent, it paves the way to offerings below the Supra, and shows how much the company boss cares about driver involvement. There is a distinct possibility that the company will re-introduce the MR2 as an electrified, rear-drive sports car – which could still be a joint venture with Subaru, as Japanese Nostalgic Car theorizes. Whatever's in the pipeline – and we hope there is something in the pipeline – it seems Toyota's heart is in the right place: driving the rear wheels. Related Video:

Subaru recalls new Forester over pedal entrapment fears

Pedal entrapment and unintended acceleration are hot-button topics these days, so automakers are always staying alert for potential problems. For Subaru and its newly introduced 2014 Forester, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall due to improperly manufactured floor mats that could become an obstruction for the gas, brake or clutch pedals. The good news, of course, is that even if drivers experience this problem, the 2014 Forester comes standard with brake override.
At issue with the floor mats on 10,137 Forester models built between January and March of this year is that the resin material used on the underside of the mats can curl when exposed to heat. If the leading edge of the driver's mat curls enough, it can come in contact with the pedals making acceleration, braking and shifting more difficult - possibly resulting in a crash. To fix the problem, Subaru is replacing the entire set of floor mats in all of the affected units. The official NHTSA recall notice is posted below.

Subaru offers 50th-anniversary edition versions of all its cars

Subaru is celebrating its 50th year in the U.S., and like so many automakers, its doing so by rolling out some special edition models. What's a bit unique about Subaru's approach is that the anniversary editions are available on every single model in the lineup. That includes Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, Legacy, WRX, WRX STI and BRZ. The only exception is the Ascent, which isn't yet on sale in any form. What distinguishes the 50th anniversary edition Subarus are really just cosmetic things. They're all painted in an exclusive "Heritage Blue" and accented with satin chrome trim. Naturally they have "50th Anniversary" badges, too. Inside, they're all equipped with black leather featuring embroidered "50th Anniversary" logos and contrast silver stitching. The seatbelts are also silver. These special Subarus are limited production vehicles. The company will build 1,050 each of the Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester, Outback and Legacy. The WRX, WRX STI, and BRZ will comprise 1,050 cars with 600 WRXs, 250 BRZs and 200 STIs. Every example is also the highest trim level, and models that offer more than one engine will be split such that there will be fewer of the high-horsepower versions. All of the anniversary edition cars are now on sale. View 15 Photos Related Gallery 2018 Subaru 50th Anniversary Editions View 9 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2018 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Chicago Auto Show Subaru Coupe Crossover Hatchback SUV Sedan 2018 Chicago Auto Show