VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 sure doesn't sound like a boxer
Posted Nov 5th 2009 7:20PM by Noah Joseph
Toyota garnered a lot of attention at this year's Tokyo Motor Show with the debut of the FT-86 concept. And they weren't about to let it slip past them, either. As part of the spectacle, they played the sounds of the prototype supposedly rounding the Nürburgring.
The FT-86 is being jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, the former providing the platform and the latter the engine, among other components. The thing is, as our JDM-loving compatriots over at 7Tune point out, the engine noise piped in doesn't sound much like a boxer four.
Of course, that kind of deducing poses more questions than it answers: Is Toyota planning a different engine for its version of the so-called Toyobaru sports-coupe? Is Subaru's hesitation prompting Toyota to make its own plans? Did they not like how the engine sounded and opt to pipe in another soundtrack altogether? We can only speculate, but if you listen to the audio in the video clip after the jump and have your own idea, we're all ears.
[Source: 7Tune.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Gruv 7:25PM (11/05/2009)
Uh, it didn't sound like a boxer when you posted a video of it tire squealing its way around a corner either.
Why are you surprised now? Did you think it would sound different from then?
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Archane 9:34PM (11/05/2009)
I'm just praying for a 3JZ-GTE!
If Toyota slaps a hot inline 6 in there, that would be absolutely awesome. Even if it was a high-revving NA engine, similar to the E46 M3, that would be pretty cool
Jim 7:28PM (11/05/2009)
a boxer 4 still has a 180 degree firing interval, so it could just be some creative exhaust plumbing. Not unlike the "180 degree headers" sometimes used on crossplane V8s.
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MixiM 8:04PM (11/05/2009)
If the V8 has an 180 degree firing angle, how could it be crossplane?
Jim 8:11PM (11/05/2009)
a V8 has a 90° overall firing interval whether it's flatplane or crossplane. A flatplane V8 has a L-R-L-R-L-R-L-R firing pattern, while a crossplane has something like L-R-L-L-R-L-R-R. "180° headers" on a crossplane V8 will "cross over" a pair of primary tubes from each side to the other, so the exhaust pulses in the header collector output will be similar to a flatplane V8.
tuna 7:29PM (11/05/2009)
What if it's a yet-to-be-announced flat 6 from Subaru? A SVX revival?
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Kyle 7:30PM (11/05/2009)
A simple thing called equal length headers. An unequal length header is what produces the boxer rumble.
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BoxerFanatic 8:42PM (11/05/2009)
DING DING DING DING DING!
Tell him what he's won, Johnny...
the "boxer sound" is common on the subarus, especially the turbos with largely different exhaust runs, due to the un-equal length.
The non-turbo engines are more symmetrically disposed, not having to reach over to the side for a turbo. Even the '10 Legacy and Boxer Diesel are front-mounting their turbos, for equal length exhaust runs.
An equal length H4 is not going to sound much different than an equal length header I4.
If anything, an equal length H6 will sound smoother than an equal length V6 with a crank pin offset, and thus an uneven firing order.
hashiryu 9:18PM (11/05/2009)
^^What they said. Lord I can't believe this is an autoblog........
MikeW 9:45PM (11/05/2009)
It isn't just 'equal length' it is firing order.
Subaru, on the naturally aspirated 2.5 cars [in the past], used to match the cylinders on the banks, and then match those two pipe into one pipe.
Everything was equal in length, yet it still went blub blub blub blub, due to the L L R R firing order.
What odd firing V6s are you talking about? Are there any still around.
BoxerFanatic 10:28PM (11/05/2009)
Actually, I was wrong... I was thinking that an offset crank pin in a V6 would make the firing order odd... it actually makes the firing order even at 120 degrees of crank rotation.
But it makes the engine less balanced, and not as smooth in terms of vibration, compared to an inline, or especially a flat 6. Theoretically the exhaust sound from equal length runners would not differ, unless the engine vibration translated into something rattling or buzzing from the engine's vibration.
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Back on topic with a little speculation... there are rumors that the FT-86 Toyota/Subaru project may have a new generation flat four, possibly derived from the EZ30R engine type, minus two cylinders.
It is possible that engine may have changed it's firing order to L-R-L-R, and without a turbo, it is likely that the exhaust is symmetrical, and equal length.
nardvark 9:07AM (11/06/2009)
"Theoretically the exhaust sound from equal length runners would not differ, unless the engine vibration translated into something rattling or buzzing from the engine's vibration."
...which it will on every damn Subaru. My car is such an awful rattle-trap.
chaffier 12:16PM (11/06/2009)
I agree, put equal lengths (manifold) on a subaru, and it sounds like any other 4-banger out there. The unequal manifold is DEFINITELY what causes the notorious Subie Rumble.
Cougs 1:17PM (11/06/2009)
Boy, I almost forgot what proper geekdom (especially Subaru geekdom) was like - thank you for renewing my faith in mankind guys. :-)
subaru guy 7:33PM (11/05/2009)
Equal length headers basically get rid of that lumpy Subaru boxer tone. Could be as simple as that.
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Cornelius 9:21AM (11/06/2009)
It is as simple as that. The Toyobaru FT-86 is naturally aspirated, so there really should be no surprise at the lack of rumble. IIRC, the NA subarus have had equal-length headers (and thus no boxer rumble) for a few years now.
If you want to hear the boxer rumble, get a turbo'd version (wrx/sti, LGT, or XT).
Hopefully, the Subaru version of this coupe will have the turbo and rumble. :)
Jason W 7:44PM (11/05/2009)
Or they just slapped an existing motor in just so they could drive it in and out of shows. That happens pretty often and I don't think I've seen an under hood shot of this yet either.
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Jim 8:12PM (11/05/2009)
if the car was designed around a boxer, you aren't going to be able to just slap an inline 4 in there.
Smeagle 8:28PM (11/05/2009)
"As part of the spectacle, they played the sounds of the prototype supposedly rounding the Nürburgring."
downhill.specialist 7:52PM (11/05/2009)
As other's have said, if they are running equal length headers, it will get rid of the boxer tone.
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