Toyota has postponed its FT-86 coupe until 2013 because of “economic reasons,” but that hasn’t stopped them from planning a new small sports sedan off its rear-drive platform.

The reason for the sedan is to cover any shortfall in the FT-86 coupe’s sales as well as maximize the use and development costs of the rear-drive platform. The sedan is basically a safety net just in case the coupe fails. Which it shouldn’t — we haven’t had an inexpensive, lightweight, rear drive 200hp + coupe since the Fox-body Mustang LX 5.0 was discontinued in 1993.

Fortunately the sport sedan is expected to use the same drivetrains as the FT-86 coupe: a Subaru-sourced 197bhp 2.0-litre boxer engine and six-speed manual transmission (or CVT).

There is always hope that the Subaru Outback’s 3.6-litre flat six engine could make it to the sedan (and coupe for that matter).

The sport sedan is expected to be larger than a BMW 1-series, but smaller than a 3-series. Pricing is expected to be higher than the coupe at around $30,000, when it also goes on sale in 2013.

Sounds like a perfect pair for the family man’s 2-car garage: an FT-86 coupe for fun and a thinly-disguised FT-86-based sport — I mean family — sedan for more fun, err the entire family!

(Jason Udy, AutoCar)

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