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Annie Sam posted on December 23, 2011 00:00
Toyota's Legacy In the Scion FR-S
By Joe Lu and Annie Sam
Photos By Joe Lu
Although the FR-S debut has been covered to death on every social medium and media outlet, we have to acknowledge that this was done for a reason. Regardless of what it is called, the GT-86, BR-Z, FR-S is an enormously important vehicle for the Subaru and Toyota/Scion brands as well as the entire sport compact segment.
In the mid to late nineties, there was no shortage of production mid-sized sporty cars wielding between 160-240 horsepower. Celica, Integra, Prelude, S2000, 240SX, Sentra SE-R, Civic Si, MR2 and Eclipse are some of the famed cars that many of us cut our driving teeth on in our youth. Fast forward to recent times, and this list is has become much shorter as OEMs shifted their focus and development dollars from providing consumers reasonably priced and fun-to-drive vehicles to less interesting initiatives centered around fuel efficiency and selling mundane vanilla family haulers.
With this in mind, the introduction of the FR-S signals that OEMs (well, Toyota/Scion and Subaru at least) recognize that there was a gaping hole left by the departure of many of our favorite cars that needed to be filled. Having already been introduced internationally as the GT-86 and BR-Z at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, the remaining North American market debut of the FR-S was certainly a fanciful affair that touched on history, heritage and inspiration; a fitting introduction for what we think will be an insanely popular platform for enthusiasts and tuners.
Why do we think the FR-S is destined to be a star?
- FR layout
- 53/47 front to rear weight ratio
- Low center of gravity
- Lightweight; FR-S is claimed to be lighter than an s2000 (should be lighter than 2,800 lbs)
- Potential for future turbo trims
- Although pricing was not announced at the launch, it is likely that the car will be sold for under $30,000. (We consider the Hyundai Genesis Coupe to be a major competitor, with the 2.0T offering similar power and starting at around $22,000, this may be within the price range that FR-S is aiming for.)
- Click here to read Professor Frink's in depth coverage of the FR-S
So how did Scion launch this car? They took over Milk Studios in Los Angeles and packed it full of historic landmark Toyota sports cars... it didn't hurt that Scion knew how to throw one hell of a party.
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North America's first glimpse of the FR-S...
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| ...and the crowd goes wild! |
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| Hosted and unveiled by Scion VP Jack Hollis, the FR-S unveiling took attendees through the inspirations that Toyota (and Subaru) drew from in the creation of this RWD game changer. Clearly, the desire to offer a driving experience in the vein of the classic AE-86 Corolla was on the mind of designers when coming up with the FR-S. |
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| Jack Hollis with the Greddy Performance Product team that built the first modified FR-S, which was displayed at the reveal. |
Friday, December 23, 2011 3:35 AM
If the MR2 turbo is year 1995, it has to be 245hp. The older (2gen) 3sgte engine was used in 1990-1993 MR2. I drive MR2 turbo (jdm, '94) daily and its a blast!
Friday, December 23, 2011 5:50 AM
Toyota definitely wins the title for the decade's most boring car manufacturer. From 2000-2011, it made nothing but soulless transportation cars. I agree that the FRS is going to help the tuning industry out, but unfortunately I believe it will be the lower end of the market that will benefit most. China wins again...
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:14 AM
My dad bought a 2005 Matrix and it is garbage. 6 years and nearly 200,000 miles later the interior is falling apart, the transmission (5-speed manual mind you) seized up and had to be replaced, and the stereo is starting to fail. It handles poorly, has no power, and I find it uncomfortable to drive on long trips. Add to this the stupid stuff Toyota installed wrong from the factory (one of the seatbelts was installed backwards as was a trunk cover buckle), and my family has been turned off Toyota for good. And not to mention my friend's old Camry where eventually both driver's door handles failed so you had to crawl over the passenger seat to get in and out of the car. I've had four Hondas (my parents have had three more) and none of that dumb crap ever happened to them. The FR-S sounds like it will be a fun car, but like the original Scion tC, it will probably be watered down in some way with mushy brakes or something like that. And unless Toyota has really turned around their quality, I would not want one of these. I'll take a CR-Z and have a fun car with good mileage. I'm surprised more OEMs aren't following that lead and building sporty little hybrids coupes. Talk about a wide open niche.
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:23 AM
8695Beaters, the chief engineer of the FT 86 project, as well as the president of Toyota himself, had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way to get the car that THEY knew that WE wanted. The Scion won't be "watered down." It will be exactly the same as the Toyota and exactly the same as the Subaru. That is the point of this car - it is not a typical Toyota. One of the things that got other people at Toyota up in arms about this car is that the development team completely threw away the accepted Toyota formula for making cars. Besides, once the warranty is up, rip out the interior and turn it in to a race car!
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:43 AM
"Although pricing was not announced at the launch, it is likely that the car will be sold for under $30,000. (We consider the Hyundai Genesis Coupe to be a major competitor, with the 2.0T offering similar power and starting at around $22,000, this may be within the price range that FR-S is aiming for." What about the 800 lb gorilla in the room, the V6 Mustang? 300 hp at a similar $22,000 price point is going to be stiff competition. Granted the Mustang is several hundred pounds heavier than the FR-S but if you consider the Genesis Coupe competition you gotta include the Mustang.
Friday, December 23, 2011 8:04 AM
Can Mustang compete with FT86 on track? stock trim and similar tires? I dont think so :) Can Mustang be a fun car for enthusiast? Not my personal opinion, but my friend was happier than ever when he sold his '04 Mustang and bought an old BMW e30 325. His wife was in despair but I don't think her opinion really counts :D
Friday, December 23, 2011 8:49 AM
Compete on track? We don't have any track times for the FT86 yet but the Mustang has shown itself to be more than capable on track. And the enthusiast comment on the Mustang... I don't even know where to begin. Whether you have a preference for Japanese, Domestic, or European cars making a statement that in your personal opinion the Mustang can not be a fun car for enthusiast is you not being honest with yourself. Also, 2011 and up v6 Mustang is a whole different animal than the other v6 Mustangs. Before that model year a Mustang with a v6 was a girls car. 2011 Model year the v6 got updated to modern standards and performance and now even the base model Mustang has balls.
Friday, December 23, 2011 9:26 AM
Well yes, its a personal preference. As I am from Europe, of course I dont follow what has changed from 2004 to 2011 Mustang and can only recite my friend from Cali. We dont have american cars here. The only good cars that I have owned are ST185 and SW20 turbo (currently as daily driver). So I could call myself a Toyota fan. But really I dont know if the heavy Mustang can be faster around corners than the lithweight go-kart from Toyota. Actually I got an idea - I will try Gran Turismo 5 this weekend and try out 86/mustang/hyundai :)
Friday, December 23, 2011 10:02 AM
I still don't like that the Mustang has a live axle in 2011. But it give you a lot of horsepower for the money and out of the 3 US musclecars, its the lightest.
Friday, December 23, 2011 12:35 PM
Ford's proven that the live axle, other than some sacrifices in compliance, isn't a automatic handling failure. Personally, I think the Mustang V6 will turn faster laps, but that's not necessarily the point of the FR-S...
Friday, December 23, 2011 1:01 PM
The V6 Mustang is 3400lbs, 300hp, 225 width tires. The FRS/BRZ is ~2700 lbs, 200hp, 215 width tires. The Mustang has the weight:power advantage, 11.3:1 vs. 13.5:1, about 19% difference. But the FRS/BRZ has the grip advantage using my weight:tire width ratio of 12.5:1 vs. 15.1:1, about 21%. In summary, the FRS/BRZ will dominate the corners, the V6 Mustang will dominate the straights.
Friday, December 23, 2011 2:48 PM
Not necessarily spdracernut. With the stock Prius tires it probably won't out corner the Mustang.
Friday, December 23, 2011 4:33 PM
# Valters B you are quite wrong. The MK2 MR2 never got any more than 200hp in the U.S. In some other parts of the world it was produced until 1998 where I think it was increased to either 245 or 255hp. They also got the 3sg beams in one of the models.
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:29 PM
Correct. The 3rd gen 3S-GTE never made it to the US. The 95's that were sold in the US were most likely produced in 94 as the last production run due to the super slow sales of the MR2 at the time.
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:35 PM
Another point is that the Mustang V6 is an extremely capable track car. It can turn a faster lap around VIR'a grand circuit than a V6 Genesis coupe despite spending 14 seconds on its 114 mph governer. The Gt-86 won't outrun it. It will probably be a superior autocross car. Google Car and Driver Lightning lap to see how quick the V6 Mustang is. A live axle is not the hindrance to handling as it is rumored to be. If it is developed correctly it can certainly get you around corners well. If you've ever watched V8 supercars, you're seeing how well a live axle car can turn.
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:36 PM
Spdracerut, the V6 has the option of 255 section width Pirelli P Zero tires, the same ones that you can get on the GT.
Friday, December 23, 2011 7:41 PM
My final post for to tonight (my fault for reading one post and the. Going back to read posts in reverse order) the V6 Mustang and the FT-86 will probably not be cross shopped too much. I think they appeal to two drastically different markets and while I don't have sales numbers, I haven't noticed any V6 Mustangs with the track pack option package. All I see are ones with the cheap, small wheels and automatics. I would love to know the actual take rate, though.
Friday, December 23, 2011 9:42 PM
Yeah, the base V6 comes with 225/17 all-seasons. Optional 235/18 all-seasons. I see neither being any significant advantage over the tires on the FRS/BRZ. Hmm.. I wonder if the BRZ will come with different spec tires as it will have different suspension tuning? As for the track pack 255 tires for the Mustang, that's the same difference as an aftermarket tire/wheel package for the FRS/BRZ. My guess is the FRS/BRZ will easily take 225 and maybe 235 without fender mods. I just looked at the pics of the Greddy FRS and it has 225/35/19 with a little stretch on them.
Saturday, December 24, 2011 1:09 AM
If the Greddy FR-S wears 225/35/19, I bet you you can fit 245/40/18 with very minimal fender roll or nothing at all. (besides, the widest selection of sports tires are in 17's, and 18's, 19's are just too big for a 2800lbs car and simply unnecessary.
Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:58 PM
MR2 actually stands for "Midship Runabout 2-seater"
Monday, December 26, 2011 3:43 PM
I thought it meant "mid engine, rear drive, two seat". I wonder if FR-S means "front engine, rear drive, subaru", lol. I'm guessing the S is for "sports car" or something though.
Monday, December 26, 2011 3:47 PM
The more I read about the FR-S, the more I think about breaking my "no brand new cars" rule and selling my supra to buy one. I think I'd hold out for a turbo model though.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 10:59 PM
front engine rear drive...sedan?...it does 'seat' four lol anyway, I already have tons of questions coming up on this car and am waiting to hear word back from SOA on a few things. fingers are crossed. Just glad to see Toyota coming back to something fun, being my first car was a TE72 SR5.
 
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