2013 Scion FR-S: High Res Photos and Reveal Video

The interior is clean and uncluttered, and that stitching is a nice touch. Seats look like supportive but we'll see how they work.

I really like this car.

I don't mind DIN head units, but that faceplate is awefully chintzy looking. Luckily that can be swapped out easily for something better looking, and probably better sounding.

Wow. They must be counting on every owner putting in an aftermarket head unit because that is the laziest attempt at one I've ever seen.

Subaru/Toyota should look at the Miata more closely. It doesn't only have a black interior. If both versions of this car are all black inside-- and only all-black-- then it is a 100% deal-breaker for me.

The corrugated roof probably means there will not be a sunroof, unless they have two different roofs-- like the Camaro. Or maybe the convertible version won't be that far behind. I am sure that is why Ford doesn't offer a sliding sunroof on the Mustang.

Wow that looks like a 90s toyota interior, a big flat slab. I think the design folks spent all their mojo on concepts that they ran out of ideas for production. We get 7 concepts and only 1 production car for 3 different companies. What a waste. Hopefully the powertrain makes up for the failure in the design house.

That stereo is awesome, but you had better be able to put a nav screen there.

I love the interior - a driver's car at last. I hope I can option-delete the cup holders.

Fail, fail, fail! EPIC FAIL!

Sorry, just had to get that out of the way, since everything according to the internet is an epic failure these days. I'm so sick of "FAIL" describing anything and everything that has ever been submitted for the internet's approval in the last 10 years. Can't anybody be more creative than that?

Anyway, about the car -- I think it's about where it should be. It's a predecessor to an even simpler, more mundane car. Any more styling tweaks and people would complain that it's too flashy or ricy (ANOTHER EPIC FAILURE!!) so I think Toyota and Subaru found a good blend of styling, all while keeping costs to a minimum in terms stamping and production. All those little bendies and creases in body panels cost a lot to produce and keep within spec after you've stamped out a few thousand of them. In a low volume vehicle like this where margins are short to begin with, I think there's a nice balance going on here.

I was taken aback by the interior actually. It's striking in a way that I'm not able to identify. It is quite different from anything that Toyota has designed in the past, but kind of brings up memories of some of the zany interiors Subaru churned out in the 80s, like in their XT6. It's stated, but not way out there.

I think everybody can put their internet EPIC FAILURE stamp on this thing after everybody has given it a good flogging. I can't wait to read about that.

It looks like the touchy feely parts (i.e. wheel, shifter, parking brake, arm rests) will be comfortable and grea to hold and feel. The cupholders are kind of cheap looking, a cover would have helped. The HVAC unit and many of the buttons are the same units that Toyota has been using in the Corolla/Matrix/Camry for YEARS. The carbon fiber dash is really bad though, huge gaps in the panels and it just looks cheap (I'm hoping for a more normal interior). I find it hilarious that they made the automatic look like a manual shifter (as if that's going to fool anyone). I'm glad to see cruise control and it looks like everything is logically laid out...

Everything is great, except for the radio unit. It's pretty clear that Toyota expects this to be swapped, because the stock unit is ugly, doesn't look intuitive and is just cheap.

@dinobot666, why should I care what their costs are? The fact is badge engineering is lazy. It is what drove GM into the ground, but hey they were just trying to save money right? Just have the same car with 6 different badges on it. It's lazy and I don't like it.

I am not saying the car is a failure, the drivetrain, suspension, and handling all seem to be adding up to something great. That doesn't make up for everything.

I just find it funny of how much time and energy they spend on concept cars, yet can't differentiate between 3 different brands. It's lazy plain and simple.

lostboyz:

Toyota for the global market
Scion for the U.S.
Subaru, a separate company, may add a hot version

How is that badge engineering?
Badge engineering is the same car, with identical mechanicals and similar interior pieces, sold in the same market, under different brands, such as the GMC Envoy-Chevrolet TrailBlazer-Saab 9-7X-Oldsmobile Bravada-Buick Rainier-Isuzu Ascender.

On the other hand, I am disappointed with the higher price tag and fake manual.

I'm not a huge fan of the large front and center tach. I understand the purpose, but in a street car I think the speedo should be in front of the driver.

@snperuff: Toyota owns 20% of Subaru. The FR-S and BRZ ARE the same car sold in the same market under different names. Hell, at least the Cavalier and the Sunbird/Sunfire had different noses and tail lights. The BRZ/FR-S are basically identical other than badges. They should become the cited example in the dictionary replacing the Cadillac Cimarron.

At least, unlike the Cimarron and later Cavalier clones, it appears that the Toybaru twins will be good cars.

@sniperruff, how is it not? The only difference is ducts and badges, that's what's referred to as badge engineering. When a domestic does it, it's lazy engineering. When toyota does it, it's a valid cost savings. Like bankerdanny said, at least GM gave different clips, this is worse.

Again I want to make perfectly clear, I think the car will be great based on what it is. I am more than happy to see this car on the roads. That isn't an excuse for lazy design work. It is frankly a smack in the face when presented with so many concept models.

@bankerdanny +lostboyz

Sure they look similar on the exterior, and maybe identical on the interiors and mechanically the same as well.

BUT I don't see how anyone can make a valid conclusion without a complete production sample to be compared.

Now we're just bickering about semantics instead of being happy that somebody has actually made a fun, RWD sporty car. Talk about EPIC FAILURE.

@dinobot666, of course. Because that's exactly what I'm saying. My problem is just pointing out that the practice is what gets companies in trouble with brand delusion. The GM twins/triplets/etc. weren't ever bad cars, but it ruins the distinctions between them and it is seen as lazy. So if they couldn't even differentiate the outside to cut corners, what other corners have they cut?

I'm not saying they have cut any. It is just lazy engineering, and a design failure. If you actually have a response rather than exaggerating mine, feel free to give it. I think I have been overly articulate to explain myself while you are trolling.

@lostboyz:

"The GM twins/triplets/etc. weren't ever bad cars"

Does that include the Venture/Silhouette/Montana which score a "Poor" in 4/6 categories in IIHS's frontal crash test? The 1995 - 2005 (speaking of the need for a overhaul) Cavalier/Sunfire twins aren't exactly a work of art either.

To be fair, you'd be naive to think the FR-S and the BRZ to be completely different cars. I personally would guess that they'd turn out to be the Solstice/Sky couple, with similar mechanics but different handling attributes.

So what you're suggesting then is that the BRS, FR-S, or whatever alphanumeric name is applied to this vehicle should have only been sold as one vehicle worldwide? Perhaps as just a Toyota then?

I guess I don't really see any distinct advantages to that, because I see this car as an engineering project between two very, very different companies who came together to produce a unique vehicle that should offer a lot of fun for the dollar.

I see this collaboration as a the beginning of a lot of firsts for Toyota and Subaru, whereas GM clones were just that, clones. That was simply badge engineering, not a collaborative effort between two companies who operate and function differently and appeal to very different markets. I think it came together quite nicely.

Scion ditches the auto climate I saw in the Toyota version....I'm done

@dinobot666, considering toyota has a significant control over the parent company of subaru, these aren't two unrelated companies. Regardless, there was less collaboration on the matrix/vibe and yet they seemed to differentiate themselves. The dodge caliber and mitsu lancer ride the same platform, the obviously don't look alike.

It's obviously toyota calling the shots here, considering this is the first domestic subaru without awd, and obviously not styled by them as it is completely outside of their design language. It's lazy. They are trying to hit more markets by putting a different badge on it and nothing more. Badge engineering is two cars in the same market with the badge being the biggest distinction between them. It has nothing to do with what company they came from.

@sniperruff, there are a lot of crappy GM cars, but not all of the badge engineered ones were. That was my point, I'm not saying these are bad cars because of it. It's just a lazy practice and is bad business.