We've been hearing about the Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ convertible since about five minutes after we first saw the concept. In fact, we made this rendering of an FT-86 convertible way back in November of 2009.
Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada initially said that the car was designed to have a roof and that the roof is a part of the car's support structure that shouldn't be removed, and it would need significant bracing. Later he said that the car was designed from the beginning as a convertible and that one would definitely be produced. It would open up a new consumer base for the car and will finally give the Miata a run for its money in the small rear-drive, drop-top segment. Building this is a no-brainer.
So it's coming. We know that. Car and Driver thinks they know more and are reporting that it will happen in 2014 or very late 2013. If we were pressed to guess we, too, would say 2014.
Categories: Convertibles,Future Vehicles,Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Nobody remembers second place. Last night at Longo Toyota/Scion/Lexus in El Monte, CA we witnessed the first owner take delivery of the very first 2013 Scion FR-S customer car in the states. Break out the non-alcoholic bubbly.
The lucky new owner, Albert (last name withheld in case of any internet stalkers), was a part of Scion's "First 86" program. He received the keys to a Whiteout painted FR-S. The self-proclaimed import tuning fanatic admitted to buying used cars exclusively until he saw the FR-S. He was proud to admit this was his first brand-new car purchase. To commemorate the occasion, Five:Axis Design's Young Tea presented him with a "First 86" one-off plaque made of aluminum and carbon fiber. Along with the plaque, Albert gets a 5:AD exclusively by Five:Axis Design's body kit installed courtesy of Longo.
The celebration continued throughout the night. Food and entertainment was provided by Longo to the 150+ guests and everyone in attendance. Most there either had an order placed for the FR-S or were involved with vendors like Greddy, Mackin Industries, and Five:Axis Design to talk about the products they offer for the FR-S.
Despite some naysaying on the series of tubes regarding this car's performance/price, there was a lot of optimism expressed last night regarding this car from people who are still happy to put their money on the line.
While all this went on, Albert quietly drove off into the night to celebrate in his own way: a short trip to the canyons.
Continue reading...
Categories: Coupes,Scion,Sports Cars
The Scion FR-S is no longer a mystery. We've driven it in Japan and we've had it into our offices here in Southern California for a full test on our track and on our roads. It's finally a real car and not a concept.
That doesn't mean, however, that we're tired of it or tired of hearing how a company like Toyota managed to get their swagger back and produce a fun car while they also produce, well, everything else in their lineup. GT Channel recently got hold of the Chief Engineer behind the FR-S, Tetsuya Tada, for an in-depth look at the process and the mindset behind the product. It's 10 minutes, but worth it.
Continue reading...
Categories: Auto Industry,Scion,Toyota
The Southern California-based design house responsible for putting together the Lexus LF-LC Concept and creating-from-scratch the FRS Concept car which toured the nation, Five:Axis Designs, is releasing an aero kit for the new 2013 Scion FR-S.
The 4-piece kit, which closely-mirrors the concept car, enhances the aggressive lines of the FR-S and gives it a more fearsome scowl from the front airdam. While pricing hasn't been finalized, we do know that the price for the 4-piece kit will be comparable to their Scion tC kit- which MSRP's for $1,195 (unpainted) and $1,890 (painted). You can also purchase the 5:AD rear spoiler, alloy wheels, lowering springs and Five:Axis badging for, obviously, more money.
Powerslideless video after the jump.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications
Yup, the dyno rollers, they just keep a-turnin'.
Immediately after wrestling the 2012 Mclaren MP4-12C to the ground, we turned our attention to the car you see here, the 2013 Scion FR-S.
Although it costs nearly one-tenth the price of the quarter-million dollar British supercar, the Scion FR-S arguably carries more significance to the automotive landscape. It marks the return of the tin-top sports car to the common man.
And InsideLine.com is the first to dyno-test it. Our findings are across the jump.
Continue reading...
Categories: Car Tech,Coupes,Hatchbacks,Scion,Sports Cars,Volkswagen
Scion Racing's Drift Team had its official launch last week in the Little Tokyo district of downtown L.A., a neon-trimmed locale straight from a Fast & Furious movie. We made the traffic-infused trek from Santa Monica to see their two debuts: a new driver and a new car.
Continue reading...
Categories: Motorsports,Scion
Australia's V-Sport is a company that specializes in track-day mods and a racing accessories. It's currently dabbling with the idea of building a highly modified Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 to showcase its wares.
At the heart of this potential project is a 325-hp 2.5-liter STI engine swap, a 1.5-way clutch-type limited-slip differential, short shifter and a heavy-duty clutch.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion
Inside Line's dedicated Facebook and Twitter followers got the chance to be up close and personal with the 2013 Scion FR-S Tuesday night. After a day of hard driving and photography we brought the elegant sports car to a tea house in Arcadia, Calif and turned it loose with the crowd.
Sort of.
There was no driving, but everybody got the chance to sit inside the car, probe under its hood and geek out about its existence.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion
GReddy and Scion rolled out this drift-ready Scion FR-S in January at the Detroit Auto Show. It will be driven by Scion driver Ken Gushi in the 2012 Formula D Series, which begins this weekend in Long Beach, Calif.
This video offers some nice inside shots of the car coming together at GReddy's HQ and being tuned by the Cosworth folks. Looks like they've scrapped the normally aspirated FA engine in favor of a (duh) boosted EJ.
Enjoy.
Continue reading...
Categories: Celebrities,Motorsports,Scion
While we haven't had one in our hands yet, if the Scion FR-S (Toyota GT-86 ) sounds anything like the Subaru BRZ (which it will), we're not impressed. The BRZ sounded fine, but fine isn't good enough. Not with a car this hotly anticipated, this driver-focused.
So, until Subaru figures out what on earth it wants to/can do with the BRZ STI, Toyota is going to fill in the gap with a TRD edition. Here's our first look at the new body kit and pipes in action.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Sports Cars,Toyota,Tuners and Modifications
Now that we've gotten the whole pricing thing out of our system and know that the Scion FR-S will sticker for $24,930 when it goes on sale this spring, how's about we get back to watching the FR-S vaporize some tires?
Here it is rubberizing the famed corners off Laguna Seca. Unfortunately, Scion's ruined this video with an all-too-loud musical track leaving precious few moments where motor and tires do the talking. Still, powerslides are awesome.
Continue reading...
Categories: Coupes,Scion,Sports Cars,Videos
Earlier today, pricing information on the much anticipated Scion FR-S hit the web and now, Scion.com has updated to show official pricing of the 2013 FR-S.
Today's earlier report was that the FR-S would cost $24,200 and this new $24,930 price tag reflects that price plus the mandatory $730 destination fee added by Toyota. (Note: Some locations will have a slightly higher destination fee.)
Scion also has a mini configurator that will let you pick transmission (manual or automatic) and one of the seven colors (Ultramarine being my favorite). No further options or pricing is available there, however.
Categories: Scion,Sports Cars
The Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT 86 / Scion FR-S tease has been going on so long we almost forgot that pricing hasn't been released for any of them. We've heard "Below 30" and "around 25" thrown around, but nothing official.
But now we have unofficial word that the 2013 Scion FR-S will start at $24,200 with the 6-speed manual and $25,300 for the 6AT. This information comes courtesy of FT86 club which has managed to get hold of an email to Scion dealers officially announcing the price.
"Scion is pleased to announce the starting price of $24,200 for the highly awaited 2013MY Scion FR-S which will arrive at Scion dealerships in June. Even with DPH, the starting price is still under $25,00!" reads the letter. No further information was given and no options were listed.
The letter also explains that pricing will be made official to the public on March 22. Until then, however, we've got to ask: Too high or is priced just right? (Note: The Genesis Coupe 2.0T starts at $25,125, and the MX-5 Miata starts at $23,470.)
Categories: Coupes,Scion,Sports Cars
Did Scion announce pricing for the 2013 FR-S at this afternoon's press conference? No, not yet. But it did say that the FR-S would be receiving an updated version of Scion's BeSpoke entertainment system.
Also unveiled was a 600-horsepower Scion Racing/Greddy FR-S drift car which will be competing in the 2012 Formula Drift series with Ken Gushi behind the wheel.
Continue reading...
Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Scion
Yes...with some work. And a lot of handbrake. In the rain. And with pro drifter Ken Gushi behind the wheel.
Second video-- interior mostly-- added.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Sports Cars,Toyota
Last night Scion officially showed off the U.S. spec version of the Toyobaru, the Scion FR-S. We brought you pictures from the reveal, but trying to squeeze in between other photographers and the hundreds of Scion fanbois present left us with shots that looked, more or less, like they were taken in a warehouse filled with a few hundred kids who really, really love Scion.
These studio shots (provided by Scion) have a much cleaner feel and show off the car in a much more flattering light. I've provided them here in hi-res for all of your wallpapering / focus-on-the-details needs. There's also a video after the jump of the official reveal last night. Nothing new, but yet another image of a car you very well may already be sick of reading about.
Continue reading...
Categories: Coupes,Scion,Sports Cars
After this week's reveals of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ in Japan, it was only a matter of time before the States got some love in the form of the Scion FR-S (Front engine Rear wheel drive, Sport). We weren't exactly on the edge of our seat for this one, considering how similar the BRZ and 86 are, we expected the FR-S to be little more than the 86 with Scion badges. And that's exactly what we have here.
Like the looks, we knew what the specs would be, too. 200 horsepower, 151 pound-feet of torque from a 2.0-liter Subaru-built boxer engine (with bore and stroke of 86mm) with a Toyota-built D-4S direct port injection system. The 166.7 inch long FR-S rolls on 17s with the same crap inexpensive all season tires as the 86 Michelin Primacy HP summer tires (Sorry, had my Primacy tires confused. There are other Primacy tires -- MXV4, MXM4-- which are all seasons.) and sits on a 59.8 inch front track and a 60.6 inch rear track. The FR-S has a 101.2 inch wheel base. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with rev-matching. We did not expect this car to have special 86 badges on the fenders, but it does.
They didn't reveal pricing (expect that at Detroit) but Scion boss Jack Hollis said that they've bumped up the release from summer of this year to spring.
Jack Hollis also announced that the Scion FR-S could hold four tires and a floor jack making track days that much easier. He didn't mention if it would hold a passenger with all that stuff, but it's still neat to know.
Continue reading...
Categories: Coupes,Scion,Sports Cars
Yesterday we brought you photos of the Toyota 86 from its release in Japan. The car pleased with its pretty-much-just-like-the-concept looks and exactly-what-we-expected performance figures. Toyota has drawn some criticism for the name, though. They're ditching the alpha part of alphanumeric naming conventions and just calling it the 86 which is two worse than the Olds 88. And, of course, everyone's still all mad that they're going to market it in the U.S. as a Scion.
If it drives right and is priced right, those complaints will go away quite quickly. But until we get our hands on a U.S. spec one, we'll just have to sit back and watch. After the jump are the official, very high resolution photos of the Toyota 86. Dial up users beware.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Toyota
In the next two weeks Inside Line will drive both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ and all the waiting, the buildup and hype will come crashing down in two stories we hardly need the cars to write.
Meanwhile, here are two more videos...
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Kids playing with model cars never fail to warm the heart, and after Toyota has sucked you in, the ad folks might as well be saying, see, see, we've got a real car here, the Toyota FT-86. It's a coupe. It's rear-drive. We're choosing wheels for it. Look, it's got a Subaru flat-4 in its engine bay. So, so, be excited.
OK, we kind of are (or rather, I kind of am), but what I'd really like is a modern-day remake of this Japanese-market commercial (also after the jump) for the Toyota MR2. Yeah, it's really dated (1985!), but look, that's the little, mid-engine, rear-drive car going around real corners on a real two-lane road and it looks fun. Nevermind, we'll shoot this footage ourselves once a Scion FR-S is available for testing.
Continue reading...
Categories: Scion,Toyota
