Long gone the days when Car manufactures could outright lie about their car’s performance numbers, horsepower ratings, and fuel consumption figures. Thank fully us Automotive journalists are around to keep them honest and ensure that there is no monkey business is taking place.
Today it is the Tokyo triplets who are going to be on the hot seat as we have found a video of the Scion FR-S variant being rowing the gears as it has its engine power numbers verified on a Dyno/rolling road. Toyota, Subaru and Scion all tell us that their co-developed trio of rear-wheel drive sports coupes, namely the 86/GT86, BRZ and FR-S, are powered by the same FA20 2.0-liter flat-four that produces 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft (205Nm) at the flywheel.
The result of the test saw the naturally aspirated flat four cylinder engine output a maximum of 173hp at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque rating of 143 lb-ft from 2,800 rpm all the way through to 6,500. It is important to remember that these numbers were calculated at the wheels where as the manufactures power numbers are calculated at the engines fly wheel. The slightly lower power to the wheel numbers are normal and expected and can be attributed to the power loss that normal by a cars transmission. In the 2013 Scion FR-S a loss of 14% is perfectly acceptable and in line with industry trends.
Now if only they could tune the exhaust to make it sounds like a throaty two door sports car we’d fall absolutely head over heels with it. But I guess that’s why Toyota’s TRD division is still kicking around for.
Would you be interested in a convertible version of a Toyota GT-86 or the Scion FR-S here in North America? How about a Subaru BRZ that has blown its top right off? Well hold on to your hats or tops even because Toyota has announced that they will build a convertible version of at least the Toyota edition of the Tokyo Triplets.
2013 Toyota GT-86 - Imagine it with its top off
Earlier today the chief engineer of the GT-86, Tetuya Tada was Speaking with German car magazine Autobild. During that interview he confirmed that the company is working on the development of an open top model. “The GT 86 was designed from the outset to be built as a convertible,” Tada told the publication.
So look out Mazda Miata or MX-5 Toyota and possibly even Subaru has you in your sites and they are hungry to take back some market share to reassert themselfs as the number one auto market in the world.
Imagine no more - We present the 2014 Toyota GT-86 Roadster
No timeline was given on when the car was looking to be developed by but when we find out we will let you know.
Very rarely does Chris Harris miss the mark on a car which is why our excitement level has just increased 10 fold after watching his review of the Toyota GT-86. For those of us in North America the car will be known as the Scion FR-S or the Subaru BRZ however in Chris’ native Europe it will be branded as a Toyota. Even though we personally feel that the car is under powered Chris still manages to get the rear a little sideways as he runs around a track in Spain.
The video is clearly the best one yet on the newly created drive channel and is the first true review of the newest front engine rear wheel drive car coming out of Japan. Chris seems like a kid in a candy store to be able to drive the car and truly has made us think that this car is truly something to get excited about. If you have a few minutes to kill this Friday afternoon or of you come across this posting during the weekend you will have to trust us when we say it is well worth watching.
Well we have been telling you all that this car has been coming ever since the 2013 Toyota GT-86 was officially revealed last month at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Today we can make it official as Toyota’s performance division Toyota Racing Development or TRD for short have officially launched the car at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The Tokyo Auto Salon is the largest Japanese’s aftermarket show, think of it as a SEMA type event for the land of the rising sun.
For those of us here in North America who are receiving the car as the Scion FR-S the parts will of course also bolt right on. Modifications include a new front lip and rear trunk-lid, as well as larger, wider and lighter 18-inch wheels, a brake upgrade kit, a suspension lowering and stiffening kit, and a reworked exhaust system.
2013 Toyota GT-86 TRD - New Rims and Brakes
No mention on pricing or when they will be available however we are hoping that they will be for sale when the car goes on sale later this year. Curiously there was also no mention of a supercharged engine option which makes us think that this option will be included into an entirely new model of the car.
2013 Toyota GT-86 TRD - Rear Lip spoiller and Exhaust
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We have all heard the phrase that a picture is worth a thousand words and in case it certainly is as we track down the first pictures of the Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S receiving the TRD treatment. This rumour was started back in the summer when the then called Toyota FT-86 had its brochure leaked on the internet. On some of those pages there was evidence that Toyota’s TRD division had a slew of bolt on aftermarket part that would be ready to go when the car was released.
The 2013 Scion FR-S - Caught wearing its TRD socks and shoes
Well the cars were recently announced at the Tokyo Motor Show and the North American version will be branded a Scion wearing an FR-S name plate. We have now uncovered a photo of a lone FR-S sitting in a garage some were in Japan equipped with TRD parts. As you can see form the picture the brakes have been upgraded and the suspension appears to have been lowered. There have been some minor aerodynamic upgrades as well, mainly the lip spoiler that is now hanging off of the trunk lid.
The 2013 Scion FR-S - Showing off its new Aero Kit
We would have loved to have seen under the hood to confirm the rumors that TRD has a supercharger kit ready to go that will bump the horse power to the Subaru BRZ WRX level of 265 hp. We have also read rumbling on GT-86 fan sites that indicate a tuned exhaust system may also have been developed by TRD. You will have to check back to our site later to receive confirmation that the FA20 2.0-liter 4-cylindat boxer engine will receive forced induction like it’s Subaru stalemate. The TRD-tuned Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S are expected to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
2013 Scion FR-S - All dressed up with no where to go
To catch up on the other rumors that are circling these Tokyo triplets see the links below.
Yesterday in an interview with Motor Trend’s new Editor-in-chief Ed Loh, Subaru confirmed that it will in fact be building a turbocharged version of newly co-developed 2-liter flat 4 boxer engine that powers the new 2013 Subaru BRZ. This comes just 2 days after the Tokyo Motor Show was buzzing about a supercharged version of the motor being placed under the hood of the Toyota GT-86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S triplets.
2013 Subaru BRZ 2.0-liter flat-4 engine bay. Do you see room for a turbo?
Now before you storm into your Subaru dealership demanding to put a deposit down on a turbocharged WRX BRZ, it is important to highlight that Subaru has only confirmed that the FA20 engine will be receiving a turbo. Subaru has not confirmed that the BRZ will be receiving that turbo motor, they have only said that they will build one. The leap of faith that we are taking is that since the FA20 motor is only found in the BRZ and there is an over whelming out cry for the car to have more power to compete with other segment rivals like the Hyundai Genesis coupe and Nissan 370Z. One can only assume that a turbocharged version will power that particular car, no? Can one then also assume that it will be branded the WRX model like other turbocharged Subaru’s that exist in their line-up?
We were never good a crossword puzzle growing up but we did excel at connect the dots and this puzzle has been the easiest one yet. That is unless Subaru decided that the newly confirmed turbocharged engine will appear in another of their cars, which would make the aftermarket scene very happy as well.
The big question that standouts in our minds is that fact that there are now confirmed rumours out there of the FA20 engine bolting on a supercharger as well as now a turbocharger. Could Toyota and Subaru be heading in different directions for their high performance models? Have the TRD and STI performance divisions’ agreed to disagree on how to soup up the co-developed 197bhp 2-liter flat 4 boxer engine?
We sure hope so as what is life without a little choice? Currently the only real choice between the 3 is based off of brand loyalty, exterior paint colour and price.
To read more about the supercharging rumour click here.
To read more about the WRX and Turbo rumours click here.
Only the darling triplets of the Tokyo motor Show could 2 days later one up themselves by letting the world know that they will be increasing the horsepower of the cars by bolting on a supercharger. It is expected that the Toyota GT-86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S will see a bump in about 50 hp. The existing Subaru sourced 197bhp 2-liter flat 4 boxer engine will benefit from a supercharger which should all increase the low end torque numbers.
The increases in torque will surly lower the cars 0-100 km/h time, which is currently sitting at 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. Which is quick enough to compete in the hot hatch segment. But is not nearly fast enough to compete with or better yet take some market share away from the likes of Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro or even the Nissan 370Z.
As a result we are not surprised that Toyota has decided to increase the power. We are also not surprised about the timing of the announcement which has happened just two days after the Subaru BRZ (the last of the triplets to be announced) was introduced to the world. As these three companies have been teasing the world with these cars for the past year.
The internet rumour mill has been a buzz ever since the announcement stating that the Subie BRZ will finally be able to add the WRX badge to the back of the car. No word if the GT-86 will receive the TRD treatment however we can confirm that they are looking into revising the suspension.
Stay tuned for more updates as this Japanese press machine churns it out.
I’m not sure that there has been a Toyota product that has been more highly anticipated then the new FT-86 II. With that being said we are less than 24 hours away from yet another concept version of the car being debuted at the Frankfurt Auto show. We have another teaser video below that indicates a race version of the car being announced.
Now don`t shoot the messenger on this one but the rumour is that at this year at the Tokyo Auto show all versions and makes of this car will be revealed. Until then enjoy the Toyota FT-86 II or Scion FR-S or the Subaru whatever teaser video that was released last week.
I am sure by now we have all seen the Scion FRS Concept car that was released this year at the New York Auto show. Well in an effort to not be forgotten Scion has posted a couple of PR videos on their YouTube channel. We’ve grabbed them so that you won’t have to wonder to far from Car Rolodex to check them out.
Unfortunately there is no mention of any new information regarding to the car as in both videos they stick to the information released to the Press during the New York Auto show. They also make no mention of which of the concepts design cues will make it into the final product
In the first video we get a design walk through tour of the creation of the concept car from Formula Drift driver Ken Gushi. Ken is currently a drift driver for the Scion Racing team which currently races a 2009 tC in the Formula Drift Series. While you’re watching the video check out all of cutting edge tech at the fiveaxes shop.
In the second video we sit down with Scion’s VP Jack Hollis. Jack introduces the car and then we get to see a little of the cars build up. We then once again honor the AE-86 Carolla because its spirit was the inspiration for the FRS as well as being its performance bench mark. I know it sounds crazy to have a Carolla be your performance bench mark however the AE-86 is a legend in the Drifting world and has been credited with being the Grand Daddy of drifting cars. Jack Hollis ends the video by saying with an exclamation point that the car is coming and we will all be able to test drive one soon. Let hope so Jack as this may be a Scion that I would actually be excited to drive.
The Toyota FT-86 Concept has left me with many more questions than answers. Questions that I don’t think Toyota wants us to ask. We should be curious about the Performance numbers, the fuel mileage, and can anyone with legs fit in the back seat?
Instead I am wondering if Toyota can still remember how to build a sports car? The last model year for the now legendary Supra was back in 2002, and the Celica took its last breath early in 2006. Then there was the newest hyper car the Lexus LFA. That car only took 9 years to bring to production a fact that is reflected in the astronomical price tag. That leaves us with Scion, but ops this post is about sports cars. Which leads into another question; has anyone in the Toyota engineering department ever been caught day dreaming on the job about cruising up the Sea to Sky Highway in a tC? Somehow I doubt it.
I question their decision to go with a non-traditional boxer 4 cylinder engine? When traditional inline 4 cylinder engines are one of the pillars that Toyota built their company on? Bullet proof 4 cylinders? So why then go over to the boxer dark side instead of investing in direct injection technology? I can only guess that engine development was a homework task for project partner Subaru, which is strange because you would have thought that Subaru would have wanted to have put their name on the sign-up sheet beside drive train. My experience has shown me that they are a company known for three things: 1) Being a serious manufacture competing for the world rally championship year after year 2) Symmetrical all wheel drive 3) The love of watching over weight men wash cars. The third item must be a Japanese thing?
In reality there is really only one question that I truly need answered. When the Toyota FT-86 Concept goes into production will it be a hardcore sports car like the Supra or a 2 door wash out like the Celica?
