An open-top FR-S is finally here, although right now, the Toyota FT-86 Open is still just a concept.
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With the recent success of the Toyota GT86 platform, it’s no surprise that the Japanese automaker wants to work quickly on its successor to the Supra.
It’s hardly a surprise that the Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ are the star of the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon, with all the aftermarket companies embracing the enthusiast platform with new products.
Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, and we didn’t use Photoshop. That’s a real deal Toyota GT 86… sort of.
As if the Toyota GT 86 wasn’t stylish or sporty enough, the folks at Modellista decided to give the sports car a futuristic touch in order to make it more stylish and sporty.
One of several GT 86 concepts unveiled by Toyota at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, it’s certainly not noteworthy because of its square eight-spoke rims.
Toyota is trying to re-invent itself by bringing exciting cars to market, and to signify this change in strategy the Japanese brand has announced the new tagline, “Let’s Go Places.”
This year, Toyota celebrated its 55 years of motorsport heritage by making a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the hybrid TS030 race car. The automaker is now hinting its future motorsports plan, releasing a video that highlights its storied history on the track.
“This is fun! I wish that Toyota could make cars like this again!” Keiichi Tsuchuya loves his classic AE86, which is why he is the perfect choice to show off the capabilities of the Scion FR-S in the latest video promoting the car. Continue Reading…
Toyota in-house tuner TRD will debut a special version of the GT-86 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Continue Reading…
Toyota is launching the GT 86 and Scion FR-S around the world and Indonesia’s release took place last Friday to the tune of a couple smoking tires.
Scion insists that ‘driving is back’ and with it’s latest commercial of the FR-S, its hard to argue. Continue Reading…
Toyota’s GT 86, called the Scion FR-S in North America, has been billed from the beginning as an affordable sports car engineered for enthusiasts, so makes sense that the company would offer a list of customization accessories to personalize the sport coupe.
We were well aware that Gazoo Racing was working on a pair of Toyota GT 86 race cars and a Lexus LFA for the upcoming Nürburgring 24 Hours race, and now Toyota Swiss Racing Team will be joining it with another pair.
Ever since the Toyota GT 86 became official, sports car enthusiasts worldwide have been anxiously awaiting the announcement of either a turbocharged or supercharged variant.
And for now, Toyota won’t be offering a supercharged or turbocharged variants of its greatest new sports car, but Gazoo Racing has decided to build its own GT 86 using both forced induction technologies. The result is the Gazoo Racing Sport FR Concept, using a twincharger system that makes 320-hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and is most certainly a complete blast to drive.
Gazoo Racing has been partnering with Toyota for a few years now, and we should point out that its GT 86 twincharger is simply a concept for now. On the outside, a styling package gives the Toyota GT 86 a more aggressive and sportier profile while the parts maker also equipped it with its own brakes and suspension.
One can only hope that something like that makes it to market, even in limited quantities. The interesting thought is whether Toyota will take note of what Gazoo Racing has done – or better yet, has been working with Gazoo Racing to determine the pros and cons of each method of forced induction. With how much fun the Scion FR-S already is, a twincharged version might just be perfection.
GALLERY: Gazoo Racing Sport FR Concept
There might not be a turbocharged version of the Scion FR-S coming from the factory, but it looks like an FR-S convertible will make production.
Toyota is extremely proud of its new GT 86, and out in Japan, its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has built a pair of GT 86s to compete in the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours race.
The race will take place from May 17th to the 20th and Gazoo Racing will also be fielding a Lexus LFA in the competition. Before one of the GT 86s compete in the Nürburgring race, however, it will make its way to the Japanese Rally Championship. Both custom Gazoo Racing Toyota GT 86s will be on display at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from June 29th to July 1st.
It appears that the GT 86s will have around 200-hp and will be equipped with a six-speed manual for the race. We’re excited to see how well it does during the grueling endurance classic.
Watch a video of the Gazoo Racing Toyota GT 86 below
The Toyota GT 86 will be making its way to America soon as the Scion FR-S, and the Japanese automaker wanted to remind the general public that not only was the vehicle built with passion, but they would like us to drive with passion.
The clip is made to get our blood flowing in anticipation to the release of the FR-S, which will be one of the most affordable sports cars of this decade – you can read our review here. Out to prove that the GT 86 can do it all, on and off the track, Toyota has done an excellent job marketing its newest machine and we can’t wait until they’re on the street.
Watch Full Throttle – Drive with Passion below:
Toyota GT 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada is turning to the virtual world in hopes of making cars fun for the younger generation.
It might come as a surprise to our readers, but there are actually people out there who couldn’t care less about cars or driving them. In fact, the man behind one of the cars we’re most excited about, the Toyota GT 86, or Scion FR-S as it will be called here, has two sons who fit that description.
Tada’s plan is to allow people driving the FR-S to sync up driving data via the controller area network bus in their car with their home gaming console or computer. We’re not exactly sure how it will work yet, but that data will translate into people being able to “drive in the real world against a virtual F1 driver. They can have fun with the data,” he said.
“Manufacturers like to blame young people for having no interest in cars. Maybe we should blame ourselves,” he said. “Manufacturers provided boring cars and focused on older people, because this is where the money is. We have abandoned young people.”
We’re not sure what he’s worried about, considering the FR-S is going to be a budget-conscious rear-wheel drive sports car, but it will be hard to argue with anything that lets us take our rides to task both in and out of the real world.
GALLERY: 2013 Scion FR-S
[Source: The Truth About Cars]
Autoguide had an opportunity to test drive the Scion FR-S almost two months ago and was immediately impressed with the new sports car’s handling and performance.
Featuring a direct-injection 2.0L 4-cylinder boxer engine producing 200 hp at 7000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 6600 rpm, possessing a low center of gravity as well as a flawless 53/47 weight distribution, it seemed the only important detail missing is exactly how much the Scion FR-S will cost.
Toyota has finally revealed the pricing of its GT-86 in Japan, providing an indication of what prospective buyers should expect when the FR-S is finally North America bound later this year. Prices for the new GT-86 sports car will start at $25,600 for a bare-bones “Customize Grade” model. Offered with tuner enthusiasts in mind, the basic Customize Grade will forgo creature comforts like air-conditioning and will be sold with unpainted bumpers since it will likely be tossed to make room for after market body kits. However, when fully loaded with all available options, a GT-86 Limited edition will set you back a staggering $38,200. Extra-cost options are a six-speed automatic transmission, limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals and three-spoke sport steering wheel.
Dealers in Japan have already begun accepting orders as the Toyota GT-86 will officially be available in the Japanese domestic market starting March 12. Meanwhile, the Scion FR-S is expected to be released in June for the United States. An official price in North America has yet to be announced but Toyota claims the FR-S will start below $30,000.
GALLERY: Scion FR-S
[Source: Inside Line]
Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com
It’s been a while since Nobuteru Taniguchi (NOB) has been behind the wheel of an HKS vehicle at a D1 Grand Prix event. But his past accolades piloting the HKS Mitsubishi EVO in Time Attack and HKS Nissan Silvia S15 in D1 Grand Prix still makes him one of the most respected drivers in the world. Maybe that’s why he gives himself the nickname of NOB – No One Better.
Now, with the introduction of the Toyota GT 86 to the world, we’ll once again see Nobuteru Taniguchi behind the wheel of a car going sideways that’s built by HKS. Spotted out at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon during the D1 Grand Prix drift exhibition, the HKS GT 86 is just one of a few GT 86s we anticipate to be going sideways in competition drift events this year. We’ve already seen Ken Gushi’s GReddy Scion FR-S that will compete in North America’s Formula Drift, and it appears that Falken Tire will come back to D1 Grand Prix with a GT 86 in Japan as well.
We just love how HKS used their classic, iconic livery on their new drift car that was seen over 10 years ago on several HKS demo cars. The car is looking competition ready already, sporting Advan wheels, Endless brakes and plenty of carbon fiber. We can probably expect HKS to outfit it with their suspension, exhaust and a turbo upgrade. But for now, all the GT 86/FR-S drift cars we’ve seen already show how promising the sports car platform will be.
Check out some videos after the break of the HKS GT 86 and Falken Tire GT 86 out in Japan.
GALLERY: HKS D1 Grand Prix Toyota GT 86
[Source: Jon Sibal]