If looks were all that mattered, Scion's FR-S concept would be a runaway for our nonexistent Badass of the Century Award. But looks aren't all that matter. There are other factors. Factors like power, weight, grip, agility, comfort, stability, response...you get the idea.
We don't know diddly about any of those things as they might apply to the Scion FR-S, the production name for the concept formerly known as Toyota FT-86 — Toyota's half of the so-called Toyobaru sports-car collaboration with Subaru. But here's what we do know: This Scion coupe is the right size, and arguably the right weight, and the engine drives the rear wheels.
The FR-S, then, despite ample hand-wringing delays on the part of its creators, might yet turn out to be a car that matters to people who like to drive. It certainly matters to those who only like to look.
The Mass Factor
Keep in mind, the dimensions given are for the concept car which is, like most concept cars, very low.
Still, with a wheelbase of 101.2 inches and an overall length of only 168.2 inches the Scion FR-S is quite similar in size to a Nissan 370Z (100.4-inch wheelbase, 167.1-inch overall length). However, the Scion concept coupe is only 47.4 inches tall — almost 4.5 inches shorter than the 370Z (51.8 inches). It's also 1.1 inches narrower than the Z at 71.5 inches.
For perspective, a Mazda MX-5 Miata rides on a 91.7-inch wheelbase, is 10.9 inches shorter, 3.8 inches narrower and 1.6 inches taller.
The Weight Factor
Weight will be a key ingredient in the Scion FR-S's success (or lack thereof). Much has been said about this car being a lightweight model, and given its powertrain, weight and balance will likely be the deciding factors in its success with enthusiasts.
Fortunately, the balance part looks pretty darned good on paper. Boxer engines are inherently short and provide the opportunity to keep weight low in the chassis. It shouldn't be too hard for Toyota engineers to stuff this engine well aft of the FR-S's shock towers and make it a real front/midengine sport coupe.
And if Toyota wants this car to handle well and accelerate and brake properly, it will kiss those 20-inch concept wheels good-bye faster than you can say "glorified Corolla." Twenty-inch wheels will destroy the character of a car this size and eliminate any possible sporting intentions. Think 18-inch wheels. At the biggest.
Same with the carbon-ceramic brakes. At this car's target cost (about $25,000), there's no budget for exotic materials.
Bottom line? We're thinking the Scion FR-S can't weigh more than 2,800 pounds if it is in any way going to live up to the promise made by its styling.
The Power Factor
Here's where most of the marbles lie. And a normally aspirated 2.0-liter flat four-cylinder engine is a curious place to start if making power is a priority. Traditionally, non-boosted flat-4 engines top out at a specific output of about 85 horsepower per liter, which would only yield about 170 hp.
However, Toyota today promised that the FR-S's Subaru FB engine (shared with the 2012 Impreza) will utilize the company's D4-S injection system. Direct-injection systems typically produce about a 10 percent increase in power versus traditional port injection. The D4-S system also provides improved torque production and cleaner emissions during part-throttle/low-load conditions relative to either traditional port or direct injection. Additionally, the D4-S system will likely supplant the restrictive tumble-generator valves currently used in the FB20 (as found in the Impreza).
We already know that the FB engine produces 148 hp in the Impreza. Figure it will get a bump in compression in this application. Still, unless Toyota pulls off a ground-breaking powertrain move, don't expect the Scion FR-S to make more than 200 hp.
Do the math on those data and the FR-S's potential power-to-weight ratio is somewhere in the neighborhood of 14.0:1. Nissan's 370Z, which hits 60 in 5.1 seconds and runs the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds, has a 10.1:1 power-to-weight ratio. Scion's own 2011 tC offers a 17.4:1 power-to-weight ratio, hits 60 in 8.0 seconds and completes the 1320 in 16.0 seconds. Count on the FR-S to land almost directly between those two (admittedly very different) cars when it comes to acceleration.
The FR-S will be available with either a six-speed manual or a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic transmission, and in either case will come with a limited-slip differential. Let's hope it's a mechanical unit rather than some kind of brake-based device sure to crush the soul out of a sports car with questionable power.
That there is potential in the Scion FR-S concept's styling, hardware and fundamental design is clear. Whether that potential will be realized beyond just awing people who come to the 2011 New York Auto Show remains to be seen.
We hope it will.
Add A Comment »
2006vr6 says:
09:33 AM, 08/04/2011
Visually very good looking. To me it looks like part Ferrari and part Nissan. Boxer engine, real wheel driver should provide a lot of driving fun. Should be a hit with younger generation.
doug_s says:
07:10 AM, 08/01/2011
zooid, clearly, the fr-s concept has NOTHING to do w/the kappa cars, and thank god for that, as well. gimme a mazda mx-5 any day of the week over the 2-seater gm cars. gm took the 2000 lb lotus elise, and pigged it out, to 3k lbs. tho, they look nice, i'd much prefer the reliability and overall balance of the mx-5. i don't think it's a shame that gm nix'd saturn & pontiac; what's a shame is that chevy, buick, cadillac, & gmc didn't go down with 'em.
i agree w/the h-d comments, tho - i have more fun driving my stock gen-1 scion xb than a harley. and, i know bikes a bit - i love my 110hp '95 buell s2. (as well as my wintage ducati darmah and motarded suzuki dr650.)
all that said, if this scion fr-s doesn't come in w/200hp, <$25k, and <2.5k lbs, it will not be a success...
ymmv
digitalmayor says:
06:36 PM, 06/30/2011
Just imagine the cost of insurance,....
My guess is a production version isn't going to look as cool,... might be dumb'ed down or cheap
Also, if that new yellow TC is 22 / 23 K,... no way in Heck this will be 25k.
zooid says:
11:01 AM, 05/13/2011
...Once again proving that GM are a bunch of nimrods. This car already exists -- or rather, it *used* to exist: It's called the Opel GT, Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice and Daewoo G2X; the so-called "Kappa" cars. I own a NA 2.4L Sky, tuned, headered and given hi-flow intake/exhaust, and it's the most fun I've ever had in a vehicle of *any* kind (4th gear dynoed 177 rwhp @ 5108 rpm)...and it weighs 2985 lbs. With the granny controls (fuel-enrichment delay and torque-limiting, particularly) tuned out, it passes with authority and corners at 50% higher rate of speed than normal (e.g., rated 45 mph curve at 65 mph, with no chassis lean, tire squeal, etc.), all while getting 34 mpg highway. Other than spark plugs (Bosch Iridium plus-4's), everything else is stock. I particularly love the lost, bewildered looks from Harley riders, when they realize they could've had a Sky instead, for the same price...
But when GM went 'tango uniform' and had to be bailed out to the tune of billions USD, they were forced to lop off some branches. So...they kept Buick (wtf?!?) and killed both Saturn and Pontiac...and the Kappas went down with the ship. This left the GM brands with exactly two muscle/sports cars among them: The Corvette and the Camaro, and exactly zero 2-seater roadsters.
All this opens the door to a lucrative market. Some may argue for the other Asian two-seater roadsters (Mazda Miata, etc.) as precursors to the FR-S; but, clearly the low-rise, 'mounted on rails' handling of the Scion FR-S is the clone of the Kappas. Good on ya, Japan, for recognizing (once again) what GM were too stupid to recognize. And to GM: Good luck selling dinosaurs, and ugly, plasticky "luxury" cars (Buick) that have nothing to offer anyone, least of all actual luxury.
jscion says:
04:18 PM, 05/12/2011
Let's face it.....this is a Toyota, so you can kiss any exotic dreams of dramatic supercar performance good bye. Any company that invests this much time and energy into a $25K car isn't going to aim it at such a narrow market. These posts about 2500, 2800 lbs...LOL, try closer to what the tC is around 3000. It's a $25K sport coupe that will compete with the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger and Genesis....that's it!!! I'll bet you can expect pretty much a RWD hatchback coupe like the Celica of 30 years ago with all kinds of technology....just so nobody gets disappointed next year when this thing finally hits production and we can all stop speculating.
roobiep says:
09:13 PM, 05/09/2011
ugh ... it looks awesume but it has to be a v 6 with more than 300 hp :(
toyotapowerx says:
04:09 AM, 04/29/2011
having the tc and frs compete is not a good idea. We could only hope for some crazy azz handling abilities and good gear box.
excusei says:
09:42 PM, 04/27/2011
I gotta think that this will be nothing like a Lotus. That is a VERY narrow purpose car and Toyota won't build a car like that in my estimation.
I also don't think the comparison to a Miata (MX-5?) is accurate. Part of the appeal of the Miata is the convertible aspect. A sharp handling not too fast convertible is fun. Like a small displacement motorcycle. Not so sure about a "slow" coupe, 2+2, whatever.
Just a quick review of Ford gives you 300hp for ~$22k, and 412hp for ~$29k. Then you've got the Focus ST coming, so.... I do think a certain segment of buyers will eat it up just as their parents did in 199x with their Civics. Different strokes, I guess.
codered300hp says:
06:46 PM, 04/27/2011
In the video the guy said the lights are going to change. Why? They look great and help make this car.
codered300hp says:
06:27 PM, 04/27/2011
blackdynamite0
Where did see it will have 305 turbo? Which engine would that be?
2500lbs. Is that wishful thinking?
\
305hp@2500lbs. and I'll be the first inline to buy one. Make mine codered and I'll change my name to codered305hp.