- Toyota plans to sell the FT-86 as a Scion.
- U.S. dealers have been told the entry-level sports car will be priced from around $25,000.
- It may be marketed in 2012 under the name Scion FR-S.
TORRANCE, California — Scion dealers were told this week that they will sell the Toyota FT-86 in the U.S., according to media reports quoting dealer sources. The production version of the car reportedly will be unveiled next April at the 2011 New York Auto Show and will be priced in the U.S. from around $25,000. It may be marketed in 2012 under the name Scion FR-S.
The FT-86, jointly developed with Subaru, was introduced in concept form a year ago at the Tokyo auto show. Widely known, somewhat pejoratively, as the "Toyobaru," the FT-86 will share its basic architecture with a Subaru companion, known internally as 216a, according to the Web site Toyobaru.net.
Toyobaru.net's report said the Subaru model may be sold only in Europe, while the Scion-badged FR-S is likely to be a U.S.-only model.
Inside Line says: Can you say "Scionbaru" three times really fast? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
myfrscom says:
10:50 AM, 04/20/2011
oops..i mean video. =P my bad.
myfrscom says:
10:48 AM, 04/20/2011
there's more pictures, content, photos on here! check it out! http://myfr-s.com/
myfrscom says:
10:47 AM, 04/20/2011
scion. pretty impressive! i like it!
gamerguy73 says:
02:20 PM, 12/26/2010
Any confirmation that it'll have an auto tranny? Specific release date? I love my 2010 Mazda 3 2.5L, but this is looking good to me.
iluvmysephia1 says:
03:36 PM, 10/24/2010
The fact that the 2012 Scion FR-S is not coming out for a year makes this one a no-brainer. Toyota is testing the enthusiast waters. Simply. They will lower the price of this car, I guarantee it. I'm thinking the 6-speed manual transmissioned Scion FR-S for 2012, due out in November of 2011, will cost about $20,995. Plus tax, title and destination. Just right for me.
I want one in 6-speeds, monkeyback red, decent stereo, power w's, l's and m's, good A/C and 4-doors. You didn't hear that announcement? Toyota will build these cars as 4-door sedans as well as coupes in order to sell enough of them. They need to offer them in 4-door form in order to complete the business case for this car.
As far as the Scion name goes, that is just fine for me. I have test drove a 2006 Scion xA before and loved the feel of the car. I also drove a 2005 Scion RS 1.0 tC in Absolutely Red and found the shifting experience to be good. The xA shifted well, too. I ended up trading in our 2001 Kia Sportage 4X4 in March of 2007 for a 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. The Lancer has been a good car, a really good car. So it's not a done deal that I'll trade in in a year. Just being enthusiastic about this new 2012 Scion FR-S. I love the idea of RWD and Subaru mechanicals underpinning a Toyota body design. The car looks great.
scion76 says:
09:06 AM, 10/22/2010
wow. just wow. I can't believe the negative and blatantly (sorry, no offense) ignorant comments. Wow, there's so much I want to say. Before jumping to conclusions, I prefer to wait till everything, ALL the right information comes out. Now where to start.
1st off: Yes I do think that $25k is a high price to pay, but I know that that number was the original percieved price, if it were to come out as a Toyota. How do I know this? It was in one of the original reviews. I've been traking the "086" platform, hoping that it willbe turned into a Scion, since 2007. It was to be an homage to the AE86 pltform, and thought it might become the next Corolla. But that didn't happen, obviously. But, as a Scion, I highly doubt that it will be $25,000. Maybe closer to $24,000 after Automatic and Destination. But again even I speculate, and may be way wrong here. But let me point something out. When someone WANTS something, they usually will pay for it. Sometimes, no matter the cost. You say that no one would buy a Scion for $25k? I've sold Scion tCs, hooked up by the customer, for $24k-$27k, before taxes. That's just plain reality.
2nd: Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger? Yes fast, powerful performance vehicles. But all are more costly. They're only cheaper if you look at the starting base price, at their lowest possible versions. And, sure you get the V6s in the cars. But as was stated they're much heavier platforms, and will eat gas, and will be more costly on insurance! So cost wise, that argument makes no sense, UNLESS a person wants American Muscle Performance. Shoot, the Camaro 1LT, when equipped comparable (option wise) as a 2011 tC (Bose 245Watt sound system, ipod, sunroof & 6 speed automatic) Is almost $29k. Not to mention the price gouging the manufacturers will do, marking up the sticker price of these cars! What, didn't pay over sticker for your american performance car? So you either paid sticker or, if discounted, paid a high interest rate. Again another reason why I prefer Scion. Personally I like the 2011 tC the way it is, I don't need a 6cyl to cost me more money. Hyundai...the base Genesis Coupe is almost $25,000with the iPod adaptor and Automatic., no moonfroof. The onlything it has is the Turbo. That is more costly in insurance and fuel. So if the engine performance is close to the Genesis coupe, and the feature list is long, as it usually is, the Scion 86 will kick ass. Again, speculative, but so is everyone else. Personally I'll never buy anything but Toyota or Scion or Lexus. If someone wants to give me one of those cars for free, that would be great! I'll probably just sell it and pay off my bills, and drive around in my 2005 tC.
Lastly: perception and age. No offense, if you were going to buy it as a Toyota, what does it matter if it's a Scion? no offense, but that a very stupid remark. If this car were to be sold as a Toyota, that usually means that the $25k is a base starting price, and would potentially be more expenssive, because of the way manufacturers pre package vehicles, and a bunch of variations on a model. Scion means almost everything you can think of that should be standard in a car, will be. There are plenty of people, NOT in the Scion target market age group, who buy/bought Scions because it's hard to ignore a good deal, no headaches in negotiating the price, and they like the look of the car. Isn't that enough? If you don't want a body kit, spoiler, flashy lights, "ricey" sound, then don't buy it like that. Options are just that, with Scions. They're "OPTIONAL!" If you go to a dealership, and they try to sell you a Scion with a bunch of options, and tell you that you "can't" get a base model, then walk away! You don't have to buy there. The only exception is probably in the Gulf state Florida area, because the ports are not owned by Toyota, so the ports will add options, and increase the window sticker, before the car gets to the dealership. As for the Hip Hop music, actually Scion doesn't use Hip Hop to market their cars. They usually use something funky and electronic. Scion promotes un named artist, of all genres, like indie, jazz, club, electronica, etc. Sorry, I digress. Sorry for the long dissertation. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, I just want to offer my p.o.v.
mrbacon says:
03:42 PM, 10/14/2010
Everyone agrees, $25,000 is too much.
Looks like you need to lower that price, Toyota.
Hm... it's always possible that they're trying to trick everybody, and when the car comes out the real price will be considerably lower, making everyone excited. I sure hope that's what's going down.
sdiego says:
12:45 PM, 10/14/2010
" $25K is kinda high considering the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Hyundai Genesis all cost less....so why by a Scion over anyone of those models??? "
Well, you just answered your question... Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Hyundai
charlesb says:
10:49 AM, 10/14/2010
It certainly looks better than the new tC but the question is it $5,000 better in the minds of " entry level " buyers.
mklrivowner says:
07:53 AM, 10/14/2010
Is this a good move or a bad one?
Good - The FT-86 (now FR-S) probably fits Scion's market better for aestetics and who will "look" at the car.
Bad - It will probably be out of the price range for people shopping Scion.
Good - Toyota can take credit if it succeeds, but can blame Scion if it flops.
Bad - It will probably flop.