2013 Scion FR-S

Exterior

Since it was a concept, Scion was able to play around with the design of the FR-S Concept a little bit more. The production version, on the other hand, appears to have been designed more conservatively, albeit still carrying a sharp and clean design that’s a far departure from what we’re used to with Scion.

In addition to tracing its lineage to the AE86 generation of the Toyota Corolla, the production FR-S’ profile was inspired by the Toyota 2000GT, and distinguishes itself with a sleek and low hood and roof-line that enhance the coupe’s sporty and aggressive stance while also providing aerodynamic efficiency. The sharp lines, wide mouth, and angular headlights of the FR-S are likewise a testament to the car’s personality, as are the aggressive front fenders that protrude upward. Meanwhile, the rear end fascia lies low and wide to the ground, complete with aerodynamic lower treatments that surround the sporty dual exhaust system. Just like the 86 and the BRZ, the FR-S also boasts of LED lights that illuminate the edges of the taillights, and a new set of 17" lightweight alloy wheels round out the muscular look of the sports coupe.

Interior

As for the interior, the FR-S was designed with a 2+2 seating configuration that was developed to adhere to the car’s overall form and function. Just like the exterior details on the car, the front seats are mounted lower than usual, yet are still comfortable enough to encourage aggressive driving. The two rear seats can be folded, offering up more space for luggage to be stowed. The FR-S also has a large center-mounted tachometer with a three-gauge cluster.

Performance

The Scion FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter front boxer engine that can also be found on the 86 and the BRZ. The engine can then be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Output numbers are also the same at 200 horsepower and 151 lb/ft of torque.

What’s unique about this new powertrain is that it carries Toyota’s new D-4S injection system, a technology that results in direct injection combined with port injection. With separate twin injectors for both direct and port injection, and a high compression ratio of 12.5:1, the D-4S system can increase the power and torque bands of the FR-S over a wide range of engine speeds, all without having to sacrifice the sports coupe’s fuel efficiency numbers.

“We all know that it’s not hard to make horsepower and torque, but it is hard to do all that and still achieve impressive fuel economy,” Hollis said. “The FR-S accomplishes all three.”

Specs

Pricing

We now have a price tag, ladies and gentlemen! The Scion FR-S will cost you $24,930, including $730 in destination charges, for the six-speed, short-throw manual transmission. If you prefer an automatic a six-speed, paddle-shifted transmission with rev-match technology, the cost reaches $26,030 inclusive of destination charges.

GT86 vs BRZ vs FR-S

To a lot of North Americans, this conversation is rendered moot because two of the three models aren’t even coming to our soil. So by default, the Scion FR-S wins.

But when you really take account the whole sibling rivalry, engine specs are also a wash, considering that all three carry the same power train. Where the FR-S falls short is in the higher-spec model, which Toyota and Subaru are promising with the GT 86 and BRZ, respectively. What this means is that both models will most likely have a higher-output version that could potentially carry as much as 300 horsepower.

We haven’t heard that kind of discussion with the FR-S so we’ll be holding our breaths to see what Scion has in store for their model.