2013 Scion FR-S

5-3-12
2013 Scion FR-S

Jack Hollis, VP of Scion was like a kid in a candy store at the media launch for the all new racy Scion FR-S, he was so excited it became infectious among a group of crusty old automotive journalist.

He was 90% right on the money, the car has style, most folks thought it should have been called the "Supra", I am thrilled they did not go that way, if anything should be called Supra, it would be the LFA.

When you first walk up to a FR-S you will be amazed at the lines, in fact if you're an old car buff you may see traces of the Toyota 2000 sports car, in fact there is even a little of the Toyota 800 2 cylinder sports car. In fact the Scion team (A calibration between Subaru and Scion) even looked at the Corolla GT-S from the 80's, know as the AE-86 in Japan this is a drifters dream car and Scion has visions of doing the same thing with the FR-S.

Scion has decided to give you two base models to choose from. You only have four choices, automatic transmission or six-speed manual? The next choice you need to make is color, once you have chosen your package you then go to the accessory bin and build your Scion the way you ant it.

One feature Scion offered on the FS-R is BeSpoke, a connectivity feature that allows you to down load a IPhone App for free (Droids still in the works) and if your posse has IPhone's too you can trade tweets, facebook messages in fact if you want to meet your friends at a certain restaurant you can send them directions. It does a lot more, more then I could digest.

Did you notice I have not mentioned the powertrain? This, as I mentioned before is collaboration between Subaru and Scion so the engine is a flat four Boxster that produces 200 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 foot pounds of torque at 6,400 to 6,600 rpm, you will need to run 91 octane due to the 12 to 1 compression, you will get mileage reading of 22 city and 30 highway in a manual transmission vehicle and 25 city and 34 freeway in the automatic.

We drove the FR-S on the highway and race track, this car is fun to drive, in fact a blast and Scion is going to back you and the car with anything you want to do with it, the door panels and handles have been designed to accept a roll cage and flip the back seats down and you can get four mounted race tires to fit?

Drawbacks? Only one, more power and torque please, turbo or supercharger in the future? Scion says no….we will see, price? $25,000 and change? Could be the deal of the year. Car won't be here till late May into June.