Saturday, August 31, 2013

Turbo Scion FR-S


Scion FR-S (it's a Toyota GT-86 in Europe).  The British turbocharged version lacks a body kit, and looks like this.


Of course this had to happen.  In the Scion FR-S we have a small, rear-drive GT with handling journalists rave about, at a bargain price ($25,000).  Even off the showroom floor it has decent power. This British  turbo kit sells for $12,000, and bumps horsepower to 250 and torque to 260 lb./ft., along with upgrades to the suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires.  In a 2700 lb. car.  Surely somebody in the States is contemplating a similar kit, if it's not on the market already.

Which raises the evergreen aftermarket question.  Is a turbo kit FR-S an overpriced entry-level sports car at $37,000, from which you will never recover your outlay at resale?  (Yes.)  Or is it a bargain?  (Yes.  See: the late, lamented, Mitsu Evo VIII.)  All I know for sure is that it looks like great fun at a track day.  And the first thought that came to my mind was "Road trip to the Dragon!"  Pipe dream: Toyota builds a turbo FR-S like this and sells it for a bit north of $30,000.  But I don't recall Toyota ever offering a hot version of their sporty cars (Supra turbo excepted--and that's a big exception).  Here's the Autocar video on the British kit: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut55yR2Yu8M

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