(continued from above)
The FR-S, which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport; is Scion's
definition of an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with exceptionally
balanced performance and handling, compelling style, flexible utility and
surprising MPG.
"Serving as a laboratory for Toyota, Scion is always experimenting with new
things," said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. "The brand is iconic with the
xB, adrenalized by the tC, and groundbreaking with the iQ. The FR-S will no
doubt serve as the halo car, expanding Scion into a new dimension of driving
performance."
The FR-S is a true "scion," born into a lengthy history of Toyota performance
cars and motorsports. The sports car is most inspired by the AE86 generation of
the Corolla, better known as the Hachi-Roku, meaning "8-6" in Japanese. The
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe was lightweight and well balanced, making
it a solid choice for driving enthusiasts.
Inspired by the AE86, the FR-S is designed around the core goal of achieving,
"Pure Balance." The balance begins with the strategic use of the world's only
flat boxer engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration. The
engine's compact size and flat shape allow it to be mounted mid-ship and
extremely low, giving the car a dynamically favorable front-to-rear weight ratio
of 53:47 and a low center of gravity comparable to some exotic supercars.
The FR-S's 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is the result of
a joint development between Toyota and Subaru. The partnership begins by
combining Subaru's newly developed horizontally opposed engine and Toyota's
cutting edge D-4S injection system that incorporates both direct and port
injection. The D-4S system, partnered with a high 12.5:1 compression ratio,
results in an impressive 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
"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."
Scion FR-S: Review (2/2)
