Scion FR-S

SPECIFICATIONS

1. At 2,758 lbs the Scion FR-S weighs 604 lbs less than the lightest Hyundai Genesis Coupe. 2. Sold in a monospec form without any expensive option packages the FR-S costs $24,200 for the 6-speed manual and $25,300 for the automatic. 3. Scion will offer an aero kit for the car by Five:AD, making the FR-S look nearly identical to the concept version. 4. Other a la carte options include upgraded brakes, thicker sway bars, lowering springs and a TRD exhaust.

PREVIEW

Back behind the wheel after our first drive several months back in Japan and we’re learning more about the Scion FR-S.

On the tight and technical Spring MountainMotorsports Ranch 1.5 mile loop it’s the faster corners that really emphasize just how light the car is. Having recently driven the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe on the same course, the differences between these two comparable rear-drive sports cars becomes more obvious.

Weighing in at just 2,758 lbs the FR-S is a massive 604 lbs lighter than the Hyundai, something you really feel when sliding through the fast corner onto the front straight. With plenty of speed heading into the turn you expect the FR-S to track out to the limits of the wide front straight, but it doesn’t. With so little mass, it stays tucked in; an immediate sign that more corner entry speed is possible.

INTERIOR

One of the few places the FR-S is open to criticism is the dash, with HVAC dials that look borrowed directly from a car that’s already been on the road for a decade. The faux carbon fiber on the dash isn’t the car’s best feature either. Worst of all is the stereo face, which looks so low grade it’s insulting.

The unit does make 300 watts of power and uses eight speakers, though those who prefer can opt for the upgraded BeSpoke audio system with a 5.8-inch LCD screen and numerous apps that let you do everything from check your Facebook wall to view and send Tweets.

As for other standard equipment, the list includes keyless entry, Bluetooth, USB and iPod hookups. Even the FR-S branded floor mats are standard, which might not sound like much, but it’s much better than being asked to pay for them after. Sold in what Scion calls “monospec” there are no pricey option packs meaning that unlike other cars on the market, the base price is the price. And to make it even more attractive, Scion will throw in two years of free maintenance.

UNDER THE HOOD

As for the powerplant, it’s the key to much of the clever packaging of the FR-S, with the Subaru-sourced flat-four boxer engine capable of sitting much lower down in the car, as well as much further back. Fitted with a Toyota direct injection system it makes a modest 200 hp at a high-revving 7000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 6600 rpm. That last number is a bit of an understatement, however, as almost all of that torque is readily available from just 2500 rpm.

Some will complain that the FR-S is underpowered. They, however, have missed the whole point of the car and in this light package just 200 hp is enough to challenge you.

Adding more power would also add more price and at just $24,200 to start, the FR-S has lived up to its billing as an affordable sports car.

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2014 Scion tC

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The only engine available is a 2.5L 4-cylinder making 179 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. 2. A new six-speed automatic transmission blips the throttle on down shifts. 3. Fuel economy should remain the same at 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for both the automatic and manual version. 4. Pricing for the 2014 tC is $19,965 for manual versions and $20965 for the automatic including delivery charges.

PREVIEW

Happy Birthday Scion! You are 10 years old. And while most spend a 10th birthday wishing for ponies, PlayStations and puppies, Scion is hard at work looking for a greater share of the market.

To date, Scion has spent $100 million on the arts to help engrain the brand into youth culture and it seems to have worked with the lowest average age for buyers of any car brand.

Still, the child of Toyota has suffered a lack of popularity in recent years, due mostly to some rather stale product.

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Inside, the 2014 tC has not received much love during the 2014 restyle, which is unfortunate. Out-of-date hard plastics cover most surfaces, a family trait found in most Scions, and sightlines remain interesting.

The system’s interface looks good and is easy to operate. Within minutes we were navigating through all of the menus and customizing our audio and navigation setups. As has always been the case, the sound system in the tC is exceptional for a vehicle in this price range thanks mainly to the three range speakers grafted into each door. Rear seat and trunk dimensions are unchanged which means they remain on the small side, but, thanks to the tC being a hatchback, can accommodate medium sized items.

The overall goal of this restyle is to make the tC look more like the FR-S, and there definitely are some styling cues in this new design. Still, the tC doesn’t look any more like the FR-S than it does other Toyota models, namely the restyled Avalon. Most of the updates work like the new 18-inch alloy wheels and headlights, but some features, like the taillights, look straight out of The Fast & the Furious (we’re talking the 2001 original here).To see if all these changes have made a difference, Scion brought us to Hollywood California to put the tC through its paces. The new model is instantly recognizable as something completely different compared to previous tCs. The old and somewhat conservative looks have given way to a far more daring design. Up front there are angular new headlights, a new hood, a gaping new grille and LED accent lighting. The back-end features new LED tail lights and a revised lower rear valance to resemble that of the FR-S.

With plenty of personalization features in the past, from audio upgrades to larger brakes and lowering springs, the 2014 tC gets more of the sporty components right from the start. Taking inspiration from the FR-S, body rigidity is improved, while more sport-oriented shock absorbers and stabilizer bars are utilized.

The power steering has been reprogrammed as well, helping to improve steering feel and response. And the automatic transmission now features the same Dynamic Rev Management technology found in the FR-S where it blips the throttle on downshifts.

UNDER THE HOOD

Under the hood, the engine remains the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in last year’s tC, but is down 1 hp and 1 lb-ft of torque to now develop 179 hp and 172 lb-ft. Power is sent to the front wheels by either with a six-speed manual transmission or the previously mentioned updated six-speed automatic. Power still feels decent and torquey and the tC is expected to hit 60 MPH in roughly 7.4 seconds. The exhaust does emit a bit of a snarl, which is fitting for a compact coupe with sporty pretensions. Fuel economy, you guessed it, should remain the same at 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for both the automatic and manual versions of the tC.

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