Nothing less than a highly anticipated summer blockbuster, Toyota is keen to maintain the hype of its entry-level GT 86 sports car by releasing a new series of videos on YouTube highlighting the engineering behind the new vehicle. Marketed as the Scion FR-S in North America, the two-door coupe was conceived from a joint alliance between Subaru and Toyota.
Standing for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport, the FR-S features a horizontally-opposed "boxer" 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 200-hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. While the performance figures might seem a bit on the low end for a sports car, Toyota emphasizes that the engineering intent behind the FR-S are more concentrated on developing supreme handling and driving dynamics rather than to gain outright performance and speed. Choosing a boxer engine allows the center of gravity of the engine to sit lower than the more common "V" and "in-line" options, thus improving the vehicle's ability to shift its body weight and change direction. What's more, by keeping the weight at a low 2,758 lbs., there isn't a lot of weight to ever-stress the chassis anyway.
An example of a product that is more than the sum of its parts, thoughtful packaging allows for the FR-S to not only offer world-class handling characteristics, but also to provide it at an affordable price starting at $24,200, before destination charges.
In a past statement by Scion vice president Jack Hollis, "Scion's goal was to create an affordable sports car that true driving enthusiasts could enjoy. We accomplished that with a starting price under $25,000, which is a total home run for buyers! Add in Scion's complimentary Scion Service Boost, our dealers' no-haggle no-hassle Pure Price, and Scion's network of about 1,000 dealers, and the FR-S is a grand slam."
Check out the new Toyota GT 86 design and engineering videos below:
