The US division of Toyota Motor Corporation has officially announced that they are killing off the youth-oriented Scion brand for good, effective in the second half of this year.
As a result, the recently launched Demio-based iA and the iM (which is an Americanized Auris) as well as their FR-S sportscar will be rebranded as Toyotas while the tC front-wheel drive sports coupe will be discontinued. The C-HR concept as seen in last year's LA Auto Show will be sold as a Toyota when in production form.
The main reason for Scion's demise is because of customer feedback, stating that younger buyers wanted something practical apart from the styling and features Scion offered.
Scion was launched in 2003 as a youth-oriented brand for Toyota and their first models are the xA and the xB, which is basically first-generation Toyota ist and bB sold to North American markets. It was later joined by a Scion-original sports coupe, the tC. Through the years, Scion has offered the xD (basically a second-generation ist), the second-generation xB (based on the Corolla Rumion), the second-generation tC, the iQ, the FR-S (basically a Toyota 86), and recently; the Demio-based iA and the Auris-based iM.
The recently facelifted second-generation Toyota Auris has finally make it Stateside as the new Scion iM and although while this is essentially a Toyota Auris fully Westernized for use in American roads, how does it differ from its Japanese equivalent?
2016 Scion iM
Well for starters, it looks fairly identical to the Auris judging from its front end that looks surprisingly American for a Japanese-made hatchback but despite its differences, the iM is basically a Toyota Corolla underneath it, meaning this is just a hatchback based on every commoners' car in America.
2016 Scion iM interior
2016 Scion iM interior
On the interior, it feels very like the Toyota Corolla of today especially when it has seats for five people, touch-screen display audio, rear view camera, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, and any other necessities of comfort you would see on an everyday car at home. Although it feels somewhat cheap on the inside, it feels rather nice to cave in especially when you have friends tagging along with you in case of shopping trips or barhopping or off-kai meetings at your friend's home. You would imagine this could be your next car if you got hired as an Uber or Lyft driver without getting complaints from your passengers.
2016 Scion iM
Under the hood, the Scion iM comes with the 2ZR-FAE engine, which is broadly similar to what the Japanese-spec Auris had in the RS version, and this engine produces 137HP of power and 126lb-ft of torque. It can be mated with either a 6-speed manual or a CVTi-S but best to be in a manual gearbox because it's a lot more fun for a young man to try out the Americanized Auris in a gearbox fit enough to be fun but don't get too excited because even when you're on a manual or a CVT, the big engine output's not peppy enough to zoom through at high revs and acceleration.
Because the Auris is all about European-inspired handling upon its first encounter, the iM does the same too because it's got MacPherson strut front suspension and double wishbone rear suspension, meaning that this hatchback feels not so bad to handle but as a concept, it's a bit tad old-fashioned on American roads.
Should you buy one? The iM starts at $19,650 for the manual gearbox model up to $20,390 for the one with the bland CVT-iS on it and while it faces stiffer competition from the likes of the Mazda Axela, Hyundai i30, VW Golf, and the Ford Focus, the iM, despite its affordable pricing, couldn't keep up with its quality and performance and I think this hatchback deserves more if it wants to attract younger customers looking for a youth-oriented car fit for their lifestyles. Perhaps this newcomer on American soil should know better...
Available colors: Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Barcelona Red Metallic, Spring Green, and Electric Storm Blue.
Scion's first ever compact sedan, the iA, starts the shake-up of Toyota's youth-oriented brand that sees its reputation lagging by x-named hatchbacks (except for the FR-S), but even though this is an all-new model, there's something underneath this new compact saloon for the youngsters of America.
2016 Scion iA
When I said "something underneath", I really do mean it because the Scion iA is basically a Mazda Demio, making it the first model under Toyota and Mazda's collaboration. The main reason why we got this is because Mazda couldn't sell the latest Demio to the US soil due to poor sales so we got this instead but despite being different to the Demio we knew it, it still behaves just like a Mazda Demio, well almost.
2016 Scion iA
Despite being a Mazda Demio under the influence of Toyota, the iA is powered by a 1.5L petrol engine that generates 106HP of power and 103lb-ft of torque. It can be mated with either a sensual 6-speed automatic or a more enjoyable 6-speed manual gearbox. How great this compact car comes with. Of course, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension, the iA feels very nimble at the bends but in terms of comfort, it's a bit tad old fashioned. When you turn the steering wheel, you will notice that it feels somewhat soft and skimpy and that's because it comes with electric power steering. Not quite an ideal setup for a steering of that size but whatever, those ideal stuff makes the iA truly a first-timer's car to buy if he or she already got a driving license on their first try.
2016 Scion iA
2016 Scion iA
So in partial terms of driving, the iA isn't half bad for a city car and as for a perfect city car to drive with your mates, the interior feels somewhat sociable, although some eagle-eyed viewers will notice that it looks broadly similar to the Demio's. It comes with a seven-inch display, six-speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, and many other high tech stuff that makes this car feel like an iPhone on wheels. Well, don't get this car wrong, though, because while this is a small car, it still accommodates up to five people and the boot space isn't so bad.
Needless to say, the new Scion iA is a sedan that brings the entry-level market to a surprising surge and while this is the start of reinventing the Scion lineup in America, expect first-time drivers to start something small with the iA because even though it is broadly similar to the Demio, the new iA truly is the ideal starting point for newcomers everywhere. This car starts at a very reasonably 16,495 US Dollars plus the added extras and the insurance needed. Is it a great value for money? The jury's out. Is it worth enjoyable to drive? Well, so and so...
Available colors: Frost, Sterling, Graphite, Stealth, Abyss, Sapphire, and Pulse.
Yes, we are back! Back to the racetrack where we can spend track days racing each other and share with the mates about how we're doing on the track. There are some trying to get their track-day swagger on, and there are others evaluating each others' cars in the way how they're connected to each other both man and machine.
Here we are, Forza Motorsport 6, the biggest birthday present in honor of the Forza franchise's 10th anniversary. Looks like 10 is the lucky number for 2015, right? So many stuff had their tens happened but enough for that. Let's kick off with the starter car I've chose at the start of Forza Motorsport 6.
And here it is...well, this is obviously familiar to most Forza fans too many. Yes, this is a Toyota 86 and the main reason that I chose this car at the start of the game is because this is by no means one of the most enjoyable cars to drive even a rookie would try to handle this car with ease.
At first, you may find this car prone to oversteering because this car's rear wheel drive but because it doesn't have much power as the other starter cars, it's accessible and very popular among players who recently started their FM6 or got it few days ago thanks to Ultimate Edition early access.
For my opening salvo, I decided to lap this car round the Top Gear Test Track and hold on. Haven't I done this before since FM5? Who cares? It's like an encore performance for me but because this is Forza Motorsport 6, I am seeing improvements happening...nearly.
As I lapped this 86 round the Top Gear track, it had set its first power lap time of my very own Forza 6 Top Gear power lap time of 1:34.472. Not as quick as what Stig set from the TV series but this is how it all begins for me. This is the beginning of a wonderful journey here at FM6.
This car-related article, as posted from Autoindustriya, looks quite interesting for our inner kids. A car enthusiast turned his Toyota 86 (GT86/Scion FR-S) into a character from Disney's Cars for his three year-old kid. Lightning McQueen is the main character of the two Disney Cars movies and as that car nut told, he saw pics on the net about cars decorated in Lightning McQueen's livery and he even told that his son would be cool if he rode Lightning McQueen to school.
He enlisted tuner Speedway Engineering to make his kid's dream a reality, well sort of. And aside from mimicking McQueen's looks, his 86 got tuned to have over 300HP of power thanks to the added turbocharging and ECU mods.
Classified themselves as "tuners", those rear-wheel drive TOYOTA 86 and SUBARU BRZ sport coupes enjoyed their fame and fortune among die-hard car enthusiasts ever since they both showed up in the open last year. There's more to this 86/BRZ modification trends because the folks from LIBERAL showcased the Baruta body kit available for both the 86 and the BRZ coupes.
- Front Bumper Spoiler (BRZ only) - 157,500 Yen
- Rear Bumper Spoiler - 84,000 Yen
- Front Lip Spoiler (requires front bumper) - 47,250 Yen
- Side Spoiler - 68,250 Yen
- 3D stainless molding - 68,250 Yen
- Wide side mirror - 15,750 Yen
- Carbon short antenna - 6,825 Yen
- Carbon antenna cover - 10,500 Yen
Scion, Toyota's youth oriented brand was launched in 2003 with two models, the xA which is the first Toyota iST and the xB which is a Toyota bB. Yes, they're both made in Japan but Scion is nothing more of a North American exclusive brand targeted for the younger audience, especially speedo boys. The tC though, although it may be more of a Celica underneath it, this 3-door sports coupe is a wide appeal to the speedo boys in America. It's been three years now since the second-generation Scion tC broke loose with mixed reactions and for this minor change, what can I say?
2014 Scion tC
This minor change is a bit too unorthodox to me. While some say, it draws inspiration from its FR-S big brother, there's one hint of cost-cutting around here because based on the new front face, I can sharply assumed that the new front lamps were borrowed from the facelifted Toyota Mark X (Reiz). Suspicious or is this just a big coincidence? Although I can't say that this new face can be a bit of a fluke, the speedo boy favorite tries to keep itself "red hot" like pizza supper. Wait a minute. Red hot like pizza supper? Aw man, why did I just said that? That's morally wrong to describe that the 2014 tC is red hot as pizza supper. Seriously, pizza supper? I did this sometimes, having pizza for dinner but still this is more topical than having a gorilla in a cake.
Scion says that the 2014 tC loves to pick on a fight against the Hyundai Veloster, the soon-to-be-replaced Kia Forte Koup, and the commoner favorite, the Ford Focus. So, how does it compare? For starters, the tC carries a 2.5 L 2AR-FE straight-4 which develops a moderate 179HP of power, that's more than what you expect than the Veloster, the Koup, and the Focus. And with the starting price of just 20,965 US Dollars, that's more reasonable to buy than the Veloster, Koup, and Focus.
2014 Scion tC interior
2014 Scion tC interior
So, it's a fair choice for the speedo boys who prefer a car that suits their style and consider it a SWAG but how it's like to be a driver's car? To find out, I had to imagine myself eating too much hotdog but be warned. This isn't the hotdog contest for the faint-hearted. The first hotdog would be a pleasant one for me because I'm still on the starved basis. If I'm still hungry after eating one hotdog, I'd eat another one and one minute later, another one! And another! More and more until my stomach says "I'm stuffed", meaning that's enough. Yep, that's exactly how it feels like when you're driving the new tC because by the way you're driving it feels like you're trying to beat Joey Chestnut's record for most hotdogs eaten but sadly, it feels a bit more like...Muscle Man.
Even with the reworked suspension system, it feels a bit more "stuffed" than "starved" and oh! One more thing you may notice... There's this optional 6-speed automatic transmission with rev matching downshifts which allows quicker downshifts on the road. That all seems fine but because real men are always going for the manual, who cares? The 6-speed manual's a standard so this is how fun they'll going to shift these little suckers like a man. Changing gear is all about freedom and with the three pedals and the 6-speed manuals, it feels like that you are in complete control over the car for fun and speedo boys like it too.
So, conclusion time. While the new model may feel a bit more Muscle Man and hotdogs but it's still one of the most enjoyable front-wheel drive sportscars that money can buy. You can forget about the Veloster or the Koup or the Focus. It's this one you can keep and trick if you have the funds to scare the neighborhood. So, would you want one of these or not? That's a simple question only you can answer.
Available colors: Black, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Blue Streak Metallic, Absolutely Red, Cement, Classic Silver Metallic, and Super White.
ExtremeDrivingTV, a YouTube channel featuring extreme driving from Japan and the "Engrish" subs that leaves us puzzled, showcased what's up for D1 Drifter Manabu Orido's Toyota 86 drift car and you wouldn't believe what you just saw...
Manabu's 86 drift car was rigged with a Corvette V8 engine, but to be specific, a 7.0L V8 engine you would expect on the Corvette Z06. Reason for this cool engine swap is because last year, Manabu became a victim of power shortage and engine troubles on his 86 drift car so he decided to put in a new engine! The 7.0L V8 Corvette engine that powers Manabu's 86 drift car is smaller and 50kg lighter than the previous Lexus V8 engine. It also comes with a genuine dry sump as well.
Find out how does this new engine sums up by watching this Extreme video...
Of course, the Toyota 86Q, which is a mini-me one-off version of the Toyota 86/GT86 (Scion FR-S) sports coupe, which was launched last year alongside its Subaru BRZ twin, really is a Daihatsu Midget truck with some sporting credentials. Yes, they've used the chassis from a Midget truck and then loaded some 86 credentials to make it look like the miniature version so mini, it looks like it's a toy car life sized. Question is, how long did they made this one-off?
To find out, ExtremeDrivingTV has a video clip on how long did the 86Q was made. Wanna know how long? Watch the clip and find out and apologize to their English subtitles because it feels like it's been Google Translated...
The Lexus LFA and the Scion FR-S are what I'm calling it the present-day crowning glories of Toyota Motor Corporation and here in the fantasy world that is Forza Horizon, these new JDM royalties are trying to show what they're capable of...
Walker Lexus Ranger
The thing about the LFA though is that this limited-to-500-units masterpiece feels like a racing car and it sounds like a racing car that's because of Toyota Motor Corporation collaborate with Yamaha to provide some acoustic tuning to the LFA's exhaust so it sounds like a F1 car every time when you're foot is on the pedal. It maybe the first (and last) Japanese grand tourer to have a V10 engine, it maybe rare due to limited production, it maybe carrying a very expensive price tag but this Lexus LFA is a golden opportunity to show off its natural talent in Forza Horizon.
Bringing the sport to Horizon
When the rest of the world called this the TOYOTA 86 or GT86, the North Americans called this the Scion FR-S. Never mind about the analogy because it maybe not as quick as other sports cars but when it comes to corners, this FR-S has good handling. Less grippy, more fun. That's talent to you and me. It behaves and waggles just like its spiritual predecessor, the AE86 Sprinter Trueno. A good story though that my cousin told me that this is the car he should have bought rather than the old white Mazda RX-8 he currently had. I was gonna told that to you but I told my cousin that the FR-S has less of the power than his RX-8 so who cares about it? Even though it's less powerful, the FR-S is the kind of car my cousin would never ever get off from his dreams. It's your fault, cousin. It's your fault. You were given a choice...
The LFA is like a samurai descended from the clouds in the sky while the FR-S is like a ninja swiftly moves in the blink of the eye. A car carrying a huge pricetag and huge power or a car carrying a cheap pricetag, less powerful boxer engine and a natural talent of cornering might sounds ridiculous if you were to choose but the decisions are all up to the drivers. It's the drivers, not the cars, that makes the difference...
The Scion FR-S or whatever you may call it the Toyota GT86
...yes I know. I lied about the whole exclusivity thing. I didn't expect how did this car showed up on Forza Motorsport 4 via the August Playseat Car Pack but in order to figure it out how did this car behave, even though this car is the fruit of its Toyota-Subaru joint venture, I decided to drive it round the track to see what is what....
That scares me off!
Wahhhh! No! No! WAAAAHHHH!!!! WAAAAAHHHH!!!!
Pushing through the limits
WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A brighter way to ruin your underwear
WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! MOMMY!!!!!!! I WANT MY MOMMY!!!!!!
The nightmare ends.
...and that concludes this test drive of the Scion FR-S. It's terrifying but if I want a car better than the Scion FR-S, I should be getting one of these instead...
And it begins....
Some people have told that in last four years or so, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is just a low-cost rear-wheel drive Korean sports coupe that is cheaper on anything but...NOT ANYMORE IT ISN'T!
Party like a rock star
This new 2013 model of the Genesis Coupe, daintily trimmed as 3.8 Track, looks pretty much the same as the other present-day Hyundai models but now it's lighter and more powerful than ever. It now has a 3.8 V6 Lambda GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine which produces 348HP of power, which means this streak of K-POP is even faster than the old Genesis Coupe and it's even faster than American V6 pony cars and the Infiniti G37S in acceleration and quarter-mile times.
Question is...is it powerful than the Scion FR-S? Let's see....That FR-S has a FA20 D4S Boxer engine that produces about nearly 200HP of power and generally, lighter than the 2013 Genesis Coupe. Let's remember that with the New Genesis Coupe's GDi engine, the kind of engine we won't be getting in the Philippines because of our local fuels' incompatibility, it's more powerful so...let's find out!
Genesis Coupe with the GDi engine trounced the boxer sports coupe
So, the new model beats the FR-S in the straights and it's easier to drive even though it's an FR sportscar made from a rapidly growing country that brought you Koreanovelas and K-POP music to the world or to put it on this way, the Hallyu (Korean wave).
The Hallyu wave has overtaken the otaku!
From behind, the FR-S is all over the place, it was like being chased by a big giant monster trying to swallow me but too slow to catch up on me. I can see that on my rear view mirror or monitor perhaps but hey, don't get me wrong because even though it has a dynamic driving feel, it's still very Hallyu-ish. The makgeoli, the bulgogi, kimchi, K-POP music, K-Dramas, that's what fueled it. Behind the shouty exterior beats the heart of any Japanese or European sports cars trying to catch up. I mean, everyone can drive this one straight away. No problem at all...
Picture a scene: it's a beautiful day when there's a Genesis Coupe waiting to be driven and then some woman in her kissogram outfit getting in. While driving, she's turning into a blonde woman, which later turned into a young African-American woman, and then later on, she's now a ginger-haired middle-aged woman, and soon afterwards, it's that young, ginger-haired woman who was a kissogram before but now, instead of her kissogram uniform, she now wears a brown fitted leather jacket, burgundy v-neck sweater, denim mini-skirt, stockings, and some tan cowboy boots. What? What did I said?
Drawbacks? Well, in real life, you could expect an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddles behind the steering wheel and sadly though, eight gears is too much like the Lexus IS F. What I have here is a 6-speed manual transmission with a clutch pedal below and that means that there's no space for my left foot. Both of them are annoying to me like the annoying orange.
So far as for styling, the FR-S is just um....like a Toyota FT-86 concept car even personal. The Genesis Coupe though is one of the best-looking Korean cars ever built even when it comes with its pointy and shouty Veloster-style nose. They say that this is all part of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture and the reason why the Veloster-like face was applied on the Genesis Coupe is because to accommodate their GDi 3.8L V6 engine or an improved and turbocharged 2.0 TCi engine. These two engines combine performance and ecology so if I had the devil's own job, I have my own point to explain why.
As concerned, the biggest problem of this car was it's pricing and with the cost of $33,875 for the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track, it's expensive than the fully-equipped FR-S. So it's your choice really. You can either have a kissogram attacked you with a cricket bat or a car that can be driven by one.
(applause)
How? How could you not like the FR-S you useless, idioting, coke-drinking, feckless, fat, boring, hopeless, talentless, dull, hypocrite, thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, suede-laden, denim-laden, idiot?
I knew you gonna said that.
(audience laughing)
But we have to actually find out how fast it is by lending it to our tamed racing driver. Some say his favorite Doctor Who girl was actually River Song...
(audience laughing)
...and yet, he received numerous gold medals by stealing them from others...
(audience laughing)
...all we know is he's called The Stig!
(applause)
So, our new 2013 Genesis Coupe did it in 1:29.649 so that's faster than our 930 911 Turbo so, let's finish this day off!
No! No, no, wait! What about the FR-S?
Um....
Tell me....is it better than the New Genesis Coupe?
Now you may probably remember back in the final round of the recently ended GT Academy 2012, we were shocked that the Twin Ring Motegi was included on the event but only the east section of the Road Course. It was like we didn't get it but joy of joys, Twin Ring Motegi is back on Gran Turismo 5 as a DLC. What you have is the complete set; the Road Course, the east section of the Road Course, the west section of the Road Course, and the oval Super Speedway. Two tracks with four layouts. Little known fact that this Honda-owned racetrack has a Gran Turismo cafe on it. Anyone visited on the Gran Turismo cafe?
Anyway, it kinda feels like I forgot all about the Twin Ring Motegi but relearn the Twin Ring Motegi, I need a car that will do that kind of job. Something sporty, something boxer, something 2-door, something RWD.
THE BRAND NEW SCION FR-S!
Bringing Twin Ring Motegi back to GT5 is provided by the new 2013 Scion FR-S
It maybe brand new but actually this Scion FR-S really is more than just brand new. Its FR layout, boxer 4 engine, and the joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries (makers of Subaru) really made it unique. I was hoping for the Subaru BRZ but who am I caring for? The Scion FR-S really is BRINGING THE SPORT BACK TO THE CAR! Ha ha ha ha!
FR-S drift!
Now you might be saying that this is just the Toyota GT86 with Toyota badges thrown away in favor of Scion badges but still retaining the 86 logo on the sides. I once drove the Toyota 86 last year and I really favored on its handling nature. This experience I had on the GT86 is the same thing I'd experience on the Scion FR-S. You still have the same FA20 engine that powered the TOYOTA 86. It churns out 200 hp @ 7,000 RPM of power and 151 lb.-ft @ 6,600 RPM of torque.
This is somewhat an Americanized GT86
FR Boxer Coupe loves to drift!
When you look at the heritage of the Scion FR-S, it appears that current Toyota CEO, Akio Toyoda, was heavily involved on that project. He's a motorsport enthusiast and he wanted to create a sports car that he would want to drive. Cars like the Sports 800, 2000GT, and the legendary AE86, that's how either the GT86 or the FR-S reminded me of those. You can feel the DNA all over it.
Surely, the GT86 and the FR-S are all the same thing. They have the same looks, they have the same engine, but to spot the difference, the GT86 was the right-hand drive while the FR-S was in the left-hand drive. There's something has to do with this....
You should admit that SONY has the exclusive rights for the TOYOTA 86 and the Scion FR-S because of what I heard, Toyota Motor Corporation will be developing a new feature that will record their 86/FR-S track-day progress through the Playstation. A PS3-capable track-day black box. That's what that is.
If that became reality, the TOYOTA 86 would only work if you are in Tsukuba, Fuji Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi, and Suzuka Circuit. Scion FR-S? Well, it would only work if you're in the Daytona, Laguna Seca, or Indianapolis. Just saying...
Finished touring Twin Ring Motegi with the FR-S
And there we are, I have finally relearned the whole Twin Ring Motegi Road Course with the Scion FR-S. Oh and in case you haven't notice, the SCION FR-S is yours to collect, tune, and race as a free Gran Turismo 5 DLC. Be sure to get it ahead of everybody else because the SCION FR-S is the car that brought Twin Ring Motegi back to GT5. He he he....
Guess I should hand it over to the tamed racing driver....
The Stig's close-up with the FR-S!
Yep, The Stig was very happy, knowing that this close-up shot really is STIG APPROVED.
Inspired from the 2009 FT-86 Concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and this is Toyota's first sports coupe in collaboration with Subaru, welcome to the dawn of the new Toyota as we know it today. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new SCION FR-S. A sportscar unlike any other.
The FR-S name is somewhat more like the deceased Toyota MR-S but the M letter has been replaced by the letter F. True to its name, this is an FR sports coupe. The exterior design of the FR-S is heavily inspired from the two FT-86 Concept cars, one by Tokyo and one from last year's Geneva. This provides a menacing appearance up close and personal and a prolific rear view, making this a very unique sportscar that was started as a concept and turned into a reality. On the side view, you can expect seeing the "86" logo with some pistons on it, which makes it also unique to the eyes of car enthusiasts.
Inside the FR-S, it's all business for the driver. The interior is just focused solely to be more race-inspired rather than being too comfy. If you look closely at the instrumental panel, you should notice that the tachometer looks somewhat similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG but who cares? That instrument panel is a genuine "FR-S" trademark on it. Because this car's interior is not focused on being luxurious, the driver doesn't bother at all because he was surely focused for some thriller at Laguna Seca, Indianapolis, Road America, Road Atlanta, or Infineon Raceway.
Now, we're into the performance zone. Under the hood, the FR-S is equipped with a new 2.0L D-4S BOXER engine, which is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru, and they called it FA20. The new FA20 engine develops 200PS of power and 205Nm of torque. It promises about combined MPG from 25 to 28. There are two transmission types available such as a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Paddle Shit transmission. Those who are looking for some hardcore fun should prefer the 6-speed manual transmission because it completes the 86's characteristics. While the FR-S may not be the fastest, it excels in handling because of the sport-tuned suspension system. If the driver switches to Sport Mode, that sharpens the throttle response and handling, making this 86 a hoodlum you won't escape.
Is the FR-S safe? Well, yes because Toyota added some safety features to the 86, which makes it hard to explain what are those, such as the Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Limited Slip Differential, and six airbags. Uh, why I am explaining about the 86's safety? I don't need it because I always want to turn the traction control off and get this car to drive more dangerously if you're on Mt. Haruna.
Colors available on the FR-S are Raven, Asphalt, Ultramarine, Firestorm, Hot Lava, Argento, and Whiteout.
My comment:
Even with the Stateside name, the Scion FR-S brings the sport back to the car. This car was priced competitively to its rival, the 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. This would be the most interesting must-have for a Scion fan.
Now, this here is the Scion tC. A few years ago, I drove one on Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition as a starter car and I found it a bit...lame but for those who are adrenaline junkies, they can improve the breed by modifying the tC into anything they like. It even has a racing pedigree and it has strong involvement on the Formula Drift, especially when Tanner Foust competed on it using the drift-spec tC with Rockstar livery. Anyway, I shall now explain with a bit noisy history lesson.
At the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand, launched the tC, which serves as the main competitor to the Honda Civic Si and the Hyundai Tuscani. Originally, they could have called this the xC because of the Scion naming that goes like the xA (1st generation ist), xB (1st generation was based on the Toyota bB until the 2nd generation was more like the Corolla Rumion), and the xD (2nd generation ist) but the XC naming was trademarked by Volvo for their lineup of SUVs. However, there's nothing wrong with it because the tC naming stands for TOURING COUPE, according to Scion.
It went on sale in USA in the summer of 2004 as a 2005 model and it comes with a 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine that produces 160hp of power and 221Nm of torque. In 2006, the Scion tC received a 5-star NHTSA crash test rating of five stars for both Frontal Crash Test Driver and Side Impact Rating Rear. The first limited edition, dubbed as tC Release Series, was launched in 2005, limited to just 2500 units and finished with Absolutely Red. Every year, there is always a Release Series for the Scion and resale values of Release Series vehicles command a premium because of their packaged options and scarcity but luckily, Scion's "Pure Price" MSRP prohibits dealerships from adding "market-demand" vehicle mark-up.
In 2010, the Scion tC got its full model change, it made a premiere at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and it went on sale in the autumn of 2010. Sadly, Forza Motorsport 4 didn't put the second-generation tC until now....
The new Scion tC in action
That's right folks. The April Alpinestars Pack did include the second-generation Scion tC (at long last!) and what you're looking at it now is a bit less radical than the first generation tC. For starters, the 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine from the old one has been replaced by a more potent 2.5L 2AR-FE engine. For the first time, the second-generation Scion tC was sold in China, Middle East, and Latin American markets as the TOYOTA ZELAS.
From every angle, I can see its robust angle straining to burst out of its bodywork and this was made to own and handle the streets. (Cue the Scion jingle!)
Old tC vs. New tC
How does the new tC stack up against the old tC? For starters, the old Scion tC comes with a 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 engine that produces 160 hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm of power and 163 lb·ft (221 N·m) @ 4000 rpm of torque. 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, 0-100mph in 19.7 seconds, and top speed of 136.4mph. The new Scion tC comes with the 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 engine that produces 180 hp (134 kW) @ 6000 rpm of power and 173 lb·ft (235 N·m) @ 4100 rpm of torque. 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, 0-100mph in 19.2 seconds, and top speed of 139mph. On paper though, the new Scion tC is much more powerful and better than the old tC but how does it compare to other FWD coupes such as the Kia Forte Koup or the new 2012 Honda Civic Si? Almost impossible to say because these two completely trounced the new Scion tC in terms of performance figures!
It's the Scion tC RS 7.0!
Now, there was an available body kit for the new Scion tC and it was way too obvious to put it on my current car and I have to buy another 2012 Scion tC. This body kit will replicate the one you saw from the Scion tC RS (Release Series) 7.0 but for best results, equip it with WedsSport SA-97 F rims, paint that rims in black, and paint the body with something that is more like High Voltage Yellow. However, if you're more of a RACE REPLICA type, you might want to spend the rest of your life recreating the one driven by Fredric Aasbo for Team Need For Speed but that is way too obvious to show it. In the meantime, I should stick with my new Scion tC that has the look of the Release Series 7.0 because that is much better to look at and that's enough.
To sum up then, the Scion tC is much more better than the old one but if you think that the new tC is a bit boring and if the Kia Forte Koup is not the answer, get a new Honda Civic Si. That's it.
"What's a Japan-made Toyota iQ doing in the Kuwaiti-owned British sports car company known as Aston Martin? And how does an Toyota iQ modified to look like an Aston Martin?" That is the question only you can answer because what we see know is Aston Martin's first compact car, the Cygnet, based on the Japan-made Toyota iQ subcompact that is truly a decent rival to the smart compact cars.
2011 Aston Martin Cygnet
True to its form that the Cygnet is the British version of the Toyota iQ subcompact, the exterior sports its trademark Aston Martin look on the front and an eccentric tail lamps attached on the rear. This is nothing more like "For Tokyo, James?" and James Bond would say "No, not for me." because I think the men with their inner Bond would not like the Cygnet's compact look. What makes up for the Cygnet is only for the girls who want to be like the Bond girls in several Bond movies. Speaking of that, the rich dads who have Aston Martins in their garages are happy to lend the Cygnet's key for the spoiled brats who've reached their driving age. Pretty much to say that the Cygnet is a spoiled brats' driving force.
2011 Aston Martin Cygnet interior
The Cygnet is truly the GT-R Egoist in the making because the interior packs several color combinations that can be use it in ways that suits your mood and personality. From the choice of Alcantara Suede trims (10 Alcantara colors and 5 Plisse alcantara colors) and leather trims, choosy customers may want to spend some time finding the right interior trim for the Cygnet. Looks like what will they do is apply the Egoist knowledge until the right interior combination comes out to mind and rightfully take home the over 30,000 British Pound Aston Martin subcompact car that will be surely be small wonder for the Kuwaiti-owned British sports car maker.
The main engine for the Aston Martin Cygnet is the Toyota-sourced 1.3L 1NR-FE Dual VVT-i engine that carries 98bhp/6000rpm of power output, 125nm/4400 of torque output, and Euro 5 compliant. The Cygnet 6-speed manual consumes for about 58.9mpg EC Combined and no, the Cygnet 6MT variant does not have Toyota's Smart Stop (idling stop) system found on the Toyota iQ Go 6MT and the third-generation Vitz/Yaris. The CVT variant of the Cygnet is the most fuel-efficient Cygnet ever, resulting to the fuel consumption of 55.4mpg EC Combined and the CO2 emissions of 120g/km. Those looking for some fun riding should go for the Aston Martin Cygnet 1.3L 6-speed manual transmission but for those looking for some gas-saving cars should consider the Cygnet 1.3L CVT variant. The choice is yours...
The Aston Martin Cygnet comes with several color variations to choose from;
Special Paints:
Sports car paint - Black bear
Sports car paint - Blue anchor
Sports car paint - Grey bull
Sports car paint - Red lion
Sports car paint - Silver fox
Sports car paint - Silver jubilee
Sports car paint - White horse
Sports car paint - Yellow kangaroo
Metallic Paints:
Contemporary metallic - Blue anchor
Contemporary metallic - Grey bull
Contemporary metallic - Red lion
Contemporary metallic - Silver fox
Contemporary metallic - Yellow kangaroo
Fast track metallic - Black bear
Fast track metallic - Silver jubilee
Fast track metallic - White horse
My Comment:
Well, I'm not excited about the first compact car from Aston Martin, which is essentially a Toyota iQ in Aston Martin guise. The Toyota iQ was assembled in Japan and the Aston Martin Cygnet's assembly takes place at Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK. However, the folks at Gaydon require the Japan-made Toyota iQ as the donor car and swap it out with something Aston Martin on it, resulting to the finished product. The Aston Martin Cygnet is half-Japanese, half-British, something like, well you know, a mixture of eating sushi and sipping English tea for lunch. Looks like the Cygnet will only live twice (cue the song You Only Live Twice, please) because this looks more of a substitute to the Toyota 2000GT Open-Top from the Bond movie, You Only Live Twice, which was driven by the Bond girl, Akiko Wakabayashi. If I were to recreate that Bond film, maybe Aki may use this Cygnet as a support vehicle while she and Bond are getting away from the goons.
The second generation Scion tC is the coupe that tries to look at it best when it comes to its new robotic styling while retaining the original length and height of the first generation model that was launched since 2004 as a 2005 model. First off, one glance of the new 2nd generation tC really reminds us of the previous first generation model but with the new front, new side design, new wheels, and a new rear design, all is clear for a major overall for Scion's most popular FF coupe that is likely to target against the likes of the USDM Civic Si Coupe, well not quite necessarily. I can always imagine how many young adults in their 20's to 30's driving this kind of car that made it more popular to the trends of FF coupes. Even tuners take the new 2nd generation Scion tC for granted because of such circumstances.
One thing to aware is the new interior of the new Scion tC. Although it might be quite good enough in terms of comfort, the new interior design of the new Scion tC lacks character. I am clearly say that some of them still prefer the old interior from the 1st generation tC because of the character it shows. Despite having a shape of a 2-door coupe, the Scion tC still classifies as a 3-door liftback because of the lftgate that opens like a hatchback for added space and it even comes with a tonneau board as well. Despite the character-lacking interior, it still looks good enough to be inside the new tC, as if to nothing.
The new Scion tC replaced the previous 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 engine with the new 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 engine. This new engine offered on the new tC provides maximum horsepower of 180 @ 6000 RPM and the torque goes about 173lb-ft @ 4100 RPM. If you were in a 6-speed manual variant, you'll get 31MPG highway while in a 6-speed automatic variant, you will get as much as 31MPG highway as well! Just be sure that the 6-speed manual transmission on the new Scion tC is overall fun for the owners so be advised because this is going to be a wild ride. The new tC is now offered with a standard Vehicle Stability Control for added safety but forget about it.
Color variation includes Black, Cement, Classical Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Nautical Blue Metallic, Sizzling Crimson Mica, and Super White.
My comment:
Despite the new interior lacks character, the new exterior really shows its character because of such design or so they thought. Now imagine if I can see one as a gray market import in the Philippines...well never mind. I don't need explanations about it but the new Scion tC is all about style at its best.
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