Poll: What’s Your Favourite Toyota FT-86 Concept?

Toyota’s FT-86 sports coupe has to be one of the most hotly anticipated cars of the last ten years. A sporty, lightweight, front-engined and rear-wheel-drive spiritual successor to the legendary AE86, brought to you by the same company that built the Celica, MR2 and Supra? Yes, please!

So far, we’ve had three iterations of the “AE86 Nouveau”. First, there’s the original, scene stealing Toyota FT-86 Concept from the2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Then there’s the much derided FT-86 II Concept from Geneva 2011. And lastly, there’s the Ferrari-emulating Scion FR-S that took the 2011 New York Auto Show by storm.

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VIDEO: Scion Walks us Around the New FR-S Sports Coupe Concept

Toyota’s North American subsidiary, Scion, surprised us today at the opening of the 2011 New York Auto Show with the world premiere of its new FR-S sports coupe concept. We say ‘surprised’ not because we weren’t expecting a Scion-badged Toyota FT-86 to make its appearance in the Big Apple, but because of its refined design that made us forget about the FT-86 II concept we saw less than two months ago at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Read more »

2011 NYIAS: New Scion FR-S Concept Brings Sexy Back to the FT-86

The most hotly anticipated model of the New York Auto Show, Scion’s version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe concept, finally made its world premiere today. The study is named FR-S, which stands for ‘Front-Engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport’, though we prefer the definition given by Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, during the New York Show presentation.

“FR-S stands for Front-engine… Rear-wheel drive… Sport. Pretty simple. I personally believe it should stand for Friggin’ Really Sweet… but the legal department at Toyota was NOT feeling the same way,” said Hollis.

The first thing most readers will notice about the FR-S is the refined design compared to the latest concept version of the Toyota FT-86, shown in Geneva this past March. Though it’s hard to pinpoint all the changes without having the cars side by side, the photos reveal a tweaked front end with revamped headlamps and a different bumper design without the aftermarket like add-on LED strips.

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Scion FR-S Concept: First Photos of U.S. Market Toyota FT-86 Leak Online

Anticipation is running so high for Scion’s version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe that some couldn’t wait for the official reveal of the FR-S later today at the New York Auto Show, and dropped the first pictures of the car onto the web.

From what we can tell from these two photos, the Japanese automaker has changed the design again with the FR-S sporting a new front bumper that does away with the Geneva Show FT-86 II’s aftermarket-like LED strips, while also featuring a different rear bumper and diffuser, as well as more pronounced rear fenders. The gaudy side vents are also gone while the study is equipped with different exterior mirrors.

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Breaking: Scion Teases FT-86 II Concept RWD Coupe Prior to NY Show Debut

Toyota has been teasing us with its upcoming compact rear-wheel drive sports car since the original FT-86 concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, which was followed up by the FT-86 G Sports study a year later at the same show, and more recently, by the almost production-ready FT-86 II concept in Geneva. Now it’s time to get our first glimpse of the North American version of the FT-86 that will be marketed under the Scion brand.

Even though the Japanese firm’s North American subsidiary only makes word of a new Scion Concept to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show on April 20, 2011, without giving any further details, the car shadowed in the teaser video below leaves few doubts that the model in question is the FT-86.

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Toyota Reduces North American Production Due to Lack of Parts from Japan

The devastating consequences of the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami on the country’s auto industry continue to unfold. Today, Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it will reduce its North American production because of the lack of parts. The Japanese auto giant said that over the next few weeks, its American vehicle plants will operate on a reduced schedule, with production suspended on April 15, 18, 21*, 22, and 25. The same goes for most of the company’s North American engine and component plants that will follow a similar schedule.

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Price Increases for Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the U.S.

The Toyota group has announced price increases for most 2011MY cars, SUVs and trucks it sells under the Toyota, Scion and Lexus brands. These increases will be applicable for cars produced from May onwards. The only models that will keep the same prices are the Tacoma pickup truck, Yaris sedan, Scion tC, Scion xB, Lexus CT 200h and Lexus LFA.

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Source Code: Toyota Fights to Limit ECU Code Viewing in Legal Battle

Could Toyota's source code hold the answer to its sudden acceleration problems? Possibly, and it's currently working with attorneys to smooth out how this code will be analyzed in its ongoing unintended acceleration legal woes.

For those of you too fried to remember, Toyota had a bit of a flub a couple years ago regarding unintended acceleration in some of its vehicles; the problems were originally blamed on floor mats, poorly designed pedals, and driver error.

Currently, plaintiffs and their attorneys are still fighting for a proper explanation and compensation even though "the [U.S.] government's comprehensive review of Toyota's source code found no electronic causes of [unintended acceleration] in Toyota vehicles."

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Concept Car : Scion to unveil a micro-subcompact in New York

Scion has revealed that it will be presenting a micro-subcompact concept car at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The auto brand did not reveal anything else, other than the concept reflects Scion’s youthful image and represents a new segment for the brand aimed toward the growing urbanization trend.
But we are 99.9% sure that Scion is actually talking about a re-badged version of the Toyota iQ micro car for the U.S market. If this is the case, which I am sure it is, expect Scion to fit the new 1.33 liter engine with a dual VVT-i system that is capable of 99HP into the engine bay. The engine can be mated to either a 6 speed manual or a CVT transmission while fuel consumption figure with the manual tranny is rated at 58.9 miles to the gallon, and 55.4 miles to the gallon with the CVT.

Concept Car : Scion Hako Coupe

There are many hot opinions floating around at the moment about the Scion Hako concept car and must say I am going to squash those who thinks it is ugly, come on people you have got to be on another planet because this car is class. Ok I need not bang on about the Scion Hako concept car because it will never go into production now will it.

Are you one of those people who thinks the Scion Hako concept car is aesthetically appealing or aesthetically a balls-up? In the automobile world we love our car, it is part of our lives and yes we do care about the looks, the design, features, gizmos etc and this one has it all. This car is in a class of its own, and you have to admit you have not seen any other car like this one. This car does not sit on either side of the good looking fence nor the ugly fence, you either love it or hate it and it is as simple as that in my eyes, and my eyes say it is stunning. The Scion Hako concept car was released at the New York Auto Show back in March 2008 and there are two noticeable things that stand out, and that is the design and the in your face color which is bright orange.

I have an idea where this car can become so famous, can you imagine seeing this car in a Disney Pixar movie, like the movie “Cars”. It is also called the Hako Coupe because of its coupe design, by the way. The windows on this car give you a 360 angle view on the car when you are on the inside, well this is what it looks like from the outside, and the Scion Hako’s headlights are in stunning LED which is a big plus for driving at night. LED lights provide great virtually natural light that is better for seeing than the conventional and standard headlights that have an ugly yellow tint to it. The Hako’s headlights seem to be very wide which makes it even better than most standard cars. My judgement on the Scion Hako concept car is that it looks futuristic but yet modern and I would indeed purchase one because I really do like the look of them, plus I would get one just to annoy the hell out of those that hate it.

SCION HAKO COUPE CONCEPT VEHICLE
PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

DIMENSIONS (inches)
Overall Length: 145.7
Overall Width: 68.1 without side mirrors
74.0 including side mirrors
Overall Height: 57.5
Wheelbase: 94.5
Ground clearance: 4.0
Wheels: 18-inch alloy wheels
Tire Size: 225/45 R18
Seating Capacity: 4

Scion Concept Takes xB Off-Road, Off The Map

Designed and painted by artist David Choe, this unique “Monster Truck xB