NEWS: Say hello to the Toyota FR-S

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After news broke this morning about the death of Scion and that existing models would be transitioned to Toyota, we wondered whether the Scion FR-S would now get a proper name to fall in line with the rest of the world. The answer is no. 

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The US won’t be getting the Toyota GT86 like they do in Europe, or the Toyota 86 like they do in Japan. We asked Scion communications manager Nancy Hubbell whether the FR-S name would be moved to Toyota. Her answer: “Yes, the FR-S will retain its name as a Toyota.” Hubbell also said that the discontinuation of Scion had nothing to do with recent move by Toyota to make Daihatsu a global small car brand.

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So there you have it. Toyota FR-S will be the official name come August 2016, when the Scion name gets phased out. Which only makes it less likely that the Toyota S-FR will come to North America, at least with that name.

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18 Responses to NEWS: Say hello to the Toyota FR-S

  1. John M says:

    So they decided to 86 Scion, but not FR-S.

  2. goodshow_aa says:

    lol, John M that is the best comment. I hope the sfr comes here, regardless of the namesake.

  3. Scotty G says:

    I sort of wish that there wasn’t a Subaru model of this car. I liked it when, for a few years, Subaru sold nothing but AWD vehicles. Now there’s that asterisk next to it in my mind (*AWD, other than the BRZ)

  4. toy_yoda says:

    Stupid… just call it a Celia already. Tercel and Matrix for the other two and all will be right in the world once more.

    • ahja says:

      Yes on the Celica. It irritates me that everybody (including Toyota) is all like “spiritual successor to the AE86”, when it definitely isn’t. Its looks, its philosophy, and its market segment are a 2010s Celica’s.

      What would be the actual successor to the AE86? Take a 2016 Corolla. Give it a proprietary 2/3-door body that weighs less than the sedan, give it an engine tarted up enough for people to commend it in bars and garages. Sell it for around $20k. That would be the spirit of Trueno/Levin.

      • Randy says:

        Yeah, but the Corolla’s FWD… I could see a “Corolla GT,” but all the enthusiasts would be up in arms about “a FWD 86!? What are you thinking!?”

        I’d be interested to see a 2-door Corolla, though…

        I think the tC would have been the natural model rename to Celica, like a continuation of the FWD ones from the ’90s. Maybe “lighten” the styling somewhat.

        • dickie says:

          They sold FWD and RWD “Corollas” at the same time during the e8 generation (AE85/AE82).

          So yeah, they could technically sell a new Corolla in both FWD and RWD layouts and remain true to their heritage.

          The “86”/FR-S/BRZ never truly filled the spot that the RWD Corolla platform left vacant, especially in the North American market. It just so happens that everyone was/is eating their shit and dying over that platform vs. the RWD Celica, so savvy marketing dictated they capitalize on the 86 heritage instead

      • Ryan says:

        HAHAHA dude that’s so true, You should work for toyota,

  5. YaBoyYeti says:

    so is daihatsu gonna replace scion as toyotas underling?

  6. cesariojpn says:

    You’d figure to trim costs, Toyota would ditch FR-S and go for 86 (Europe) or GT86 (GLORIOUS NIPPON).

    Nope, stupid corporate choices rear it’s ugly head again.

  7. Will says:

    no, don’t disrespect the Celica name with this crap..

  8. Tim says:

    I wonder what this would look like with something like that retro Rocket Bunny S14 kit on it?

  9. Ian says:

    Should have just re badged it as s gt86

  10. George says:

    Drop the Subie powerplant, this car needs a high compression inline 4, similar to that in an S2000 to make it a true sports car.

  11. Matt D says:

    Toyota realized they were selling more Scions than Yota’s over here. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, America seems to be the only place where car companies need 4-5 different brands to sell cars. Makes things confusing and is probably just more expensive from a design, marketing, and distribution standpoint for the parent companies.

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