Toyota is keen to inject some fun into its lineup and will attempt this with some new sports cars, one positioned above the GT 86 (Scion FR-S for Americans) and likely to revive the Supra name, and another positioned below it and previewed at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the S-FR concept car. Toyota is hopeful that a car like the S-FR will get younger buyers to fall in love with driving… instead of only being interested in their smartphones.
The S-FR is in the form of a small, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe, and it’s said to be very light and responsive. The engine is positioned close to the cabin to create a front midship setup, and with optimal weight distribution and fully independent suspension the car should be fun to drive, even if power figures are on the low side.
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While few specs have been released, it’s been reported that Toyota’s entry-level sports car will pack a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at roughly 130 horsepower. While this might not sound like much, the car’s curb weight is expected to come in at only 2,160 pounds.
The S-FR concept features classic sports car proportions but with some soft curves thrown in to help inspire a feeling of closeness for the driver. Inspiration for the design came from the Toyota Sports 800 of the 1960s, and in terms of size the S-FR sits somewhere between the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Scion FR-S. Inside, there’s a minimalist feel together with a six-speed manual transmission.
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