Toyota/Subaru/Scion Lightweight Sports Car: Toyota GT86, Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS!
10-28-11, 07:14 AM
#1306
First impressions: it feels light and compact, a bit like an MX-5. The driving position is low, straight and snug, with grippy front seats (and not a lot of room in the back).
The Toyota FT-86 feels quick enough, too, with a precise if a touch notchy gearchange, and an engine note that’s a bit growly – there’s not much flat-four burble. Tweaking the NVH is high on Toyota’s ‘to-do’ list. It has a broad power curve - it revs to 7500 but there’s no desperate need to wind it that far past the mid-range.
It’s hard to accurately guage the ride on a concrete airfield, but the FT-86 feels quite deftly set-up, light on its feet, with a touch of tyre roar that’s to be expected.
It steers easily too. At 2.5 turns lock-to-lock the steering’s quick without being hyperactive, and is light-to-middling in weight. It all adds to the impression that this is going to be an easy car to get along with.
Find a corner and you’ll find some roll, but its rate is well contained. The FT-86’s weight distribution is 53/47 per cent front/rear, so it’ll nudge into steady-state understeer if you’re on a constant throttle, where it grips moderately well and is pleasingly poised.
The great thing about the FT-86 though is, as promised, it really handles. It lets you choose how you want to corner. Add any amount of power and it’ll turn at least neutral. Trail the brakes into a bend, give a mid-corner throttle-lift or, well, just give the steering a bit of a bung and lots of throttle and it’ll either straighten its line or give you armfuls of oversteer, utterly as you prefer.
The Toyota FT-86 feels quick enough, too, with a precise if a touch notchy gearchange, and an engine note that’s a bit growly – there’s not much flat-four burble. Tweaking the NVH is high on Toyota’s ‘to-do’ list. It has a broad power curve - it revs to 7500 but there’s no desperate need to wind it that far past the mid-range.
It’s hard to accurately guage the ride on a concrete airfield, but the FT-86 feels quite deftly set-up, light on its feet, with a touch of tyre roar that’s to be expected.
It steers easily too. At 2.5 turns lock-to-lock the steering’s quick without being hyperactive, and is light-to-middling in weight. It all adds to the impression that this is going to be an easy car to get along with.
Find a corner and you’ll find some roll, but its rate is well contained. The FT-86’s weight distribution is 53/47 per cent front/rear, so it’ll nudge into steady-state understeer if you’re on a constant throttle, where it grips moderately well and is pleasingly poised.
The great thing about the FT-86 though is, as promised, it really handles. It lets you choose how you want to corner. Add any amount of power and it’ll turn at least neutral. Trail the brakes into a bend, give a mid-corner throttle-lift or, well, just give the steering a bit of a bung and lots of throttle and it’ll either straighten its line or give you armfuls of oversteer, utterly as you prefer.
10-28-11, 07:21 AM
#1307
*EDIT: just read the article. Looks like this was a running prototype (from May 2011) and there were a few goofy things like the off-spec tires. Looks like Toyota was, at that time, still making adjustments to the suspension with springs and shocks as well, so I'm sure more changes are yet to come.
I'm concerned that Toyota has no plans to turbocharge this car. WTF not?
I'm concerned that Toyota has no plans to turbocharge this car. WTF not?
nevertheless, 200hp and 170ft of torque are excellent for 2.0l engine. Thats compares well to Scion tC 2.5l which is 180/173 at 1380kg. tC does 0-60 in 6.5s in manual form, and as this is 10-15% lighter car, it might end up being sub 6s! http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/.../scion_tc.html
10-28-11, 07:22 AM
#1308
it really depends on the weight - i doubt toyota told them the weight, CAR said 1200kg and Autocar said 1280kg. Even at 1280kg it will be 100kg less than Scion tC, so plenty of fast for $20k car.
I just hope they didnt invent these 200/170 numbers, as british mags are not to be trusted, ever :-)
I just hope they didnt invent these 200/170 numbers, as british mags are not to be trusted, ever :-)
10-28-11, 07:25 AM
#1309
I didn't realize that the new tC was that quick. 6.5 seconds is pretty darn fast for a 4cyl $18k coupe!
If the FRS/Celica/FT-86/whatever can do it in that range, I'd be happy, and the numbers already indicate that it will be even faster.
Thanks for pointing this out
If the FRS/Celica/FT-86/whatever can do it in that range, I'd be happy, and the numbers already indicate that it will be even faster.
Thanks for pointing this out
10-28-11, 07:28 AM
#1310
it really depends on the weight - i doubt toyota told them the weight, CAR said 1200kg and Autocar said 1280kg. Even at 1280kg it will be 100kg less than Scion tC, so plenty of fast for $20k car.
I just hope they didnt invent these 200/170 numbers, as british mags are not to be trusted, ever :-)
I just hope they didnt invent these 200/170 numbers, as british mags are not to be trusted, ever :-)
Can't wait for it to be unveiled, and just because I'm a greedy American, I hope the FRS comes out nearly as sexy as the concept. That was, IMO, significantly better looking than the FT86
10-28-11, 07:35 AM
#1311
I will bet anything that you will like the interior when you see high res pictures :-).
10-28-11, 07:36 AM
#1312
I think their numbers are pretty close to right. I've consistently heard a weight of 2,400-2,600lbs and ~200hp, so it shouldn't be far off. The car was shown to Toyota dealers earlier in the year and got huge, huge thumbs up from the attendees.
Can't wait for it to be unveiled, and just because I'm a greedy American, I hope the FRS comes out nearly as sexy as the concept. That was, IMO, significantly better looking than the FT86
Can't wait for it to be unveiled, and just because I'm a greedy American, I hope the FRS comes out nearly as sexy as the concept. That was, IMO, significantly better looking than the FT86
so with 2600lbs, it will be 100lbs more than Celica, but also be RWD with 30% more torque. And Celica GT-S was plenty fast... this will be faster. Yay.
It just wont be crazy fast, like if it had an turbo... but I am sure plenty of people will get custom turbo's... after all, they are only $3k-$5k.
10-28-11, 09:12 AM
#1313
Lexus Fanatic
The good handling and quick response is, among other factors, also due to the low-slung, lightweight Subaru flat-four, which significantly lowers the center-of gravity compared to an in-line or V-bank powerplant. That's also one of the main reasons why Outbacks and Foresters drive and handle like regular-cars rather than like SUVs.
10-28-11, 10:44 PM
#1320
Lexus Champion
This is meant as a 'kit car' for people who want to modify it. If you don't like the interior that's too bad, I think it looks fine for a 25k car. I also think the modellista kit isn't that bad besides the chrome trim on the doors. The wheels can be changed, but the basic car is sweet.