A couple of days ago, we revealed the Toyota S-FR concept, which was said to be the next vehicle in Toyota’s proposed trio of “fun to drive, again” cars- a trio that began with the GT86. It seems that the car was more than just a concept, as Toyota S-FR forums received leaked information on the actual production specifications for the car.
Given how the specs seem to be paired with the 1.5-litre Mazda MX-5, it’s safe to say that the S-FR is aimed squarely at dethroning the perennial roadster, especially given the flak the GT86 gets when pit against the new MX-5. The S-FR will be powered by a tuned version of the 2NR-FKE, with revised port design for an output of 130 PS and 151 Nm of torque. Kerb weight is slated to be 980 kg, which is 10 kg less than the new Miata in 1.5-litre form.
The other important thing to note is the S-FR only comes with a 6-speed manual. There will be no automatic option for those too lazy to shift cogs on their own. It’s also supposedly going to be a fair bit cheaper than the MX-5, but whether this holds up when Toyota exports the car is a different issue altogether.
By today’s standards, 130 PS may not seem like a lot of bang for your buck. But it is also worth remembering that the old Toyota AE86 Corolla (yes, the Initial D car) had a very similar power to weight ratio (once you got past the dodgy JIT engine power measurement), and that was a mighty fun car to drive. It’s admirable that Toyota is trying to bring back these enjoyable little cars, but we can only hope that it doesn’t run them out of business in the process. It is said that the car will be revealed in full on October 28th at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
