Scion FR-S Morphs into Toyota 86

AutoInformed.com

In addition to the Toyota 86 name change, two other Scion vehicles will have new designations for 2017. The Toyota Corolla iM and Toyota Yaris iA will join Toyota’s U.S. small car line-up.

The former Scion FR-S appeared as the 2017 Toyota 86 at the New York International Auto Show with interior and exterior changes, as well as suspension and powertrain tweaks. The new Toyota 86 will go on sale at all Toyota dealerships this fall.

“When we announced the transition of the Scion models to Toyota we hadn’t planned on changing the names of our cars, but by popular demand, for our sports car, we decided to adopt the global name of 86,” said Toyota Division Group Vice President, Bill Fay.

For its move to Toyota, the 86 sports car adopts more “aggressive styling” with a larger center intake emphasizing the low, wide stance. The front has LED front headlamps and turn signals, and a revised bumper. The rear now has LED tail lamps and a new bumper design. The alloy wheels have a twisted spoke design and 86 logos have been incorporated into a badge on the front fender, as well as inside the front headlamps.

The interior also has the 86 logo on the new “Grandlux” material used on the instrument panel surround. The same material provides a soft feel to the door trim. Drivers also will enjoy new seating material with silver stitching and a sporty steering wheel with integrated audio controls and an 86 logo on the center hub.

Enhanced control and agile performance are claimed via revised damper tuning and a spring rate changes. On the manual version of the car, additional performance comes from a gear ratio change and a torque increase to 156 lb.-ft., as well as a five-horsepower increase to 205. Hill start assist control helps prevent the car from rolling back on steep hills.

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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