Even as sales taper off, the Scion FR-S—and its Subaru BRZ twin—are speaking to car enthusiasts and purists around the globe. The simplicity of design, the straightforward front-engine, rear-drive layout, and the choice of a rev-happy, naturally aspirated engine have turned it into something like the fixed-roof equivalent of a Mazda Miata.
-But alas, Subaru and Toyota (the FR-S is marketed as the Toyota GT86) elsewhere may have taken the purist approach a bit too far. The interior is clad with hard plastic parts; the noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics leave much to be desired. As a result, all but the hard-core enthusiasts have stayed away from the sporty twins.
-With the FR-S Release Series 2.0, a special edition of which 1000 units will be built, Scion is addressing that issue. The Release Series 2.0 is fitted with “luxurious appointments and premium features” such as black microsuede-upholstered seats and uplevel camel-colored trim on the armrests and door panels. It also packs additional equipment such as dual-zone air conditioning, HID xenon headlights, and a keyless ignition with pushbutton start. Outside, the Release Series 2.0 is denoted by its Lunar Storm paint, special 17-inch wheels, and front and rear spoilers.
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Those refinements don’t come cheap; the price jumps from $26,895 for a base FR-S to $30,305 for the Release Series 2.0 (add $1100 for the automatic). And while the features are otherwise not available at Scion, most of them are included in the Subaru BRZ Limited.
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- 2016 Scion FR-S Manual Instrumented Test: Keeping the Affordable Sports Car on the Enthusiasts’ Radar
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- Mazda Miata Could Also Spawn Second-Gen Toyota and Subaru Sports Cars
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- Scion FR-S Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Photos, Reviews, and More
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Although it may seem somewhat disingenuous to make a sports car noted for its purism slightly less purist, we do applaud Scion for fixing some of its glaring issues—in a way that doesn’t detract from the vehicle’s performance. Despite Scion’s claims, the modifications don’t turn the FR-S into a “lap of luxury.” But the treatment may prompt a few more drivers to take a well-deserved closer look at this fun and cheerful sports car. And that’s not lame at all.
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