NAIAS: Scion "Race" FR-S and "First 86" Program

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

Scion debuted a “racing” version of its FR-S at Detroit today. The word “racing” appears in quotes because this vehicle will actually compete in Formula DRIFT, which is no more “racing” than it is “championship chess”. When a real racing FR-S appears — and it certainly will — it’s likely that the Grand-Am Continental Tire Series or Speed World Challenge will be its first port of call.

Race teams who want to make sure their FR-S arrives in time to participate in the 2012 season might want to take advantage of another bit of FR-S news… a “hand-raiser” opportunity to be one of the first eighty-six owners in the United States.

ScionFirst86 is Scion/Toyota’s effort to make sure the most enthusiastic hachi-roku fanatics get their hands on the first FR-Ses to land on these shores. It’s a nice gesture, and it’s also a nice way to make an end run around the predatory instincts of Toyota dealers, who given the chance would certainly slap a $10,000 ADP sticker on every FR-S to arrive in 2012. Click the link for details. Your humble author is certainly considering it. If only Ford hadn’t debuted a lime green Boss 302 today…

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

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  • Stryker1 Stryker1 on Jan 09, 2012

    any MSRP on this thing?

  • Tosh Tosh on Jan 09, 2012

    As if I cared what The Marketing Dept does, as long as the product suits my needs for holding four adults in a pinch, I'm still interested in a test drive.

    • Burgersandbeer Burgersandbeer on Jan 09, 2012

      From what I have read and the pictures I have seen, I don't see how this car can hold four adults. This car isn't supposed to be much bigger than a miata. The rear seats are for insurance purposes and luggage space.

  • Indi500fan Indi500fan on Jan 09, 2012

    I assume if anybody is going to build one of these to race, they'll start with a BIW, not a finished car. We were even doing that way back in the late 70s with SCCA cars.

  • Cognoscenti Cognoscenti on Jan 10, 2012

    I still have to get over the fact that it is to be marketed as a Scion. Even saying it out loud... blech!

    • See 1 previous
    • Mnm4ever Mnm4ever on Jan 10, 2012

      @MR2turbo4evr I am hoping the Subaru version will have the better interior. I noticed in the pictures that the Subaru badge appears to be the same size and shape as the Toyota badge... shouldn't be too hard to swap them out for Celica or GT86 badges! And I could avoid buying a Scion that way.

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