ydooby

Best video review of the FR-S yet from AutoGuide...the full version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p54jGWu2aP0

ydooby

From the specs listed in the leaked training manual, we already have the official JC08 combined fuel economy figure of 12.4km/L (29.17mpg) for the 17"-wheeled version of the JDM 86, although it's more loaded than the FR-S and therefore slightly heavier and less efficient.

If we use the MX-5's JC08 rating of 11.8km/L (27.76mpg) and EPA rating of 25mpg as a reference, we can predict the FR-S's EPA combined mileage to be 29.17mpg x 25 / 27.76 = 26.27mpg.

Motor

Where at any point did I act like I wrote those articles? Not once. Ever. If someone can't roll their mouse cursor over the bolded blue URL text and notice the source of the article at the bottom of their brower...then I don't know what to tell you. Maybe they're an idiot. If you haven't noticed, this is pretty prevalent on this forum. Hell, just randomly look at a few threads in Car Chat on this page and notice that certain users, who happen to have a higher post count than me, do it often. Anyways, nice review of the FR-S and new GS.

motohide

Cool, didn't mean to alarm... Just trying to keep internet space good with manners, one post at a time

motohide

Well EPA figures shouldn't be taken as Actual, as that's highly dependent on the drivers. However the EPA is based on a fixed duty cycle, on a calibration test course, using a wide range of parameters that are included, so that one may compare it fairly to another car who has had the same measurement taken. So It's actually much more fit for "comparisons" than various user reports that can greatly vary by driving, location, environment, temps and even things like altitude. That is unless the reports are based on very strict reporting with methods and it is a tally of thousands of users averaged out.

motohide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...tu.be


Our friend from Japan, Takashi Oi, Rev-Speed magazine (and formerly narrator/driver of Best Motoring Video, and GT300/N1 Taikyu races) drives the Subaru BRZ.

Note that the car is on OEM 17" Eco-Tires that are standard on this car as well as the FRS. This was chosen for the sole reason that the Chief Engineers wanted everyone to experience at ease, the incredible balance and drivability this car has. Of course, for those who can drive at much higher limits are free to choose a more grippy tires and take it higher. But one can really see how the car responds to steering inputs, throttle controls, and forgiving but very effective use of all of the available tire grip. It just looks like so much fun to drive, doesn't it?

Mr.Oi thinks it will be a hit too!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moto_club4ag/6524297779/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moto_club4ag/6524297779/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moto_club4ag/, on Flickr

SaintNexus

I just think it'll be amazing if the FR-S can get a lap time close to the 335i, that would be AMAZING!!

The 335i Coupe has a time of 8:26.

I think the minimum should be the NSX (8:38) or S2K (8:39).

If it gets a time of 8:30, then it handles just as good as a bmw, at half the cost!!!

motohide

According to my emails from engineers at Nurburgring, a several months ago.

Unofficially, the stock test mule FT86 narrowly beat the lap time of the Subaru WRX Sti during testing on the Nurburgring a several months ago... I am not sure what tires were equipped for this testing, but I would imagine, with some sort of sports street tires. This was 3 weeks or so after I met with Mr.Tada, the chief engineer back in May. He did mention that it doesn't take much to post a fairly fast lap in this car as the vehicle is very communicative and predictable. And, on a course like Nordeschlife (Old North at the Nurburgring) the drivers can stay fairly confident, and push really hard, not having to entrust electronic devices and advanced traction systems.
The car is simple as a basic race car in that way, and know everything that is happening in the minutes and seconds while doing a fast lap here.

Of course, I did not get the actual time, but if the time set by a Stock WRX STi is a measure, then in the hands of a very skilled driver, the FT86 siblings can set a pretty fast lap just out of its virtues of balance, weight and design, gaining precious seconds the traditional way, with light weight, and braking/cornering prowess that is inherent to such cars.

gengar

Well, I sure hope so - because this is what car enthusiasts need in order to keep our segment of the industry alive.

The sad reality is that the car enthusiast segment is dying. This is one reason I decided to pull the trigger and buy an LFA, because I honestly feel there is a chance that the LFA could be the last great internal combustion car ever made.

The biggest problem as I see it is that young people don't want performance cars anymore. When I was in high school, pretty much all my classmates wanted fun cars to drive. They'd beg their parents to get them something slightly cooler when they turned 16, or even get jobs just so they could afford something more interesting. (I did the same thing, but I got stuck with an old beat-up Volvo station wagon - but hey, it was turbo'd, so I still had fun with it.)

Now kids would rather ask for the latest smartphone or other technological gadget for their 16th birthday. I'm not even that old, and that just goes to show how much attitudes have changed. A huge reason for this shift is that there just aren't fun cars out there anymore that the average young person (much less a 16-year-old) could wish for even on the used market. IMO we've lost an entire generation of car enthusiasts because manufactures had their heads in the wrong place and/or didn't have the ***** to design anything amazing.

Ever since I got my LFA allocation, I've been exposed to many Lexus/Toyota execs/employees, and basically for nearly the last 2 years I've told every one who would listen - from Scott Pruett to various LFA product specialists to the head of Lexus brand development to (through various interpreters) Haruhiko Tanahashi and Shigeru Yamanada and the plant manager of Toyota's Motomachi factory - that cars need to get back to being affordable and being fun to drive. I told them that manufacturers need to get away from the absurdly stupid horsepower wars and lap time chasing and all the other BS that is so prevalent in the industry today (a problem is obviously systemic when it runs the gamut from Nissan to Ferrari).

Certainly the FT86 was in development before I talked to all these people, and I'm sure glad it has come to fruition. This is a car that can expose a huge portion of the population once again to the sporty car. It can teach people once again what it means to have a car that feels brilliant, that connects driver to road, and that generates excitement - all because it is fun and engaging to drive. And hopefully the FT86 changes the enthusiasm of young people, as a very important side effect of the success of the FT86 is that in 10 years or even 5 years, these cars will be available even more cheaply on the secondary market allowing for more young people to enjoy these cars. And hopefully future models of the same mold as the FT86, produced by a wide array of manufacturers who once again understand the importance of fun-to-drive cars, will continue this trend.

And that's why every car enthusiast should be raving about how awesome the FT86 is and should be giving every last bit of hope that it will be legendary, because car enthusiasts for their own sakes NEED the FT86 to be a success.

motohide

Very well put and I wholeheartedly agree.
Congratulations on the investment and enjoyment of the LFA.

I've been connected with product development of the FT86 Project at Toyota (Japan) since 2006 on and off, and I am extremely glad that it finally came to us as a product.
Dspite all the obstacles and trials it has met along the way, it is now getting great reviews.
My only desire now, is for everyone who is into the joy of driving, and enthusiastic about automobiles,
to use this car as a tool to learn and advance their driving skills, connect with others in enjoyment, and keep the spirit going for many more generations of owners.

First meeting with Mr.H and Mr.T of Toyota in 2006 on this car, was about teaching the young engineers and managers who were to be assigned this task.
Teaching them not about car building or complex science of it, but I was asked to explain to them over a few days, and show them by visiting a few locations, why a car like the Beetle, Porsche 911, Mustang, can stand the test of time, and have great following many decades later. And, to teach them about the intrinsics of an automobile, beyond that is scientific or numerical.

I think the result as FT86 siblings of Toyota 86, Scion BRZ, and Scion FRS, all reflect this original goal.
Now it is up to the consumers, PR departments, Marketing, and corporate policies which all need to support the sub-cultures and groups that will be born from this.

I hope it does very well, and concise and focused efforts are backing it at launch, short and long term.

SaintNexus

Very interesting.

The WRX STi has a lap time of 8:24, and since the FRS was able to beat that, then it's a better track car then the 335i (8:26)!!

Insane.

spwolf

although I have to mention that comparing it to 335i makes no sense and that car itself is designed for fun and not pure numbers... If you simply put stickier tires and turbo you will get a lot better results but at the hands of professional driver... this car seems to me to be made to get everyone to drive it well, instead of few professional drivers on closed course.

ydooby

8:24 is the record of the last-gen WRX STi so it he may have referred to the current-gen WRX STi, which is generally even faster than the last-gen on the track. Then again the current-gen WRX STi hasn't set an official 'Ring record so he may indeed be referring to the last-gen.

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

handling should be even greater when you put on some ultra high performance summer tires in 225/45/17 like the article said.

Tilps

TRD: