Scion FR-S vs. The New Genesis Coupe

We begin with the Scion FR-S....

The Scion FR-S or whatever you may call it the Toyota GT86

...yes I know. I lied about the whole exclusivity thing. I didn't expect how did this car showed up on Forza Motorsport 4 via the August Playseat Car Pack but in order to figure it out how did this car behave, even though this car is the fruit of its Toyota-Subaru joint venture, I decided to drive it round the track to see what is what....

That scares me off!

Wahhhh! No! No! WAAAAHHHH!!!! WAAAAAHHHH!!!!

Pushing through the limits

WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A brighter way to ruin your underwear

WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!  WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! MOMMY!!!!!!! I WANT MY MOMMY!!!!!!

The nightmare ends.

...and that concludes this test drive of the Scion FR-S. It's terrifying but if I want a car better than the Scion FR-S, I should be getting one of these instead...

And it begins....

Some people have told that in last four years or so, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is just a low-cost rear-wheel drive Korean sports coupe that is cheaper on anything but...NOT ANYMORE IT ISN'T!

Party like a rock star

This new 2013 model of the Genesis Coupe, daintily trimmed as 3.8 Track, looks pretty much the same as the other present-day Hyundai models but now it's lighter and more powerful than ever. It now has a 3.8 V6 Lambda GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine which produces 348HP of power, which means this streak of K-POP is even faster than the old Genesis Coupe and it's even faster than American V6 pony cars and the Infiniti G37S in acceleration and quarter-mile times.

Question is...is it powerful than the Scion FR-S? Let's see....That FR-S has a FA20 D4S Boxer engine that produces about nearly 200HP of power and generally, lighter than the 2013 Genesis Coupe. Let's remember that with the New Genesis Coupe's GDi engine, the kind of engine we won't be getting in the Philippines because of our local fuels' incompatibility, it's more powerful so...let's find out!

Genesis Coupe with the GDi engine trounced the boxer sports coupe

So, the new model beats the FR-S in the straights and it's easier to drive even though it's an FR sportscar made from a rapidly growing country that brought you Koreanovelas and K-POP music to the world or to put it on this way, the Hallyu (Korean wave).

The Hallyu wave has overtaken the otaku!

From behind, the FR-S is all over the place, it was like being chased by a big giant monster trying to swallow me but too slow to catch up on me. I can see that on my rear view mirror or monitor perhaps but hey, don't get me wrong because even though it has a dynamic driving feel, it's still very Hallyu-ish. The makgeoli, the bulgogi, kimchi, K-POP music, K-Dramas, that's what fueled it. Behind the shouty exterior beats the heart of any Japanese or European sports cars trying to catch up. I mean, everyone can drive this one straight away. No problem at all...

Picture a scene: it's a beautiful day when there's a Genesis Coupe waiting to be driven and then some woman in her kissogram outfit getting in. While driving, she's turning into a blonde woman, which later turned into a young African-American woman, and then later on, she's now a ginger-haired middle-aged woman, and soon afterwards, it's that young, ginger-haired woman who was a kissogram before but now, instead of her kissogram uniform, she now wears a brown fitted leather jacket, burgundy v-neck sweater, denim mini-skirt, stockings, and some tan cowboy boots. What? What did I said?

Drawbacks? Well, in real life, you could expect an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddles behind the steering wheel and sadly though, eight gears is too much like the Lexus IS F. What I have here is a 6-speed manual transmission with a clutch pedal below and that means that there's no space for my left foot. Both of them are annoying to me like the annoying orange.

So far as for styling, the FR-S is just um....like a Toyota FT-86 concept car even personal. The Genesis Coupe though is one of the best-looking Korean cars ever built even when it comes with its pointy and shouty Veloster-style nose. They say that this is all part of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture and the reason why the Veloster-like face was applied on the Genesis Coupe is because to accommodate their GDi 3.8L V6 engine or an improved and turbocharged 2.0 TCi engine. These two engines combine performance and ecology so if I had the devil's own job, I have my own point to explain why.

As concerned, the biggest problem of this car was it's pricing and with the cost of $33,875 for the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track, it's expensive than the fully-equipped FR-S. So it's your choice really. You can either have a kissogram attacked you with a cricket bat or a car that can be driven by one.

(applause)

How? How could you not like the FR-S you useless, idioting, coke-drinking, feckless, fat, boring, hopeless, talentless, dull, hypocrite, thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, suede-laden, denim-laden, idiot?

I knew you gonna said that.

(audience laughing)

But we have to actually find out how fast it is by lending it to our tamed racing driver. Some say his favorite Doctor Who girl was actually River Song...

(audience laughing)

...and yet, he received numerous gold medals by stealing them from others...

(audience laughing)

...all we know is he's called The Stig!

(applause)

 

So, our new 2013 Genesis Coupe did it in 1:29.649 so that's faster than our 930 911 Turbo so, let's finish this day off!

No! No, no, wait! What about the FR-S?

Um....

Tell me....is it better than the New Genesis Coupe?

Um...Let's see!




So...what time did our FR-S got?

Um...

What time?

1:30.211

No! No! No!

Loser! Loser!

(audience laughing)

Scion FR-S: Bringing Twin Ring Motegi back to GT5

Twin Ring Motegi is back!

Now you may probably remember back in the final round of the recently ended GT Academy 2012, we were shocked that the Twin Ring Motegi was included on the event but only the east section of the Road Course. It was like we didn't get it but joy of joys, Twin Ring Motegi is back on Gran Turismo 5 as a DLC. What you have is the complete set; the Road Course, the east section of the Road Course, the west section of the Road Course, and the oval Super Speedway. Two tracks with four layouts. Little known fact that this Honda-owned racetrack has a Gran Turismo cafe on it. Anyone visited on the Gran Turismo cafe?

Anyway, it kinda feels like I forgot all about the Twin Ring Motegi but relearn the Twin Ring Motegi, I need a car that will do that kind of job. Something sporty, something boxer, something 2-door, something RWD.

THE BRAND NEW SCION FR-S!

Bringing Twin Ring Motegi back to GT5 is
provided by the new 2013 Scion FR-S

It maybe brand new but actually this Scion FR-S really is more than just brand new. Its FR layout, boxer 4 engine, and the joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries (makers of Subaru) really made it unique. I was hoping for the Subaru BRZ but who am I caring for? The Scion FR-S really is BRINGING THE SPORT BACK TO THE CAR! Ha ha ha ha!

FR-S drift!

Now you might be saying that this is just the Toyota GT86 with Toyota badges thrown away in favor of Scion badges but still retaining the 86 logo on the sides. I once drove the Toyota 86 last year and I really favored on its handling nature. This experience I had on the GT86 is the same thing I'd experience on the Scion FR-S. You still have the same FA20 engine that powered the TOYOTA 86. It churns out 200 hp @ 7,000 RPM of power and 151 lb.-ft @ 6,600 RPM of torque.

This is somewhat an Americanized GT86

FR Boxer Coupe loves to drift!

When you look at the heritage of the Scion FR-S, it appears that current Toyota CEO, Akio Toyoda, was heavily involved on that project. He's a motorsport enthusiast and he wanted to create a sports car that he would want to drive. Cars like the Sports 800, 2000GT, and the legendary AE86, that's how either the GT86 or the FR-S reminded me of those. You can feel the DNA all over it.

Surely, the GT86 and the FR-S are all the same thing. They have the same looks, they have the same engine, but to spot the difference, the GT86 was the right-hand drive while the FR-S was in the left-hand drive. There's something has to do with this....

You should admit that SONY has the exclusive rights for the TOYOTA 86 and the Scion FR-S because of what I heard, Toyota Motor Corporation will be developing a new feature that will record their 86/FR-S track-day progress through the Playstation. A PS3-capable track-day black box. That's what that is.

Scoop: http://www.leftlanenews.com/toyota-developing-ps3-capable-track-day-black-box-for-fr-s-gt86.html

If that became reality, the TOYOTA 86 would only work if you are in Tsukuba, Fuji Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi, and Suzuka Circuit. Scion FR-S? Well, it would only work if you're in the Daytona, Laguna Seca, or Indianapolis. Just saying...

Finished touring Twin Ring Motegi with the FR-S

And there we are, I have finally relearned the whole Twin Ring Motegi Road Course with the Scion FR-S. Oh and in case you haven't notice, the SCION FR-S is yours to collect, tune, and race as a free Gran Turismo 5 DLC. Be sure to get it ahead of everybody else because the SCION FR-S is the car that brought Twin Ring Motegi back to GT5. He he he....

Guess I should hand it over to the tamed racing driver....

The Stig's close-up with the FR-S!

Yep, The Stig was very happy, knowing that this close-up shot really is STIG APPROVED.

SCION FR-S

2013 Scion FR-S

*The TOYOTA 86 is sold as the SCION FR-S in North America

Inspired from the 2009 FT-86 Concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and this is Toyota's first sports coupe in collaboration with Subaru, welcome to the dawn of the new Toyota as we know it today. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new SCION FR-S. A sportscar unlike any other.

The FR-S name is somewhat more like the deceased Toyota MR-S but the M letter has been replaced by the letter F. True to its name, this is an FR sports coupe. The exterior design of the FR-S is heavily inspired from the two FT-86 Concept cars, one by Tokyo and one from last year's Geneva. This provides a menacing appearance up close and personal and a prolific rear view, making this a very unique sportscar that was started as a concept and turned into a reality. On the side view, you can expect seeing the "86" logo with some pistons on it, which makes it also unique to the eyes of car enthusiasts.

Inside the FR-S, it's all business for the driver. The interior is just focused solely to be more race-inspired rather than being too comfy. If you look closely at the instrumental panel, you should notice that the tachometer looks somewhat similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG but who cares? That instrument panel is a genuine "FR-S" trademark on it. Because this car's interior is not focused on being luxurious, the driver doesn't bother at all because he was surely focused for some thriller at Laguna Seca, Indianapolis, Road America, Road Atlanta, or Infineon Raceway.

Now, we're into the performance zone. Under the hood, the FR-S is equipped with a new 2.0L D-4S BOXER engine, which is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru, and they called it FA20. The new FA20 engine develops 200PS of power and 205Nm of torque. It promises about combined MPG from 25 to 28. There are two transmission types available such as a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Paddle Shit transmission. Those who are looking for some hardcore fun should prefer the 6-speed manual transmission because it completes the 86's characteristics. While the FR-S may not be the fastest, it excels in handling because of the sport-tuned suspension system. If the driver switches to Sport Mode, that sharpens the throttle response and handling, making this 86 a hoodlum you won't escape.

Is the FR-S safe? Well, yes because Toyota added some safety features to the 86, which makes it hard to explain what are those, such as the Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Limited Slip Differential, and six airbags. Uh, why I am explaining about the 86's safety? I don't need it because I always want to turn the traction control off and get this car to drive more dangerously if you're on Mt. Haruna.

Colors available on the FR-S are Raven, Asphalt, Ultramarine, Firestorm, Hot Lava, Argento, and Whiteout.

My comment:
Even with the Stateside name, the Scion FR-S brings the sport back to the car. This car was priced competitively to its rival, the 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. This would be the most interesting must-have for a Scion fan.

Photo: Toyota Motor Sales USA

ALERT! Strong Demand delays Subaru BRZ delivery to early next year...

2013 Subaru BRZ

This isn't how we cock about. It's true! Due to the strong demand to Subaru's first RWD sports coupe, the BRZ, Fuji Heavy Industries said that the delivery for these will be delayed through early 2013.

Subaru's BRZ is the first RWD sports car in joint partnership with Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries. It went on sale in Japan since March 28, 2012.

Those who are planning to buy the BRZ, bad luck because you have to wait 'till next year. Those who already have one, no harm done...

Scoop: http://paultan.org/2012/04/13/subaru-brz-domestic-deliveries-delayed-to-jan-2013/

So, with BRZ delivery pushed through next year, would the TOYOTA 86 be affected? Oh my...

Subaru pitches in Meisa Kuroki for the BRZ's TV commercial

2013 Subaru BRZ meets Meisa Kuroki

Well, I can't believe it. In case you haven't know, Subaru pitches in Japanese actress, Meisa Kuroki, as the endorser for the new BRZ sports coupe. You may probably remember Meisa Kuroki from last year's Andalusia movie and from the Japanese Nestle Kit Kat commercial but you wouldn't believe she really fits her personality with this car.

The Subaru BRZ was released last week and it is scheduled to go on sale at the end of March 2012. This is the first rear-wheel drive sports coupe in joint agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation. This is the TOYOTA 86 with the Pleiades' point of view. The BRZ naming implies as "Boxer Rear-Wheel-Drive Zenith".

Subaru BRZ (ZC6)

Over the years, Subaru makes 4WD cars that is proven to be the trademark of this Japanese carmaker. Cars like the Legacy, the Impreza, the Forester, and the Exiga, spanning several years using the same layout that truly becomes the "beauty of all-wheel drive". What will Subaru happens if they went to a completely different direction by creating their first RWD car in collaboration with Toyota?

2013 Subaru BRZ

Meet the BRZ, Subaru's first rear-wheel drive sports coupe that truly sent this brand to the opposite direction. When I say opposite, well you get the idea. This car is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru, and this is how they see the TOYOTA 86 in the Pleiades' point of view. At first glance, it looks the same as the TOYOTA 86 but take a second look and you'll see that the front bumper is completely different, or think of it as an inverted version of the TOYOTA 86's front bumper. The 86 emblem you found on the TOYOTA 86 has been ditched in favor of something that I can't understand what it is. I have no idea how can there will be some minor alterations to make this BRZ more identical to the 86 (Hachi-Roku), but still, this design looks completely sleek in every direction.

2013 Subaru BRZ interior

The similarly identical interior of the BRZ is how you get the same feeling from the TOYOTA 86 but you'll see that the steering wheel is different as are the instrumental panel. What bothers me is when the SLS AMG-style tachometer from the TOYOTA 86 has been ditched in favor of somewhat conventional or somewhat similar from the old Mazda Axela. Guess you have finally spot the differences between the TOYOTA 86 and the Subaru BRZ!

2013 Subaru BRZ

So, what about performance? The BRZ is equipped with a new 2.0L D-4S BOXER engine, which is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru, and they called it FA20. The new FA20 engine develops 200PS of power and 205Nm of torque. It promises about 12.4km/L to 13.4km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 mode test cycle. There are two transmission types available such as a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Paddle Shit transmission. Those who are looking for some hardcore fun should prefer the 6-speed manual transmission because it completes the BRZ's characteristics.

Colors available for the BRZ are Satin White Pearl, Dark Grey Metallic, Lightning Red, WR Blue Mica, Sterling Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, and Galaxy Blue Silica.

My Comment:
So, is this going to be a five-minute argument or a full half-hour? The point is that Toyota already made the 86 for people who are so enthusiastic about JDM cars but why would Subaru making its own take on the TOYOTA 86? Don't you know what that is? This would have been my car!

Anyway, sales for the Subaru BRZ will start in Japan this late March 28, 2012. Yeah, that car would be the first to go on sale in Japan this spring, earlier than the TOYOTA 86's April on-sale date. Gosh, that's insufferable...

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries

TOYOTA 86 (ZN6)

When the Toyota MR-S was discontinued in 2007, it seems that Toyota is no longer creating cars that fuels the excitement of the average car enthusiast who are looking for something sporty. Seems that they've only focused on cars that follow the eco-car genzei system and they kept making boring cars that ruined Japan's no. 1 carmaker, until now...

2013 Toyota 86

Inspired from the 2009 FT-86 Concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and this is Toyota's first sports coupe in collaboration with Subaru, welcome to the dawn of the new Toyota as we know it today. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new Toyota 86. A sportscar unlike any other.

86, or Hachi-Roku in Japanese, is the name given in tribute of the best drifting cars of all time, the Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 and the Toyota Corolla Levin AE86. So, the main question is, can the Toyota 86 be a modern take of the classic AE86 hatches? You know what? Let's find out. The exterior design of the Toyota 86 is heavily inspired from the two FT-86 Concept cars, one by Tokyo and one from last year's Geneva. This provides a menacing appearance up close and personal and a prolific rear view, making this a very unique sportscar that was started as a concept and turned into a reality. On the side view, you can expect seeing the "86" logo with some pistons on it, which makes it also unique to the eyes of car enthusiasts.

2013 Toyota 86 interior

Inside the Toyota 86, it's all business for the driver. The interior is just focused solely to be more race-inspired rather than being too comfy, well that is if you have variants like the "GT" and the "GT Limited". If you look closely at the instrumental panel, you should notice that the tachometer looks somewhat similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG but who cares? That instrument panel is a genuine "86" trademark on it. Because this car's interior is not focused on being luxurious, the driver doesn't bother at all because he was surely focused for some thriller at the Shutokou, the kaido, or at the racetrack, especially at the Fuji Speedway.

2013 Toyota 86

Now, we're into the performance zone. Under the hood, the TOYOTA 86 is equipped with a new 2.0L D-4S BOXER engine, which is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru, and they called it FA20. The new FA20 engine develops 200PS of power and 205Nm of torque. It promises about 12.4km/L to 13.4km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 mode test cycle. There are two transmission types available such as a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Paddle Shit transmission. Those who are looking for some hardcore fun should prefer the 6-speed manual transmission because it completes the 86's characteristics. While the 86 may not be the fastest, it excels in handling because of the sport-tuned suspension system. If the driver switches to Sport Mode, that sharpens the throttle response and handling, making this 86 a hoodlum you won't escape.

Is the TOYOTA 86 safe? Well, yes because Toyota added some safety features to the 86, which makes it hard to explain what are those, such as the Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Limited Slip Differential, and six airbags. Uh, why I am explaining about the 86's safety? I don't need it because I always want to turn the traction control off and get this car to drive more dangerously if you're on Mt. Haruna.

Colors available on the TOYOTA 86 are Satin White Pearl, Sterling Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Lightning Red, Orange Metallic, and Galaxy Blue Silica.

My Comment:
This is the Toyota 86, not the AE86, because this FR sports car is more than just a car, it's a culture of its own right. I've never seen a car that can be proven to be one of the best FR cars in Toyota history but I drove this car a lot thanks to Gran Turismo 5.

The TOYOTA 86 will go on sale in Japan this April 6 and also, Toyota will be opening some "AREA 86" specialty shops at selected Toyota/Toyopet/Netz/Corolla dealers throughout Japan that is more than just a specialty shop, it's socialization for people who really love cars. Perhaps this was been the opening salvo for Toyota's FUN TO DRIVE AGAIN slogan...

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

A very special, STIG APPROVED, GT5 Christmas Gift for all - the 2013 Toyota 86

Song played in my Personal BGM: あ~よかった (Version Iori) by Iori Minase (CV: Rie Kugiymiya)

From the album: THE IDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 2 -SECOND SEASON- 01 Iori Minase

Testing the 86 at its home ground.
That is, Fuji Speedway.

This is a very special Christmas Present from Gran Turismo 5 for those who've updated to Version 2.02 and the new Toyota 86 (Hachi-Roku), or what GT5 calls it Toyota 86 GT '12, would be the best gift we've ever opened to experience the first bite before the actual model goes on sale in Japan next year. Now, we have the chance to sample Toyota's first boxer-engine sports car that was been a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries, makers of Subaru.

The Stig meets the new Hachi-Roku

Now, for my very first impressions about the new Toyota 86 is that the handling is very great for an FR sports car. What bothers me is when is flicked the view to "Normal View". Seems that the camera angle is gone at the wrong side of the screen and all I can see is some minor rumblings every time I corner the Toyota 86. Upon setting it on Interior View, seems that the new Toyota 86 has a good looking instrumental cluster and the steering wheel looks cool when it has something red on it. It's just one of the many reasons why the Toyota 86 is made to be somewhat special for the player. In fact, this car is a Gran Turismo 5 exclusive. I kinda love the sound of the 86's engine start though and I can almost hear the noise of the Boxer engine.

The 86 logo looks great with some pistons on it!

Glad to know that the Toyota GT 86 is a Premium Tier car so it can be essentially great to go out for some Photo Travel with this sports car. Also, if you're dressing as The Stig (or as the Ghost of Black Stig), you're welcome because we can expect seeing The Stig meets the new Toyota 86 face to face, which unfortunately I did.

The Stig happily drives the new Toyota 86
at the Top Gear Test Track!!!

The Toyota 86 is the best GT5 Christmas present we ever had because we've updated the game to Version 2.02 and once you tried it, forever smitten...