Heir To The Throne – The New Scion FR-S

As the most recent entry in the line of solid automotive offerings that are crafted by the niche car company, the Scion FR-S burst onto the scene in 2013 with performance and styling that caught the attention of car enthusiasts from the start. The FR-S is built with sporty driving in mind.

The design engineers stripped the car down to its essentials, shedding some 600 pounds of extra weight compared to other vehicles in its class. Powered with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, the FR-S has plenty of go-power to get its lightweight frame going. The car comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission that many sports car drivers prefer. There is an automatic transmission available, which is the only factory-offered option on the car. Power delivered via either transmission goes to rear-wheel drive that helps to deliver agile and aggressive handling performance.

Loaded With Everything

Because of Scion’s pure-pricing strategy, every FR-S goes to the dealer with a range of standard features and no available extras (except for the upgrade to the automatic transmission system). The price for the car is as advertised, with no haggling at the dealership over options, as is typical of many car purchase experiences. Aftermarket companies produce hundreds of extras and accessories that can be added on to the new FR-S, though, so there is no lack of bling for those who like their new car to have it all.

For everyone who is happy ordering off the standard menu the FR-S comes loaded:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Air-conditioning
• Full power system – windows and door locks
• Six-way manual adjustable driver’s seat
• Bluetooth capable
• 8-speaker sound system with CD player and HD radio and MP-3 integration

The list of standard features goes on, and compares very favorably with other cars in its class for options available at the set price point. With no shortage of accessories available to add to the package, the FR-S can be as tricked out as its new owner needs it to be. For many drivers, though, the point of the FR-S is the driving experience. Extra accessories and bling can only weigh down the slim sports car, so most driving enthusiasts choose their options selectively.

Performance

The FR-S is designed as a sporty driving car, with a very simple, stripped down interior devoid of a lot of extras. Some reviewers have complained of the hard plastic feel of the driver’s compartment, while others praise the car’s single-mindedness, focused exclusively on the driver experience. The front seats are bolstered for full support in aggressive road driving. The back seats are really only suited to small packages or small children, as is common in the sporty class of automobile,. Cargo space is adequate for a sports car, but most drivers will not want to be weighed down by a lot of junk in the trunk anyway, when they are enjoying the open road in a Scion FR-S. With driving excitement to spare and plenty of standard safety and electronics features to make the experience a joy, the FR-S is Scion’s entry into the pure sports car line, and it is a success in its first few years out of the blocks.