Toyobaru trio hits the bull’s eye

2013 Scion FR-S

Mere days after the “official” unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show, followed by well-orchestrated first drives at Japan’s Sodegaura Forest raceway and Subaru’s Test and Development Centre in Tochigi, the verdict in in: the Toyobaru Triplets have hit the enthusiast bull’s eye.

The online reviews from Japan – especially the detailed reporting from Jonathon Ramsey and Michael Harley at autoblog – should serve as notice to other manufacturers that the Toyota GT 86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are actually cleverly engineered automotive stun grenades, designed to shake up the status quo in the entry-level performance market. When the dust settles, the Toyobarus will almost certainly snag a sizable chunk of sales in a segment that’s long been dominated by Asian and European FWD offerings and less sophisticated RWD American iron.

The specs tell part of the story: 200 hp @ 7,000 RPM and 151 pound-feet of torque @ 6,600 RPM from a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat four that’s mounted low and snug to the firewall to keep the centre of gravity low; short-throw six-speed manual gearbox (six-speed auto available); rear-wheel drive with standard limited-slip differential; 2,700 lb. (estimated) curb weight; MacPherson struts up front, double wishbones at the rear.

What the numbers don’t tell is how well the package comes together. Creating what Toyota calls “Pure Balance” was the engineering objective, and first reviews pronounce that damn fine, if not “pure’” engine/gearbox/chassis/suspension balance has been achieved.

Success wasn’t a given: this is Subaru’s first entry into the front-engine/rear-drive performance trenches, and Toyota hasn’t played in this segment since the demise of the AE86 Corolla GT-S and Supra in the last millennium. That the newly formed partnership pretty much nailed it with their first offering reflects a laudable adherence to the original Toyota vision for the platform, and a high level of inter-company engineering and marketing co-operation.

While the Toyobarus are as complete a package as one could reasonably expect at the anticipated $25k-$30k price point, the buzz in the aftermarket community is already building.

Well-bostered seats and no-frills cockpit

For tuners, the platform is a blank canvas, and within weeks of the FR-S and the BRZ hitting our shores (the GT 86 won’t be sold in North America) the aftermarket pipeline will begin filling with intake and exhaust upgrades, suspension tweaks and wheel/tire packages. Within a few months, expect to see turbos, body kits, and a full array of interior and exterior upgrades. The frenzy will reach a crescendo at SEMA 2012 in November, when every tuner you’ve ever heard of will have a tricked-out Toyobaru on display to showcase its latest wares.

Given that the Triplets are almost identical (there is unsubstantiated web chatter that the FR-S will sport a slightly more taut suspension than the BRZ in the NA market), which version tickles your fancy comes down to personal preference or marque bias. gjunkies is in the camp that likes the cleaner-looking front end of the Scion, and prefers its simpler cabin (manual HVAC controls, no “start” button) to the slightly more up-market Subaru BRZ.

We’re also in the can’t-leave-good-enough-alone group that believes a little aftermarket massaging would take the car up a notch in performance without upsetting the balance or affecting daily driveability. Nothing so aggressive as a turbo: simply adding a free-flow intake and exhaust would tease out a few extra HP and up the “snarl” factor of the boxer engine; and bolting on 18” wheels/tires, as well as larger discs with multi-pot calipers, would greatly increase the car’s trackability and grin factor.

Assuming the FR-S and BRZ are well priced – around $27k base for the FR-S and another grand for the up-contented BRZ would have cash-conscious gearheads lining up to put down deposits – they’ll be familiar sight on North American roads shortly after the expected early spring 2012 launch.

By summer of next year, they’ll be strutting their stuff at autocross events, drift competitions and on road courses, almost certainly raising a few eyebrows among rear-wheel-drive biased track rats.

Nice work, Toyobaru team.