Ciprian Florea wrote:The Toyota S-FR concept was unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show as a compact, entry-level sports car that "aims to make a whole new generation fall in love with driving." Should the concept spawn a production model, the S-FR will slot below the GT 86/ Scion FR-S as a hard-top competitor for the Mazda MX-5. Until that happens, Toyota unveiled yet another version of the sports car, this time around prepared for the race track.
Built in collaboration with Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsport division, the S-FR Racing concept aims for a more aggressive look thanks to its race-prepped body kit and lightweight design. Details are scant as of this writing, but Toyota confirmed that the concept car will make its public debut at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon on January 15th, when more information should be released.
Exterior
Although its shape and size are identical to the road-going model, the S-FR Racing concept stands out thanks to a comprehensive aerodynamic package that includes everything a car needs to become a full-fledged racer.
Up front, the coupe received a new grille with an additional intake below the "Toyota" emblem, a large splitter and a pair of canards where the foglamps are on the road car. Both the splitter and the canards are made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The engine hood now features a pair of quick-release pins near the headlamps. Although everything else remained unchanged, these modifications give the S-FR Racing a more aggressive stance.
Things get rather wild around back, where the coupe gained a massive diffuser, a center-mounted exhaust pipe, aerodynamic winglets on each side of the bumper, and a large wing. The sides were also revised for racing, now featuring aerodynamic side skirts, slender mirrors, and lightweight, black-painted wheels wrapped in racing rubber. The concept also switched from body-colored to black door handles and had its fuel cap moved on the C-pillar. Naturally, the coupe sits much closer to the ground and if Gazoo Racing is serious about this project, it should have a race-spec belly pan as well.
Overall, the Kei car proportions of the S-FR make this racer look a bit strange, especially with that massive wing at the rear, but it’s the kind of appearance that hints toward huge amounts of downforce and a car that should stay glued to the track.
Interior
Toyota has yet to release photos of the interior, but the road car provides plenty of hints as to what the race version might look like on the inside. Considering Gazoo Racing doesn’t joke around when it comes to its race cars, the S-FR Racing is likely to have a no-nonsense cockpit with only the dashboard borrowed from the road-going version. Everything else was either removed or replaced with lightweight components, such as racing seats, plain door panels, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. A bespoke instrument cluster is also likely to have been installed.
Drivetrain
Much like the S-FR, the Racing concept’s engine is a complete mystery, but judging by the size of the vehicle and given Toyota’s current strategy for sports cars it’s safe to assume the coupe carries a small-displacement unit under the hood. My best guess is Gazoo has developed a few racing internals for the 1.5-liter four-pot the S-FR is rumored to receive and increased its output from 100 to around 150 horsepower. A race-spec manual transmission is also likely to replace the road car’s six-speed gearbox. Along with a more powerful drivetrain, the S-FR Racing should also feature a sportier suspension and enhanced brake rotors and calipers at all four corners. We should find out more about that in January 2016.
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