Revealed here is the S-FR, a new compact sports coupe concept that will debut at this month’s Tokyo motor show.
The concept’s name represents a simple and, for many, hugely desirable design arrangement: a small build, with a front-engined rear-drive format.
Toyota describes the decidedly retro-looking coupe as a concept that “continues the proud heritage of Toyota’s fun-to-drive lightweight sports cars”.
“The concept's long nose and wide stance make for an archetypal sports car profile, while the familiar roundness of its frame inspires a feeling of closeness,” Toyota says.
“The simple and modern finish of the interior rounds off a design that stresses approachable simplicity while conveying the vehicle's performance and sporty spirit.”
MORE: Toyota to build small RWD sports car
Full details for the compact coupe are still to be revealed, although Toyota has confirmed some key points: dimensions.
In concept form, the S-FR measures 3990mm long, 1320mm tall and 1695mm wide, riding on a 2480mm wheelbase.
By comparison, Toyota’s current entry-level - and in fact only - sports car, the 86, comes in at 4234mm long, 1285mm tall and 1775mm wide, with a 2570mm wheelbase.
With the 86 weighing in at around 1250kg, we can likely expect the S-FR to tip the scales at about 1000kg, if not a hair lighter.
Toyota claims the S-FR will seat four, but, as any 86 owner knows, the rear seats will likely be better described as a glorified parcel shelf.
A six-speed manual transmission is also specified for the concept, but that all-important detail - powertrain - won’t be revealed until Tokyo, if at all.
As for its platform, it is possible that the S-FR is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture design, which supports both front- and rear-wheel drive configurations.
Will we see the S-FR in showrooms? Toyota says the little concept is “pitched as an entry-level model”, and the company is understood to have its sights set on production.
If a launch is locked in, expect the S-FR to hit Japan no sooner than 2017.
As for a wider launch into western markets, time will tell...
“The S-FR was conceptualized as the kind of vehicle that attracts its own die-hard fan base, whose members love driving and customizing it,” Toyota says.
Can you see yourself as a die-hard fan of the S-FR, or are you holding out for the next Supra? Tell us in the comments below.
Click the photos tab above for more images.
