The Subaru BRZ S concept is a BRZ kitted out with a number of official STI parts from Japan. We originally recorded the STI concept on video at the Australian Motor show in October of 2012. Please click here to see our live footage of the Subaru S concept.  According to Subaru Australia only 300 vehicles will be destined for Australia and be made available for online purchase from June. Pricing for the Subaru BRZ S is currently unknown. All 300 model are going to be featured in Subaru WRC Blue and in addition to the standard model will also have black 17″ STI wheels, a coilover kit for improved handling performance, a spoiler and unique front side and rear skirts.

In addition to this Subaru will continue to offer a mix of new and existing accessories such as satellite navigation, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, STI exhaust, STI oil cap and valve cap set, carbonfibre instrument panel insert, and more. Subaru are continuously working with Japan to improve BRZ delivery times. The current wait for a BRZ has been reduced to around 2-3 months according to David Rowley from Subaru Australia.

Please continue your discussion about the BRZ S at our existing forum thread here.

-

The winner of the international Formula Drift Fan Favorite Driver of the Year award, Fredric Aasbo has starred in the first round of the Achilles Formula Drift Asia Championship at Calder Park held on the last weekend of April at the Melbourne’s Calder Parks Thunderdome. Drifting Nascar powered Toyota 86, he was up against 22 of the fastest drift cars in the world in a championship that was billed as the biggest drift event ever held in Australia. Check out some of the drift videos from the event and read on to find out all the results from this event:

Team RSR – Fredric Aasbo and the Nascar Powered Toyota 86:

Australian Drifting GP and Formula D Asia doubler header – highlights:

ADGP:FD Asia – Daigo Saito and Fredric Aasbo Tandem Donuts 1000hp Lexus and Nascar V8 FT86:

For all the results and laptimes head over to organisers official website formulad.com
To see a report done by speedhunters on the same, head over to story 1 and story 2.

-

The Tuner Challenge FR-S Edition is on. Three professional teams will use their creativity and expertise to create 3 custom FR-S performance machines (see images below this story). Over the course of a year, they’ll compete in 11 unique challenges – ranging from speed and handling to agility and more (a couple of races have already finished – videos below). Stay Tuned to catch all the action including results over at this link and also here.

In the meantime, we bring you the best of action that’s happened so far:

Meet the teams: Team VCMC FR-S, Top Tuner FR-S team and Team Swag Racing.

The Scion FR-S Tuner Challenge 1 – Autocross:

The Scion FR-S Tuner Challenge 3 – The Gymkhana:

The Scion FR-S Tuner Challenge 5 – The Ice Racing Challenge:

Keep checking the above pages for more videos and results from all the upcoming challenges.

-

Vancouver-based tuner SR Auto Group recently got approached by a local Scion dealership, OpenRoad Scion, to transform their standard Scion FR-S into a one-off sexy beast with Rocket Bunny widebody kit and Rays alloys. Codenamed: OpenRoad Rocket Bunny FR-S.

Here is how: To fit the widened fenders, SR Auto sliced off the rear quarter panel and front fenders, while the kit also includes a GT wing, front lip, sideskirts and a rear diffuser, carbuzz.com reports. The headlights feature bespoke smoked housing, and emblems and taillights have been coated in candy red. The exterior look is a host of carbon-fiber parts including a Seibon hood, APR mirrors and Seibon fog light covers.

After installing the kit, the Scion FR-S was brought closer to the ground with a BC Racing adjustable suspension, and a set of 18-inch 57 Extreme Rays alloys finished in “Winning Blue”. The finishing touch was done with an Invidia catback exhaust setup.

-

Pedders Racing crew have ensured a Toyota 86 GT made it’s debut at the Bathurst Motor Festival at iconic Mount Panorama Circuit. Photo galleries can be found here and here. For all the race finish times, see the official Bathurst motor festival page (No results available yet 1/April/2013).

“Our team is a local outfit and we have proven to be strong over the last couple of seasons of racing, so taking on the challenge with the Toyota 86 has been a tough one – but a worthwhile one as well,” Pedders Motorsport team Principal Grant Phillips said. “Taking our Pedders Racing Toyota 86 to the Mountain is going to be an experience in itself, and to be joined by a group of Toyota 86 owners will create a spectacle for the fans. Video of the teams car can be seen here.

Get involved in our forum to discuss this story and more, here.

Photos from the event:

-

Celebrating a decade in business Scion has introduced new special edition 10 Series model of Scion FR-S at the New York Auto Show recently. The 10 Series FR-S gains dual automatic climate control, keyless access with a push button ignition and HID headlights with LED daytime running lights, according to Autoguide.com.

In addition new features include a glowing blue Scion badge as well as a solar-powered illuminated gears knob and silver seat belts. The 10 Series model will come painted in a high-quality Silver Ignition paint.

Further, the 10 Series model will gain unique graphite colored wheels. Plus, when the driver enters the car, the Scion name will be projected onto the dash before fading to reveal a number 10.

In total, just 10,000 10 Series models (of all of Scion vehicles – xB, iQ and xD) will be produced and will go on sale in June in the Northern America.

-

According to chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, Toyota is considering increasing performance by creation of a faster and more focused version of the coupe to be released later in the car’s life-cycle.

“I’ve been asked a lot about a turbocharging,” Tada told AutoCar.co.uk.

“We are already working on a mid-life facelift for the car, and we are investigating both turbocharging and supercharging too,” he added. “But an electric motor assistance solution is also possible, and would bring benefits that forced induction does not.”

Toyota took the wraps off a conceptual convertible version of the Toyota 86 at the Geneva show, which is almost certain to make production. It nearly didn’t, however. “The management considered the Toyota 86 very risky,” Tada said. “They wanted proof that the ’86 coupe would hit its sales targets before they would sign off on a convertible.

“Now that they have that proof, we can begin to think about other development ideas for the car. But we must guard against compromising any of the key virtues of the standard Toyota 86 in the pursuit of more power.”

An electric motor assist solution, Tada suggested, could provide a substantial low-rpm torque boost for the naturally aspirated engine without affecting throttle response or compromising on fuel economy or emissions. The hybrid system would be much cheaper and simpler than the one used on the Prius economy car. The batteries, meanwhile, could be used to lower the car’s centre of gravity even further.

“Our TRD tuning department has found it easy to take 100kg out of the kerbweight, and have developed certain underbody fins and plates that can be employed to alter the dynamic balance of the car, to increase or reduce oversteer at medium and high speeds. They have quite a pronounced effect,” he said.

Source: autocar

-

After much speculation, Toyota has finally unveiled a convertible version of the Toyota 86, known as FT-86 Open Concept at the Geneva Motor Show this week. From the pictures we understand this will be a soft top convertible and most likely its target will be the female market. As yet we do not have any additional information, but once we do, we will update this post. As always check out our FORUM here to discuss this news and any other. It remains to be seen if Subaru will follow suit.

Check out all the photos (including interior) in our gallery here.

[Show as slideshow]

12►

Toyota FT-86 Open concept video:

Shadow Dodging – Toyota FT-86 Open concept (Feature Film) :

-

Argentine artist José Maria Villafuerte painted a Toyota 86 on acrylic on canvas (1,10m x 80cm) which was used to promote the car at an Argentine Toyota 86 launch some months ago. The painting shows the GTS model at a busy urban avenue of the Argentinian capital with an iconic obelisk of Buenos Aires in the background.

Although some would love to see this interesting painting be available for purchase, sources reveal the painting has ended up at Toyota‘s headquarters in Japan instead. Below this story you can leave your comment or join our forum and post there.

-

Toyota 86 convertible photo has surfaced on the internet for the very first time, spotted in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. As we have previously mentioned here, Toyota will unveil this convertible at next month’s Geneva motor show, running from 7 to 17 March 2013.

Head to our forum here to join in on a conversation on this latest story.

Some images:

-

In the third episode of the 19th season of Top Gear TV show, Jeremy Clarkson sits in a Toyota 86 and does what he does best – reviews the sports car. In addition, he also reviews Subaru BRZ. See how Toyota 86 scores when The Stig takes it on a lap around Dunsfold Aerodrome test track. To check out the video, click THIS LINK.

If you would like to join our chat on this news head over to our forum at this location.

-

WIN an official Toyota 86 Stormtech Softshell Jacket worth approx $140. We have 3 to give away.

Donated to GT86.com.au Forums by Toyota Australia, each Toyota 86 Stormtech Softshell Jacket is worth $140, but is yours FREE as part of this competition. This is one of the most expensive items in the Toyota 86 merchandise catalogue. So take advantage of this amazing opportunity. We have 3 jackets to give away absolutely FREE thanks to Toyota Australia.

We will be creating a 12 month calendar with photos of your cars that have a GT86.com.au sticker.

HOW TO WIN:

• First order any GT86.com.au sticker from us (It’s FREE)
• Place it on your car and take a photo of it.
• Then send us the photo (to: media @ gt86.com.au) and wait to see if you are a drawn winner

No specific location where photos can be taken at. It can be on the street, in your garage, at a race circuit, we don’t mind. What it must have is a GT86.com.au sticker on the car, clearly visible. Photos must be in good quality, readable/well visible.

We will pick the best 12 photos for our calendar. Further, 3 shots (3 winners) will be randomly drawn as winners of the BRAND NEW Toyota 86 Stormtech Softshell Jacket (pictured below). Sizes will be (L) = large. Other 9 people will get the Wheels Magazine Toyota 86 beats Porsche! large wall poster. So, everyone can be a winner.

Please note, 12 month calendars will be printed in the near future after the competition end and will be sold separately after that time. You do not have to wait for a calendar to be printed before you can receive your free jacket or poster.

Special OFFER: If you order ANY gt86.com.au t-shirt at any time, you will receive a FREE colour 32 page Toyota 86 magazine (The Full Story of Toyota’s New Sports Car Hero) FREE. Until stocks last. See this link to buy a gt86.com.au/forums t-shirt.

Photos DUE no later than: April 20 2013 midnight AEST. Possibility of extension. We will draw winner as soon as we get enough entries to draw from after the due date. This will give you enough time to get your sticker and send us your photo.

Thank you and best of luck.

Photos:

-

CarAdvice.com.au is reporting a convertible version of the Toyota 86 sports car will be unveiled at next month’s Geneva motor show, known as Toyota FT-86 Open concept, as a way to gauge customer reaction to a convertible variant, confirming long-standing rumours of a planned drop-top Toyota 86. No word if Subaru will follow suit.

Toyota showed its first Toyota 86 concept (known as FT-86 at the time) at the 2009 Tokyo motor show.

Our community has long debated the planned drop-top Toyota 86, see what our community recons of this news in our forum here.

Also check out what our facebook followers (with over 30 comments) think of the rumoured looks of the 86/BRZ convertible, here (86 rumour design) and also at this location (BRZ rumour design).

Images up close of the rumoured designs, not of the actual concept being unveiled at Geneva motor show:

-

The awards keep rolling in for Toyota and Scion.

Scion FR-S has won the AutoGuide’s 2012 Car of the Year.

Read the full report here.

Australian Wheels Magazine has also awarded the Toyota 86 as car of the year 2012. See link for details.

Find out what we think about this story and others in our forum.

-

Out of 39 cars judged this year in 13 categories, Toyota 86 GT takes the Drive.com.au award (Best Performance Car under $60K) and in the process the car was the first Toyota to win the Drive Car of the Year gong in the award’s seven-year history according to SMH. Well done to Toyota and Subaru for teaming up to deliver such an outstanding car this year. Find out what we think of this news, here.

SMH report in brief:

The rest of the article can be read at this location.

-

According to New Zealand Toyota facebook page, the plans are in motion to bring two new Toyota 86 models to the country; TR 86 (Toyota Racing 86) and Toyota 86 RC sometime in the new year.

Toyota NZ:

Until recently the RC was only available in Japan. We believe the specs to be as per this link. Hope to have either these models down under in near future, but more importantly, to see the TRD make it’s debut. As always find out what our members think of the news and all other GT86 related topics in our forum.

TR 86:

86 RC:

-

Toyota Australia have released a 3 minute behind the scenes look at the making of the 86 Raw Driving TVC with the drift king Kenichi Tsuchiya starring. See it below. Also be sure to stop by or forums and check out some of the other web 86/BRZ commercials from around the globe at this location.
The Making of the 86 Raw Driving TV Commercial:

The 86 Raw Driving TV Commercial:

-

-

Subaru Australia has just informed one of our Forum Members Cynic that they have received an increased number of Subaru BRZ from Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan over February and March of 2013. This is fantastic news for all of those who are currently waiting on their Subaru BRZ. Congratulations and we hope you receive your order much sooner than you originally anticipated. The official letter from Subaru is outlined below:

-

AutoGuide.com have been very busy as they covered the SEMA 2012 Auto show comprehensively, taking over 100 photos of SEMA’s hottest new car, FR-S/86/BRZ. Check out their mega gallery by clicking the below image. Names of the cars can be found here and here.

In related news, according to the website, Stout Racing announced that they are working with TRD to produce a supercharger kit for the Scion FR-S. Since the Stout Racing FR-S is competing in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class, the TRD supercharger must be made available for the public in order for the race car to compete with it. No further details released at this stage, but you can follow this story at our forum as it develops.

-