Toyota S-FR Concept Looks Like a Tiny Miata-Fighter

9 years, 2 months ago - 11 October 2015, Autoblog

The Scion FR-S may be pretty small by American standards, but in Japan they make 'em much smaller. As if to highlight that point, Toyota has revealed the new S-FR concept. It's one of three show cars that will headline the automaker's lineup for the Tokyo Motor Show this year.

Nearly ten inches shorter from bumper to bumper (and more compact in every other dimension) than the FR-S, the S-FR applies the newly trademarked nameplate in a different way than we expected. The concept serves to showcase what an even smaller sports car could look like – though still a bit too large to fit into the tiny Kei car category. Small as it is, though, Toyota has still managed to squeeze four seats into the cabin, with a front-engine/rear-drive layout driving a driveshaft through the middle. Mechanical details were not specified, but Toyota says packs an independent suspension, six-speed manual transmission, and offers "optimal weight distribution" - all with styling that bridges the gap between aggressive and friendly.

As intriguing a concept as the S-FR may be, it's not the only thing Toyota's got in store for the Tokyo expo. It's also prepared the Kikai concept, a sort of Japanese take on the hot rod with a McLaren F1-style 1+2 cockpit that puts the driver up front and center. The Kikai is packed with eye-catching mechanical details: from the outboard suspension (visible through a window by the driver's seat), to the analog instruments. The concept is nearly the same size as the typical Japanese Kei car, but like the S-FR just a bit too big.

Joining the S-FR and Kikai will be the FCV Plus, a new take on the fuel cell concept that looks straight out of some futuristic movie. It's designed to not only run on hydrogen in its own tank but also from exterior containers, allowing it to provide power to homes. The fuel cell is mounted between the front wheels, juiced by a tank behind the rear seat, and powering four individual electric motors. That gives it a spacious cabin for four and even weight balance – even if the mass is pushed out towards the extremities.

Along with the concept cars, Toyota will also be showcasing the Kirobo Mini, a diminutive version of the robot designed to communicate in space. The C-HR concept (set to debut in production form in Geneva next March) and the new Prius will be making their Japanese debuts at the show, joined on the stand by the company's WRC prototype and the Land Cruiser used in the summer's round-the-world tour.

Toyota Kikai Concept

Toyota FCV Plus