Watch Out 2016 Miata: Toyota Is Preparing a New Sports Car for Battle

9 years, 3 months ago - 24 August 2015, Carbuzz
Watch Out 2016 Miata: Toyota Is Preparing a New Sports Car for Battle
A Toyota model finally sparks our interest. The 2016 Mazda Miata has drawn an abundance of attention. The rear-wheel drive two-seater convertible has always sold well and has an extremely loyal fan base.

Toyota wants to join in on the fun—its Scion FR-S/GT-86 hasn't lived up to sales expectations which means something new is in order. Rumored to be called the Small FR Concept, Toyota will debut a near-production version at the Tokyo auto show this October. It will be positioned directly below the FR-S and will weigh no more than 2,160 pounds.

That is quite a small car, most certainly on par with the Miata’s 2,332 pounds. Power will come from a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but more powerful engines could be optional later on throughout production. The 1.5-liter engine will produce a mere 128 horsepower, which certainly would make for a fun ride but not a whole lot of speed. At the right price point (rumored to be under $20,000) this could easily be a hit and certainly could outsell the FR-S. The Small FR Concept will not share too much with the FR-S though; it will have a completely new chassis that is currently being developed by Tommi Mäkinen, Toyota’s WRC team boss.