Friday, October 31, 2014

Viva La Targa! Scion Chops Part of the Roof Off the FR-S Sports Car for SEMA

Scion FR-S Targa concept
For years, rumors have swirled about Scion building a convertible version of the FR-S. Alas, well into the FR-S' life cycle, such a thing has never appeared, at least not in production form. There was a concept, the FT-86 Open, which Scion parent company Toyota showed last year at the Geneva auto show. And along comes this: a lovely targa-roofed FR-S show car.

Making its debut at the 2014 SEMA show, the "FR-S T1″ was created by Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs and wears "Azzuro California Blue" and black paint. The roof section over the front passengers is removable, and the (all metal) widened body is dropped over lacy 19-inch forged wheels. The details are just as savory: smoked lights, a perforated grille insert, two small round exterior mirrors, and, a fully integrated rear spoiler. The interior is especially nice, resplendent as it is in creamy leather with black stitching.

Under the skin there is a KW coilover suspension, a GReddy turbocharger(!) kit for the boxer engine, a Wilwood Big Brake kit, a center-exit exhaust, and of course, audio upgrades. But our favorite piece has got to be the amazing black louvers over the rear window—a styling device whose time came and went 30 years ago, and we think, has come again.



Should Scion consider a targa-bodied FR-S? We think so. Porsche just brought back a proper targa version of its vaunted 911, albeit with a heavy and complex motorized roof, and the result is stunning. Even Nissan is reportedly considering a targa-roofed Z. A Scion targa wouldn't need to be so complicated or heavy—keep the lid manually removable and ditch the wide body and we think it's wholly doable.

The only stick in this plan's mud? Toyota says an FR-S roadster would be too expensive to develop and too pricey to be sold as a Scion in the U.S. Let's hope they can find room for this 'tweener targa solution, because it's hot.

Scion FR-S Targa concept

2014 SEMA Show full coverage



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