Students at Saitama Automobile College have created a replica “S-FR Convertible” based on the third-generation Mazda Roadster, paying homage to the never-sold-to-market Toyota “S-FR.” The “S-FR Convertible” will be exhibited at the “Tokyo Auto Salon 2024,” to be held at Makuhari Messe from January 12th to 14th, 2024. When I saw the actual car, I was so amazed and impressed by how well it was recreated that I couldn’t believe the “S-FR” was actually going to be released.
Saitama Automobile College “S-FR Convertible”
This model appears to retain the windshield, mirrors, doors, hood, and retractable fabric roof, but everything else has been redesigned to resemble the Toyota concept. The front end is equipped with round LED headlights, which fit neatly between the custom bumper and the factory hood. I felt that this car really conveys the determination of the Saitama Automobile College staff, who decided that if Toyota wouldn’t make it, they’d make it themselves.
What is Toyota’s “S-FR”?
The compact FR “S-FR” was exhibited at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 (October 30th – November 8th). It is a car that embodies the “excitement” promoted by then-President Toyoda , and is not only targeted at driving enthusiasts who want a car that responds to their will and allows them to interact with the car even in everyday use. By making it an affordable model with a low price, entry-level users can also get a ride, and one of the concepts behind this car is to increase the number of car fans .
The compact body has been revolutionarily lightened, aiming for a weight of under 1000 kg, creating a nimble ride. Not only is it a sports car, but the simple structure of an entry model brings you closer to the car, realizing the feeling of lightness that can be steered at will and the joy of interacting with the car. The car responds as you want, and you can feel and control the behavior of the car, pursuing the unique comfort of FR (front engine, rear drive).
S-FR
Toyota’s new S-FR compact FR car, Yotahachi. Will the Toyota Sports 800 be revived?
Toyota “S-FR Racing Concept”
Toyota has announced that it will unveil the “S-FR Racing Concept,” developed based on the new S-FR Concept, at the “Tokyo Auto Salon 2016,” to be held at Makuhari Messe for three days from January 15th to 17th, 2016.
The TOYOTA S-FR Racing Concept features large CFRP aero parts such as a front under spoiler, canards, and a rear spoiler, in addition to overhanging fenders and an engine hood with bold air outlets. The design was designed to deliver high performance on the circuit. While based on the beloved simple style of the TOYOTA S-FR , it offers a sportier style, proposing a new world view for the TOYOTA S-FR.
The S-FR, measuring 4,100mm in length, 1,735mm in width, 1,270mm in height, and 2,480mm in wheelbase, is rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, and is likely to be powered by a sports version of the 2NR-FKE inline-four 1.5L DOHC engine found in the Corolla or the 8NR-FTS inline-four 1.2L DOHC CVVT-iW intercooled turbo engine found in the Auris, with a target launch price of around 1.5 million yen. It is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. The compact body achieves groundbreaking weight reduction, aiming for a weight of under 1,000 kg, creating a nimble and agile ride. Not only is it a sports car, but its simple design, unique to an entry-level model, brings you closer to the car, providing a sense of agility and the joy of interacting with it. It pursues the unique comfort of a front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) design, allowing you to feel and control the car’s response exactly as you want it to. It is rumored that the S-FR Concept is already in the process of being mass-produced , and it is expected that the S-FR Racing Concept will be released as a mass-produced model as a G’s model after the release of the S-FR .
Toyota’s new S-FR Racing Concept G’s was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2016 in January 2016.
