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COVER Toyota’s MX-5 rival
■ S-FR to debut at Tokyo show ■ New coupé on sale by 2017 OFFICIAL
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Peter Lyon
TOYOTA is set to unveil a stylish new sports car at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show which has its sights set on Mazda’s MX-5.
The S-FR – Small Front Engine Rear Drive – concept is a two-seater which Toyota says will become its entry-level sports coupé. The S-FR will go on sale in early 2017 – and it could be sold globally, including in the UK. Pricing would be expected to start around the £13,000 mark.
The Japanese company is remaining tight-lipped on performance, but has said it will celebrate the brand’s “fine heritage of lightweight, fun-to-drive sports cars”, and will sit below the current GT86 and planned Supra successor in Toyota’s model range.
Sources have indicated to Auto Express that the coupé will tip the scales at about 980kg thanks to a lightweight body, and be powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine generating around 130bhp.
Toyota has confirmed it’ll get independent rear suspension and use a six-speed manual gearbox, putting it firmly into MX-5 territory. In fact, the S-FR is almost identical in size and kerbweight to the Mazda.
Sharing the stage at Tokyo will be the FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle Plus) concept (see panel, right). It’s Toyota’s second attempt at a hydrogen-powered car after it launched the Mirai earlier this year.
Looking more like a spaceship than a car, the FCV Plus is a four-seat vehicle with a more compact rearrangement of the Mirai’s fuel-cell stack and hydrogen tanks. It can also generate its own
electricity, enabling it to be used as a portable source of power for use at home.
The final piece of the puzzle at Tokyo is the Kikai (see panel). Toyota has taken the machinery usually hidden beneath the car’s body and brought it into the open, making the engine a component of the exterior.
From the centrally positioned driver’s seat surrounded by four analogue gauges, the driver can see the suspension struts in motion through glassed viewports, and as Toyota puts it, get a more “instinctive sensory connection” with the vehicle. MX-5 RIVAL
Lightweight coupé is almost same size and weight as bigselling Mazda roadster, at 980kg
Mitsubishi to debut electric SUV
MITSUBISHI is also preparing for the Tokyo Motor Show by revealing first pictures of its new eX compact SUV concept.
The eX showcases a future allelectric small SUV from the Japanese manufacturer, which will sit alongside the next-generation ASX due in 2017.
The eX concept shares a familiar look with another of Mitsubishi’s concepts, the XR-PHEV – which previews the next ASX. The eX has a similar, angular front end with an X-shaped grille motif, while the high waistline and small glasshouse echo the Range Rover Evoque.
Unlike the XR-PHEV, which features a plug-in hybrid, rangeextender powertrain, the eX debuts a purely electric, allwheel-drive system. Although it’s still in its early stages of while the house SUV STAR
New concept takes X-shaped grille from XR-PHEV, while high waistline resembles that of the Range Rover Evoque
development, a sourcedev at Mitsubishi told Auto ExpressAut the eX will make production and and form part of a two-pronged attack on the smallon SUV market by Mitsubishi within the next fivewit years. It’s likely to arrive in 2018, arr following the new ASX.
RC price tag revealed
LEXUS has announced that its RC coupé will be priced from £34,995 in the UK.
Available to order now, the standard RC – which will rival the BMW 4 Series – will be offered with two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid in the RC 300h and a 241bhp 2.0-litre turbo in the RC 200t.
Familiar Luxury, F Sport and Premier trim levels will be offered, with standard equipment across the range including LED headlights and heated leather seats.
Tokyo Motor Show News car sets sights on Mazda MX-5
STAR OF THE FUTURE
S-FR stands for Small Front Engine Rear Drive and two-seat coupé previews production car on sale in 2017
Toyota’s other Tokyo stars
FCV Plus
Part car and part mobile generator, the FCV Plus explores how a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle can be used as a means of transport and an energy source.
The mechanicals and inner workings of the Kikai have become part of the exterior design. Everything from the suspension arms to the fuel tank can be seen.
Kikai
Nissan concepts at the double
THE barrage of concept cars at Tokyo will continue with Nissan, as it debuts the new Teatro for Dayz and updated 2020 Vision GT.
The Teatro for Dayz is designed to appeal to the next generation of drivers who are growing up in an increasingly digital age, and focuses on connectivity and technology.
Nissan has coined the term ‘share natives’ to describe the type of person this car is designed for – those who constantly share experiences and stories online.
It’s an all-electric concept and features lounge-style seating which allows passengers to turn and face one another, while the door trims, dash and seats have all been fitted with digital displays.
The 2020 Vision GT concept – which shows how a future GT-R could look – has been updated with a new red exterior colour and wears Nissan’s new V-Motion grille. www.autoexpress.co.uk
CROWN DUO
Vision GT and Teatro for Days take centre stage on Nissan’s stand at Tokyo show
news inbrief
650S anniversar y special unleashed
McLAREN has announced a racy new Can-Am special edition of the 650S (above), celebrating 50 years since the company’s debut at the Canadian-American Challenge Cup.
Only 50 examples will be built and all will be Spider models, costing £255,850 each. Three colours are on offer, with distinctive two-tone graphics and racing decals harking back to the original racers. There’s also lots of carbon detailing; on the bonnet, front spoiler, hard-top and rear airbrake. PAGE 30: Best of British: McLaren
Vauxhall revives scrappage scheme
VAUXHALL is bringing back the scrappage scheme with its new Scrappage Allowance policy. The firm will offer £2,000 minimum part-exchange for your old car when traded in for a new one.
There’s no upper age limit on the vehicle you can trade in, but you’ll have to have owned the car for over 90 days. Most cars in the range are eligible for the offer – the only exclusions are the Viva, Corsa Sting, Corsa Sting R and the Adam Jam.
Tucson proves to be a crash test hit
MEANWHILE, the Viva has gone to the wall in the latest Euro NCAP crash tests – and achieved four stars, with maximum protection for child occupants in the dynamic crash test.
Star performer in the latest tests was the Hyundai Tucson (below), which achieved the full five-star rating and strong marks across the board.
