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New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet”

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Scion

Scion FR-S Concept

Scion FR-S Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Another auto show, another version of Toyota and Subaru’s joint partnership rear-wheel-drive sports car. We saw Toyota’s FT-86 II concept in Geneva earlier this year, along with the chassis for Subaru’s version of the car. Now here in New York, Scion has taken the wraps off of its FR-S, a sexy little number that rides on this same platform.

FR-S, which stands for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport,” (or “friggin’ really sweet,” according to Jack Hollis, Scion’s vice president) is the automaker’s homage to the infamous AE-86 Corolla – a car that was highly praised for its lightweight body and superb balance without having to churn out a ton of power. Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer flat-four mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The FT-S rides on sharp 20-inch wheels, hiding an absolutely monstrous set of 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors that are fixed to the wheels like a motorcycle. Don’t count on those making production…

Hollis says that the FR-S’ design is inspired by the legendary Toyota 2000GT, and we can even see a bit of Lexus LF-A in the angular shapes that blend with sleek curves. This is one hot concept, and we’re told that it previews a new addition to the Scion family coming in 2012. (Yeah, we know.)

Enough with the drooling. Just give us the production car.

See the sexy FR-S for yourself in our high-res image gallery below, and hit the jump for Scion’s official press release.

Gallery: Scion FR-S Concept: New York 2011

Gallery: Scion FR-S Concept

Scion FR-S Concept

[Source: Scion]

Continue reading New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet”

New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy ‘Sweet 16’ head to Silverstone

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Toys/Games

Of the more than 52,000 contestants who originally entered into the United States version of GT Academy, jointly hosted by Nissan and Sony, just 16 have advanced to the final competition being held in Silverstone in the United Kingdom. The top 32 virtual racers from the four U.S. regions descended on Orlando, Florida this week to go pixel-to-pixel for a spot among the sweet 16. But this is about more than just bragging rights. Those that made it into the final round will face a battery of new challenges, including physical fitness tests and evaluations behind the wheel of real-live race cars.

The top winner will have a shot at becoming a professional race car driver by joining a legitimate team, just like GT Academy Europe winner Lucas Ordonez. As you may recall, Ordonez and his team managed to finish second at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a Signatech Nissan LMP2 racer, and the 25-year-old Spaniard is headed to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans for a shot at taking home the checkers at one of the world’s most grueling race events.

Nissan and Sony are currently working up a reality TV show about the GT Academy’s U.S. contestants. While the winner will be chosen after the throwdown in Sivlerstone this summer, look for the show to hit the airwaves this fall. Hit the jump for the full list of final contestants.

[Sources: Sony, Nissan, GTPlanet | Image: Zach Bowman/AOL]

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GT Academy ‘Sweet 16’ head to Silverstone originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages

Filed under: Truck, Toyota, Off-Road

2011 Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Pro – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’re like us, you’d probably do all manner of unspeakable acts to be able to call the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor your very own. Unfortunately, FoMoCo isn’t in the business of accepting black market kidneys as payment, which has left us without a desert stomping pickup in the driveway. Fortunately, Toyota has come out of left field with a stopgap savior in the form of its new 2011 Tacoma T|X and T|X Pro models. The packages are built around the T|X concept from the 2009 SEMA show, and pack much of the hardware we saw on that particular show truck.

Both packages are available on the Tacoma V6 Access Cab or Double Cab Prerunner models that are equipped with the TRD off-road package. In addition to the sweet electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail rubber, the T|X package throws in 16-inch blacked-out beadlock wheels and black tube side steps among other good-looking pieces. Step it up to the T|X Pro, and you’re also rewarded with a TRD cat-back exhaust.

Both trims cost $1,699 and represent a savings of over $700 compared to if you’d simply raided the TRD catalog yourself. The T|X and T|X Pro packages may not put you on the same level as Ford’s mad hatter, but it’s a start. Hit the jump for the press release and check out our massive gallery below.

Gallery: Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Pro

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading 2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages

2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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