What's that then?
That is the Toyota S-FR and that is an idea we can really get behind. Although it's officially a concept for now (for the Tokyo Motor Show), the S-FR looks likely to make production next year as a more affordable Toyota sports car to sit underneath the current GT86 and a future new Supra. Forget the coupé body of the concept though, as this is going to eventually become a convertible and with low weight, a compact size and a rear-drive chassis it will be a natural rival to the Mazda MX-5.
Toyota won't say what platform it's sitting on for now, but the safe money is either on a cut-down GT86 chassis or a shared platform with BMW. The fact that Toyota has, sotto voce, mentioned a 1.5-litre engine as the car's power plant seems to confirm the BMW link (it's probably the three-cylinder turbo from the MINI) and the two companies are looking to expand their current engine and chassis collaboration. A production version should be on sale late next year. Toyota says that: "the new concept emphasizes responsiveness, and aims to make a whole new generation fall in love with driving."
Anything else to see?
Also appearing on the Toyota stand in Tokyo will be the new Prius, making its Japanese debut and for which Toyota is promising "a huge boost in fuel economy." There will also be another chance to look at the C-HR concept seen in Frankfurt recently, which will eventually become Toyota's Qashqai rival.
Plus there's a new hydrogen fuel cell concept, the FCV Plus, which Toyota says can be used equally as a car or as a portable electrical generator for remote communities, and the brilliant little Kikai concept, which has the vibe of a cross between a Ford Model A hot rod from the '30s and an Ariel Atom about it. It's probably not for production but with its central driving position and exposed mechanical parts, it's a whole bunch of fun from the normally patrician Toyota.
Neil Briscoe - 8 Oct 2015