What's at the CIAS

[Sport-Tech]

FR-S:

Scion has a small area in the south hall, with a loud live DJ. There's a silver FR-S on top of a false wall 15 feet in the air, and an Ultramarine for viewing and sitting in (complete with actual gearshift knob!). Heavy interest the two times I was there, short queues to sit in the car.

I was hoping to get one of those lovely FR-S brochures someone posted here a few days ago but they have absolutely no literature, posters, etc. Swag available: gum packet with pic of Scion models on it (no I am not bs'ing you). Also cheap ear buds. Pro drift car on site as well; autographs from driver available tomorrow and Sunday.

Four more FR-Ss are up on level 700 in the sport compact tuner area, exhibiting varying degrees of ridiculousness (actually one is nice, it's an actual race car). Not one modded BRZ though. (Also, for anyone wanting to see a Firestorm, there is a locked one near the main show entrance in the North building.)

BRZ:

Subaru has a big area in the north hall relative to its low volume sales numbers. Two models, a SWP base and a WRB Sport-Tech, line astern for some reason. No swag. None of the dealer brochures, just a fold out glossy posterish thing with little content. Everything that could be taken out of the cars was - shift knob, taped over HU slots, no latch for trunk. Lots of traffic here too, most viewed/sat in Subie model by far.

Most of the sales guys knew nothing beyond the basics, but one woman from HQ was able to answer some questions I had: the auto climate control can be turned off and the HVAC operated in full manual mode just as in the base model or the FR-S. Also she was certain the Sport-Tech variant has larger front and rear brakes (I had seen this in a brochure months ago but it hasn't been discussed recently). Eyeballing the rotors I could see no noticeable differences but the differences in rotor size may have been there, or it may be a difference in pad swept area only. Or she could be wrong (and she is, according to the specs listed online for both models). Also: possibly a new Subaru-branded HU next model year, they are being rolled out in other models right now, replacing the Pioneers.

I met someone there who is a frequent lurker on this forum, he was at least 6'3" and fit in the BRZ comfortably (he was quite thin though).

One incident of note - somehow the entire top portion of the rubber window gasket fell out of the door frame on one of the cars and was just hanging there (the window was fully down). It clearly is not glued in - a Subie guy just stuck it back into its slot, a bit disconcerting to see.

Anyone wanting to compare spoiler vs no spoiler - this is a great chance to do so with both variants so close together (IMO the spoiler does not look as ricey IRL as it can in photos, I could live with it - and in fact in a full side view the car looks more complete with it).

It was my first time seeing a "live" BRZ; I was struck by how much better the front fascia looks IRL, the "mouthguard" is not really an issue especially with a front plate on. Really loved the front lights and the more rounded front corners of the BRZ, and I much preferred the dual climate and the leather/Alcantara seating in the Sport-Tech. That said, the toggle switches for the HVAC are not metal, they are cheap plastic with a really cheesy-feeling action.

Other POI at the show:

• enjoy a fantastic free mini-cappacino at the Buick Verano cafe!
• glorious white early 80's 911 with huge whale tail
• MC12 racing Maserati - huge and brutal looking
• incredible two-tone restored Mercedes Gullwing
• Alfa 8c! stunning, too bad it wasn't a very good driver's car
• LFA looks magnificent in person
• no Porsche manufacturer's display yet again!
• Focus ST and Fiesta ST on display but locked
• be sure to check out the Mazda 6 in Blue Reflex Mica - looks amazing, better than the Fusion. Go Mazda!

One last personal experience - I sat in as many "competitive" cars as I could - from a GC to a Miata, including the new Focus and Fiesta (non-ST) - and except for the Miata and to some extent the Mini and Abarth 500 they all felt like I was sitting in a high-sided bathtub, with their high IPs and hoodlines, and even higher rear decks (and I'm 5'11"). I'll pass.

[Burrcold]

The new HU is probably going to be Subaru's new infotainment system. I wonder if it will be a direct swap?

Good write-up!

[Skurj]

Yep great write up!

I'm not gonna bother, I don't think I need to now anyways

[jermyzy]

Hm...how is the new Subaru HU unit compared to the Pioneer? (If anybody has tested the new unit on other models). I will have to wait til the auto show comes to vancouver in March

[dcfr]

I went to the show yesterday after work for 2 hours. I'm so happy by the time when I saw so many people lining up to sit inside the twins. I'm sure we all did made the right choice last summer.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by jermyzy

Hm...how is the new Subaru HU unit compared to the Pioneer? (If anybody has tested the new unit on other models). I will have to wait til the auto show comes to vancouver in March

I doubt anyone would know, since it (Starlink) won't debut until the '14 Forester is released late this year. Unless of course they have working models at the auto show.

[l8apexr]

my ride is at CIAS '13:
(ironically, the 13th car in this photo list):
Wheels.ca – PHOTOS: The hottest cars at the 2013 Toronto auto show

http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/sport-...auto-show/med/


some more photos:

Scion FR-S x2 - PASMAG (Blogs)
and separately, on the last day, I'm going to be signing autographs w my multiple Canadian championship rally navigator, Alan Ockwell:
Toyota Canada?s championship Prius PHV coming to Toronto International Auto Show before heading to Monte Carlo for world?s most prestigious green rally / Toyota Canada, Inc.

[chenshuo]

Originally Posted by l8apexr

my ride is at CIAS '13:
(ironically, the 13th car in this photo list):
Wheels.ca – PHOTOS: The hottest cars at the 2013 Toronto auto show

http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/sport-...auto-show/med/


some more photos:

Scion FR-S x2 - PASMAG (Blogs)
and separately, on the last day, I'm going to be signing autographs w my multiple Canadian championship rally navigator, Alan Ockwell:
Toyota Canada?s championship Prius PHV coming to Toronto International Auto Show before heading to Monte Carlo for world?s most prestigious green rally / Toyota Canada, Inc.

how did you get your car to display at the show?

[Orthow]

Originally Posted by l8apexr

I've seen this car - it's made to look like a GT3. Meh.

[Word]

Tons of swag at the CIAS, I managed to walk out with about 10 posters.. NSX, SLS AMG, drifter FRS, and even a small BRZ fold-up poster .

Very cool to see the LFA in person, such a masterpiece.

[l8apexr]

Originally Posted by Orthow

I've seen this car - it's made to look like a GT3. Meh.

I have never seen your car. Meh.

[Slick]

Originally Posted by l8apexr

I have never seen your car. Meh.

Ditto, what's with the hate Orthow? It's done very tastefully, I like it.

[l8apexr]

Its ok Orthow. He's probably not hating. Just commenting that its "meh". But it was a tad negative... oh well. This is what car forums are all about.

He's sorta right with "meh". Which. It is. Its just a buncha orange decals. No Volks, no rocketbunny, no wing, no cage, no 3-way dampers, etc. But that wasn't the objective of this car.

For some reason, Autoblog and Toronto Star Wheels seem to want to circulate it to their millions of readers.

Thing is, lots of cars are quite amazing and deserving of attention and "oo's and ahs" (volks, rocket bunnies, 3-way dampers & cages) but my target of my FR-S was "low cost" and "head turning" to help Scion grow brand awareness in the GTA market. I believe the targets have been met.

[BioRage]

Originally Posted by Orthow

I've seen this car - it's made to look like a GT3. Meh.

Haters gonna hate.

Wakudoki gonna Eakudoki.