i hope the look of the frs doesn't change too much throughout the years...
 

even when they do the mid year refresh i hope it still basically looks the same. i want the car to be iconic. that way in 10, 15 years if we're still driving it it is instantly recognizable. kind of like how you always know it's a porsche you're looking at, no matter what year it is.

I'm hoping this becomes what the MR2/Supra is today. I want to keep this for a long time.

I think that's a safe bet. I expect the mid-cycle refresh to be an updated look in the front and rear, for the most part. Maybe restyled headlights and front bumper, and updated tailights and rear bumper.

Just look at the Genesis Coupe. Updated, but still instantly recognizable. I can't think of any cars that went through a mid-cycle refresh and looked completely different.

I can agree, and I hope to keep it for a very long time. On the other hand I might do so much or try to reconstruct it over the years that it might end up looking a bit in the other direction of a FR-S.

i kind of had the thought of the civic si in mind. it's been all over the map. hatch back, coupe, etc. even the 8th gen to 9th gen was a big enough change. (step in the wrong direction imo)

Yeah, the Civic comes in different configurations, but I still think a Civic always manages to look like a Civic. Did they ever have a big mid-cycle change as far as looks/styling?

i guess i didn't mean so much the mid cycle change, but generation to generation.

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Which generation?

I actually owned a 1st gen (mine was a 1990 model) with the pop-up headlights.

Oh, yeah, that's a completely different story. Big changes can happen from generation to generation. But mid-cycle is usually just a refresh of the styling at the most.

An example of a big styling change between generations is the Ford Mustang. Compare the '04 models to the '05 models and they look completely different.

No, the Eclipse changed between generations. Gen 1 was good, gen 2 was great, and gen 3 and 4 were bad (styling-wise).

The 2008-2011 Ford Focus was a midcycle refresh that totally changed the car's styling. Some refer to it as the second generation, but all they did was update the interior/exterior. The 2012+ was the first real mechanical change for the Focus.

I hope an update to the rear lights that are interchangeable, since that's the only part I'm not too in love with

Yeah, I agree with the Eclipse. They did have a mid-cycle refresh during the first gen cars though. Like I said, mine had pop-up headlights. By the end of the 1st gen, the styling was still very much the same, but the pop-up headlights were gone in favor of standard fixed headlight lenses. I always thought the early 1st gen cars were the best looking ones though.

The Focus is complicated. Ford sorta split the generations (or at least styles) between the North American market and the European market. I think it wasn't until 2010 that they merged both markets again. I'm not sure if the changes were considered generation or mid-cycle refreshes because everything was so wacked out during that time.

I can see some refinements in future productions of the FR-S. What I think of most is the heater controls, seat belt attachments to the seat, third brake light, total revamp of the tail lights.

As I stated before I'd love to see a broader selection for the consumer. I'd go balistic over BRG and a saddle tan leather interior.

But the FR-S production number is going to be way higher than the MK2 MR-2 and MK4 Supra.

I was referring to the 1st generation of the Eclipse. The changes there were, in my humble opinion, pretty significant. I think the 2nd generation mid-cycle changes ('95-'96 to '97-'99) were pretty significant as well. I don't think I'm articulating it well, but I feel that the different front and rear really altered the overall look and flow of the car.

I feel like the mid cycle refresh for the FR-S will just get blacked-chrome headlight housings maybe a more red taillight cover and a new standard head unit.

I hope that this is the only generation of this car.

Why?

I can kind of understand why he said that... It makes him feel more special and also so he doesn't regret buying the early model of course. Lol

More power along with better mileage, more standard equipment (more premium materials, subwoofer, HIDs, etc) and a JDM HVAC controls would be very nice.

I see, but new isn't always better.

I talked with a number of MR-2 owners and a lot of them have said MK2 > MK3.

Also on Supraforums, if the FT-HS is a preview of a MK5 Supra a lot of members also said MK4 > MK5.

I would want Toyota to continue with more sports cars in the future. Keep on improving them with every generation.

+1

Sorry I said it wrong--but what I really meant to say is that I hope the car doesn't undergo a dramatic redesign and keeps a consistent shape; For example cars like the S2000, NSX, the RX-8 kept their shape throughout their lives.

Lol, but that's the selling point for Subaru's BRZ Limited in North America.

their short, short lives...

heh, good point :bonk:

+1

But what the OP said is correct. Toyota should make a few minor tweaks here and there, but keep the design the same. Perhaps they could start by fixing the god-awful ricer -- er, I mean Euro-style -- taillamps.

Big Mid-cycle refreshes:
3rd Gen Mustangs. '79-'93?
C3 and C4 Corvettes.
WRX changed front end a few times.
Acura TL reduced "the beak" but still looks ugly
Aztek did a facelift after the first year.
Civic is supposed to get an early mid cycle refreshening.

I hope the refresh gets the damn premium Toyota 86 headlights!!! I hate the FRS headlights with a passion. All this car needs is those headlights and 20hp/45-50tq added. It would be the only car for me if that happens.

The '79 - '93 Mustangs are all know as "fox body" Mustangs. In '79, they have the "four eyes" look that remained until 1987, when the freshened Mustang GT got a styling refresh that looked sorta European, for lack of a better description. But you also have to keep in mind that the Mustang remained virtually unchanged from 1987 all the way until 1993, which was the end of the fox body run. I actually owned two fox body Mustangs and I really liked them both. I don't think I'd call the change from 1986 to 1987 a typical mid-cycle refresh simply because we're talking about a span of 14 years for the entire generation of cars.

BTW, Ford was strongly considering ending the Mustang as we know it in the late 80s. They were going to make a completely new Mustang that was front wheel drive and had no V8 engine available. When word got out, lots of people protested and sent letters to Ford begging them to keep the Mustang a RWD car with a V8 engine. Ford listened to the people and decided to keep the Mustang as it was, which is why the Mustang went unchanged from 1987 all the way until 1993. And a lot of people don't realize this, but the car that was supposed to be the new Mustang was too far along in development to be canceled. So Ford named it the Probe and started selling it in 1989.

I think the fox body Mustang had lots of "refreshes" along the ways. Changes in hp, engines available, SVO, convertible, hatch, and notchback. If the FRS went through changes as often as the Mustang did, you'd have a lot of surprised people. Then again, most cars don't stick around for 14 years - though the C3 was around nearly as long. C4 was around for a while too.