Scion VP on Jalopnik
 

I know, another "twins forced induction rumors" thread, but I think there's some interesting insight from the VP of Scion.
Taken from http://jalopnik.com/will-we-ever-see...ore-1679026612


macanamera
Will we ever see a forced induction, or otherwise more powerful, FR-S?


Doug Murthamacanamera
There is no plan for a factory forced-induction version. No significant power changes in the short order. There will be a mid-cycle change to the product, but in terms of changing powertrain classes that's not in the works as much as we'd like it to be.



But in another comment thread:
http://jalopnik.com/i-think-that-a-l...-as-1679025918

ReforMatt
I think that a lot of people would like to see Scion as a more performance oriented brand or at least offer some more performance oriented options. Currently the FRS is the only sporty car that Toyota/Scion is building, and so my question is what are your thoughts on this as well as thoughts about turbocharging cars since Toyota/Scion do not seem to believe in using them while many of the other companies are embracing them throughout their range.

Thanks!

Doug Murtha
We're not going to move the entire lineup in that direction. Am I extremely happy to have a car like the FR-S? Yes. Is there more we can do? Either with FR-S or down the road? Absolutely. Do we have something fundamentally against forced induction? Not at all. That's something we really need to resolve with the engineers.

There are some affordability issues, but we're emboldened with the success of selling a $26,000 Scion so we're open to doing more in that space and open to forced induction.



------------
So while there isn't any official word of a stock F/I platform for the 86 (kinda glad for that), Scion seems to be open to the concept of putting it on some of their later offerings. With the way other manufacturers are using using F/I now (although more for economy/MPG use cases), and Scion being the "fun" brand, hopefully they'd push more towards the power side?

My Magic Eight-Ball says: Outlook not so good.

Maybe in a gen 2 or gen 3 twin, but definitely not the current.

I really wonder what that mid-cycle change is. And if 2015's already got those. Meh'

My 2015 came with a new paint code and Sharkfin antenna, maybe that's it?

I doubt scion vp has anything to do with design or engineering. Marketing and PR at most.

I like this response, especially the bolded part:

Makes me think Toyota/Scion will create a second-generation FR-S and won't be content letting the FR-S fall by the wayside (like Honda did with the S2000/NSX).

I don't see how that has to do with what I think you're trying to hint at. Higher execs are who determine the company's extended roadmap. Engineering's the peons that execute; R&D's the nerds that no one talks to except occasionally when they need to know if something can be done or if they've made some crazy breakthrough.

No mention of a second generation, but from other responses in the Q&A, he noted that Scion was happy (and surprised) by the sales numbers of a "$26k" car. This was in regards to questions about Scion having "luxury" offerings, so perhaps it means Scion isn't afraid to continue developing at that price point for cars like the FR-S.

He's got some good replies, i have to admit.

Right, and in the world of automotive higher execs that include Subaru and Toyota, the VP of Scion might get the coffee if he's even allowed to attend the meetings.

Scion/Toyota: There is absolutely no plan to give an overwhelming majority of people what they want by giving the FR-S more power. We have known, still know, and always will know what is best for you. We make what we want, not what our potential buyers want.

He has marketing VP replies is what he has. Say what people want to hear but don't really say anything firm!
Being "open" to things does not for one second mean they will do them.
What I tool away from the comments was that there was a lot they may "like" to do but the repeated references to cost and "affordability" seem to cancel out the "likes".

Corporate bush-beating-bullshit. The TL;DR of his responses: Second gen? We don't know! We sure do like money though! Turbos? The fuck is that? Maybe! You chumps bought a 26k SCION! Maybe you'd like leather in your tC!"

That's all I took away from this. Nothing of any meaningfulness to our cars.

What I take from this is that they are atleast slighty pleased with how a non cookie cutter car did and the FR-S may be a stepping stone car for them to try some other sporty ideas.

Maybe an FR-T as a replacement to the fr-s/unofficial second gen..........one can hope.

Compared to the other Jalopnik "Ask this important guy stuff" interviews, this one shows a bit of personatlily.

We like this, but the market isn't feeling it, so we're most likely not going to do it.

A statement like that doesn't completely rule out what's in store for the future of the company. It is a game of yell and run, but it's a lot better than "No."

I don't think Scion has much say in powerplant development. They may have a hotline to what's happening in Japan, but all they can do is show sales figures and make a case for more power. The decision rests with the bean counters at Toyota though.

Popular opinion is that if the car was going to have a turbo variant it would have been released by now or at least announced. It's a little too late into this car's life cycle to introduce a different powerplant.

What I see is, everyone spinning this to suit their perspective. All car brands develop all sorts of prototypes, most of them will be scrapped. They will do whatever is the most profitable for them. This is a high stakes poker game they play with the other makes they're not going to show their hand. Until then we'll have to wait and see.

Because the bunch of enthusiasts here represent the overwhelming majority of FR-S sold. :lol:

I don't blame them. Why change something that isnt broken? They're making plenty of sales currently. Would I want a stock FI twin? Hell yea. Would I still want it if it cost 32-35k starting? Hmmm....

Awesome, a marketing guy who actually admits he has no fucking idea about the future of the product line and knows it's the engineers who will determine if it will work!

I bet he gets fired for not promising the moon on Jalopnik of all places.

I consulted my runes. 16 will be the last model year of the FR-S/BRZ. Get one now.

The fools that run Scion USA are stupid "In My Opinion."


Just like this Dumbass trying to open the hood the wrong way.


Never mind the did a edit on the video.


All 2016 Scions will have a backup camera and there will be a new 4 door hatchback coming out (iM) along with the sedan and new tC.




[ame]http://youtu.be/nUIo_UMcrVE[/ame]

Well said!
As I have said several times, on near identical threads, the whole future of this car was mapped out before the first one rolled off the assembly line. If they had ever even remotely considered upping the power it is already in the business plan. The model changes are not done based upon year to year ideas but laid out in a scheduled timeline for the expected life of the platform before it is even released.
This is why spokesmen such as the VP are so wishy washy on what they say since too expose those plans too far in advance can hurt both sales now and the plans for the future.

Oh great now I have anew picture of Trom in my head!
http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/sites/d...?itok=JWqvcPLm

Got what I wanted.

Revised suspension too. It has already been hinted that these cars will get a facelift soon. I'm thinking it will be for the MY16 .

Weren't the bean counters the ones who nearly killed the '12 Civic with their inexpensive hard Hyundai-esque interior plastics. It's nice that Akio Toyoda realized the Toyota line up was boring & without passion allowing him to usher the 86 project & the team up with BMW for a new sports car but where does the blame lie? Is the 200hp ceiling because the bean counters thought this would be profitable or the Subaru engineers with their initial lackluster support wanted to flex their muscle (like when they killed any hopes of the 86 convertible)?

Coffee? Not even.... he probably sits outside in the lobby while the grown ups talk.


:)


Judging from his answers let's put things into perspective.
1. Scion making demands for more horse power is like the tail wagging the dog (Scion is inconsequential to Toyota)
2. Scion is the Japanese version of Saturn -down to the fixed price policy. Except Saturn's products were pure GM crap. (and Subaru is an affordable niche car maker).
3. Scion VP has to give middle of the road answers, everybody knows that if he were any more removed from decision making he'd be one of us.
4. Auto makers can't give away detailed future plans because Hyundai will steal them and consumers will stop buying until the newer model is released. It's just annoying to us 86 owners because we don't want to get stuck with a one off car but we don't want to feel like our cars are going to look like the model T when the next gen is released.

I'm not that good looking.

At this point, I'm hoping they do refresh the car so we can have a whole new list of things for people to dislike/whine/bitch about. Still willing to be the first-gen will be the one to have.

You are not alone!

I bought the right car, too.

It's the man keeping you down, man. Given some of the complaints about the car here, seems they know what they are doing.

Same here, not disappointed in my car and love her the way she is.

That said, if there had been one next to mine on the lot with more power (however they decided to do it) would I have bought it?
Yep, even though it would cost more money.

Are there a lot of people out there that would have done the same thing?
Yep

Why do you think just about 9/10 articles and reviews on this car talk about how great it is but wish/hoped for more power even if it was only 50 more hp?
Because there are a lot of people that want it.

So just because there are some die hard fanboys on here that think the car is perfect the way it is does not mean there are not a lot of people out there that would not buy a version with more power.

I find it very funny that slinging the word "fanboy" around is used so much by both sides of the argument!
"It has enough power" = Fanboy
"I supercharged and everybody should" = Fanboy
"I like the stock rims and tires" = Fanboy
"I am hellaflush" = Fanboy

I am also one of the people OK with the stock power but may have spent a little more if there was a higher HP version when I bought it. So I fall about half way between the two sides (Demifanboy?) and am solidly sitting on the fence. I think there are a pile of us actually that could swing easily to either side of the debate if given just the right push.
The big problem with getting more power at a greater cost is: Are there enough people to make it economically feasible for the manufacturer?
If there really are then they already have made the plans.
If not well...

I wish there was a way to quantify peoples' credentials before reading their opinions. I have a feeling most people just speak from pure emotion without much applicable experience and even less desire to actually discuss...

Anyway, the Q&A was interesting enough. I learned some new insight into how Scion is trying to represent itself to the customer and some other little tidbits. As for the FR-S, I never expected an F/I model, so can't say I'm really surprised with any of the answers on that end.

Honda has a $5k turbo kit for their CRZ.

So $31k for an factory warrantied vanilla FR-S or STI money for a BRZ version? I don't see that happening.

I'm still waiting to hear about the car that Tetsuya Tada said will slot underneath the FR-S, a sporty/performance lineup of cars may help scion......

Well said!
Not just a matter of credentials either though. There is also the whole "what are your priorities?" thing going on.
The guy wanting a wild weekend play toy should not be slamming the guy that wants a fuel efficient DD and vice versa. A forum such as this is the very worst place to determine if the "vast majority of owners" want "more power" as it consists of maybe 5% of them and we tend to be the group that leans that way to start with.
It has been said many, many times in threads already but the guys that think they just slap a on turbo on the assembly line and charge you $500 more just don't understand how the auto industry works. The companies exist to make a profit and if there is not enough payback they will not do anything just because a relatively small group wants it.
And for the last time - If they are planning a turbo/higher HP version it is already in the works!

The one like wut Honda is doing with CRZ is pretty cool thou, I like the idea very much.

@Tcoat I guess the best way I describe "fanboy" is someone who lambastes another for having a different opinion on a subject and unwilling to acknowledge that other opinions can be as valid as their own.

With that said I have nothing against those that are fine with the cars existing power.
I still wish, and there are others out there who agree, that there was at least an option to get higher power from the factory.

I know, I know but it just confuses the hell out of me!
Am I, Am I not?
Damn I can't sleep at night anymore!!

Same with the whole more power thing! Sometimes I am all 'this is just perfect" then others all like "well a bit more would be nice"

Doesn't change the fact that they will only make what earns them the cash.
At least there are loads and loads of options out there for anybody that must have more!