[Moto-P]

Haha, I suppose many of us in the USA are used to cars with engines having large hefty mid-range torque, and far and few of cars that need winding up the engine. This is because of a few factors, but primarily it has always been the lack of regulatory and voluntary effort on the Big 3 US makers, and opposition of restriction of displacement and raising taxes according to large displacement engines. Secondly majority of us have cars as primary tool for getting to places and as such, have opted for automatic transmissions, over manual, which is reserved for most as secondary cars for pleasure.

These two factor alone will cater most of the manufacturers to make larger engines even in smaller cars, like the 2.5L 4 cylinder engines and long stroke v6's that offer a lot of torque at low and min-ranges where automatic transmission can 'feel' punchy.

Traditional sports cars and most compact cars in a global sense, is rather different and usually have high strung smaller engines that sip less fuel in general use, and offer high output only when revved high. If you look at cars like the S2000, it has evolved from a extreme high strung 2000cc engine, to later 2200cc longer stroker due to US consumer's complaining about lack of torque in the middle ranges of the engine. Same happened to the NSX from 3.0 to 3.2 with lower limits and higher mid-range use torque. And if one looks at the compact cars of equivalent bodies, like BMW 3 series, you will also find them 1800cc in most of Japan and Europe, while US versions go only down to 2500 models, with interestingly enough, a bit more complexity in the smaller engines that allow just as high peak HP, but much less torque getting the engine up to those rpm.

BRZ/FRS is such a car, and it has no USA specific changes at this time. It is a global platform right now. If we keep complaining about seeming lack of power in the middle rpm, they may just stroke the engine and get boring at the top end where it shines on the track, to offer more grunt in daily use parameters.

Some of us feel it is nicer with mid-range grunt as most of us are used to this. And others who seek a more traditional and European sophistication in complex internals that can rev high, willingly and make power only near the top. It's one of those things, where we all have preference and not one being better than other but simply how we are used to interacting with automobiles.

I won't say much on actual output and speed rating on any car in this general topic, but let's just say that FRS/BRZ was born from a lot of Japanese and German sense of speed, which is lightweight, agility, and peak high rpm power from lightest compact engine to keep inline with braking and agility as well. So the focus and goals were sort of met (aside from those wishing more complexity and are willing to sacrifice some tactile sensations for raw thrill of boost). The goal was to make the car light, and 2.5L and 3.0L engines would have been more American, but that was more the aim of the tC, a car that is exclusive to the USA, designed specifically for the American daily users.

So we have a choice at Scion basically. tC if you want the bigger size, relatively good handling, and lack of complexity to keep maintenance easy and offer lots of torque in commuting routes. Or, you can choose to pay an extra several thousand bucks, and get an FRS which is built with a bit more sophistication, more expensive materials like the alloys used on the engine, aluminum hood, GOA Hi-Ten steel framework, and a very complex 4D-S that allow 12.5 compression chambers to fire on 91 octane fuels, and produce beautiful notes, driving the fun set of wheels to dance around as a sports car.

If one is building a straight line drag racer, ironically, the tC is actually a better platform despite the FWD, as it can take on huge levels of boost in the 2AZ's hefty block, and displacement is there to make not only larger snails spin, but hold the combustion without cracking a block, or bending a rod. But introduce a few tight corners and long braking zones, and FRS will always gain the ground based on sheer design fitting those roles.

That's why I say the FRS is not for everyone. But to those who appreciate the car for what it is, and modification goals for the owner matches the attribute of intents, then it is one of the best platforms for them. But again, there is a place and a role for the tC who really do want more mundane thrill of simple light to light drag races, and ability to haul a bit more than 4 tires and 2 small folks to the raceway, a this, for a lot less money.