Live Photos Geneva: Toyota FT-86 Open Concept would make a mighty fine droptop FR-S

[Frostyman]

DAT BRAKES.

[M-17]

Top down... yeah.

Top up... hmm no.

That's my take.

[vh_supra26]

Toyota is asking visitors as well as online viewers of the Geneva Motor Show if it should green light the production of a convertible version of its GT 86 sports coupe, otherwise known as the 86 or in North America, as the Scion FR-S, with the release of the FT-86 Concept.


While Toyota tried to give the car a slightly conceptual look through a customized interior slathered in two-tone leather and accent stitching, it's more or less production ready, something that even the Japanese brand admitted.

The transition from coupe to convertible brings a fabric roof with a glass rear screen that retracts behind the rear seats, which remain and give the Toyota model an edge over Mazda's rivaling MX-5 series.

Toyota says the GT86 (and consequently, the BRZ and FR-S) was developed from the beginning to be offered in open top form.

During the presentation of the concept in Geneva, Toyota Europe President Didier Leroy said:

"I know you are all wondering about facts and figures, and body rigidity. Well, we have the same worries and Tada [chief engineer of the GT 86] and his team are deep into analysis. But GT86 was designed from the start as a cabriolet… That probably tells you all you needed to know."

Expect Scion to present its own version of the FR-86 Concept later this year.

So, what do you say; should Toyota and Scion green light a convertible version of their respective coupes?

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/toy...nvertible.html

[vh_supra26]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4jZQ87FaOQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4jZQ87FaOQ[/ame]

[vh_supra26]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhUc_qL8Nig"]2014 Toyota GT86 Open Concept - 2013 Geneva Motor Show - YouTube[/ame]

An open-top FR-S is finally here, although right now, the Toyota FT-86 Open is still just a concept.


With the same 2.0L flat-four engine with 200-hp and a four-seater arrangement, not much has changed from the normal Toyota coupe. The Japanese automaker opted to use a soft-top, prefering to keep weight down. Overall weight is up just 13 lbs, and the vehicles already impressively low center of gravity has been lowered, even further thanks to the removal of the roof.

Although no official confirmation of an open-top FR-S has been made, Toyota has mentioned before that the vehicle was developed from the start to accommodate a retractable roof. Additionally, since the car is currently made in a Subaru plant, it will be interesting to see if Subaru will show off a convertible version of its BRZ coupe in the near future.


Either way, this could be the Mazda MX-5 alternative for those who find the Mazda styling not to their tastes. The Toyota concept doesn’t lose any of its good looks in the transformation to a convertible.

Check out the video below for a closer look at the new FT-86 Open Concept.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...irst-look.html

[LeeMaster]

I like the headlights and the big rotors. The softtop looks pretty decent, but I still feel like this should be a dedicated coupe car. Instead they should dress up the BRZ/FRS using the same chassis like how Acura dressed up the ILX from a Civic. But thats just me....

[FRSupra]

After about two weeks of owning my FR-S, my father saw how serious I was about it and asked me "would you ever get rid of it?" Knowing of how much love I had for the Supra, he was aware this car was a keeper, as I was quick to get rid of my previous cars, like the tC and CR-Z, this was forcasted to stay with me forever. Sure there are other cars I dream about and this will certainly not be my last car, but to answer his question, this was my reply:

"Maybe if they released a targa top, that's the only way."

Targas have always been my favorite style of car. It combines the maturity and seriousness of coupe with the "let you stay up one hour longer" privledge of an open top car. Not something that would be ruined in a straight convertible.

Convertibles were never attractive to me, until I saw a 458 spider. This car had pulled off the look and feel of a targa, while still being a convertible. Granted it was a hard top, but the butresses (which help for roll over) and rear flat glass made the look just right. Structure behind your head and no back seats.

Seeing the ft-86 open concept, I'm dissapointed. I'll admit though, it does look better than I imagined it would. Now seeing the top up, it's DRG's are high following the lines of the coupe. If they could make a targa or somehow mimic the look of italia spider, I'd have to consider the trade.

Everyone's clamoring for a Targa top. If Toyota were to actually make one, I'd bet that they couldn't keep up with demand.

[warennie]

Looks amazing with the roof up. That was my biggest concern but they've nailed it. I'd honestly say it looks even more like an exotic car now.

Can't wait for its release and I hope I can skip the buy que.

[zohare]

Am I the only one amazed the only upped the weight 13 lbs? Yeah, I want a targa. Yeah, I want a true roadster. With humps and all please, but seriously, for only 13 lbs of weight, This thing will sell... Like mad. On a different note... If they ever make a dam turbo model... with those brakes etc...sigh.

[voyager2285]

The only thing I like about this version is the 3rd brake lights..... and the phone holder... :P

[kvl]

the body lines with the top close looks good, however... still dont like that contrast with the black/Navy cloth, maybe it will look better in black or blue where it blend in more with the cloth!

[Giccin]

Looks awesome, but I'd only buy it if it were like the Miata. The ability to have both a hardtop and a soft-top.

Also the wheels. Good lord they're huge. Lol

[7thgear]

when you build a car as a convertable

you get a nice convertable car

when you build a car as a coupe

and then decide to slice the roof off in a fit of acid-induced self-mutalation

you get shit

GO HOME TOYOTA, YOU'RE DRUNK

/thread

[Zaku]

Oh for goodness sake, how much more misinformed are people going to be do we need a sticky on the information. I'll even say it again It wasn't a coupe with a cut off top, it was both planned just they came out with the coupe first, first they interviewed Tada san about it and it told the German one thing, we had Moto san clarify it recently, and in a recent interview of Tada san which our Mod @ichitaka05 was nice enough to translate, when the made it they had the convertible in mind. That's not one of those let's take our successful coupe and cut the roof off. It was let's make a coupe and a convertible. For example look at the weight of the roof that's crazy it's barely weight anything they had some engineering in mind for this, I rather see this thing get made then not at all.

source: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30037

11th page look for big bold letters.


From what the polls look like right now the want the convertible is at about 80 ish because they either want a form of it, while about 50 ish people are more for the coupe, is the owner of one. I want to say about 5-10 people are somewhat angry and misinformed.