The Scion FR-S Needs More Power Says Nissan Product Boss: Nissan Mad???

[vh_supra26]

What’s wrong with the Scion FR-S? According to one Nissan exec, it’s too slow.

Hardly the first person to make that statement, it’s always a surprise when an automaker criticizes the products of one of its rivals. In this case it may also shed some light on Nissan’s future sports car plans.

“Do you still think the FR-S is an old man car,” we asked Nissan North America VP of Product Planning Pierre Loing during an interview at the New York Auto Show. A reference to previous comments by the Japanese automaker’s executive vice president, Andy Palmer, who said the compact sports car was a “midlife crisis” car “designed for a 50-year-old,” Loing was frank in his response.

“It needs more power,” were his parting words before scooting off to another interview.

Previous to that, Loing was less than open on the brand’s plans for its next-generation of sports cars, though he did provide some hints at the future. He described the two opposing sports car formulas, the first of being a car with a big engine and equally big horsepower ratings. This concept he referred to as “US centric,” commenting that such a car, “becomes almost unsellable in Europe and China because of CO2.” He even admitted that the appeal of such cars is dwindling in the US saying that, “it still sells in the US, but not in as big of numbers as it used to in the early 2000s.”

Commenting that the big horsepower, big engine philosophy is, “the current recipe of Z,” the alternative is a smaller vehicle with a lower displacement engine utilizing turbocharging. “We are still studying between those two,” said Loing, though it would appear the decision for the latter has already been made.

The next-gen Z car can’t shrink too much, however, as Nissan has reportedly given the green-light to push its IDx concept into production. That car could make use of a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylidner making around 200 hp.

As for the FR-S, Scion has announced no plans to upgrade the 200 hp 4-cyllinder engine in the car, despite rumors of turbocharging and hybridizing, or even just swapping in a larger displacement 2.5-liter unit.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...duct-boss.html

[DarkSunrise]

Haha if he thinks the 200 hp FR-S needs more power, I wonder if he'll say the same about his company's own 200hp IDx when it's released. Will probably sing a different tune when the time comes.

[torqdork]

Sounds like sour grapes given they had to cut the 2014 Z sales price by over $3,000 after 2013 sales fell 10.6% to one-third of FR-S sales.

And here I thought the French lay claim to diplomacy.

[sprintertrueno86]

Hey Nissan,

[Turbo95eg6]

[dem00n]

He's right, i only see you old guys driving this car.

Asians too.

[Rampage]

Nissan's biggest problem with the FR-S/BRZ/GT86 is that they wish they made it.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by dem00n

He's right, i only see you old guys driving this car.

Asians too.

What's wrong with an Asian driving car? I never have an accident or driving ticket. I probably tackle autox and mountain road faster than you as well. Take your racist comment else where.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Dark]

Nissan should prove their point by making a 2700-2900lb car with 230hp+.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Tromatic]

That Nissan is fugly. Want to outsell anything in the FR-S/BRZ market? Re-make the 240 as a modern car. Leave the frickin' looks alone. They might make a "better" car, but if it looks anything like the designs I have seen, I'd rather drive around in motorized dogshit. If the FR-S is for "middle ages men", the thing they are designing is for teenaged paint-huffing flatbills. No thanks.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by Dark

What's wrong with an Asian driving car? I never have an accident or driving ticket. I probably tackle autox and mountain road faster than you as well. Take your racist comment else where.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Sarcasm is not a good friend of yours.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Nissan's biggest problem with the FR-S/BRZ/GT86 is that they wish they made it.

+1

They had the idea in 2005 with the Foria Concept. Sadly, they never went through with it.

[Dark]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Sarcasm is not a good friend of yours.

Not sure if racist stereotype or sarcasm. I'm sure not to reply you anymore, whatever it is.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by Dark

Not sure if racist stereotype or sarcasm. I'm sure not to reply you anymore, whatever it is.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Look at the color of the post. Why is it purple? Because it's sarcastic, it is not supposed to be taken seriously.

But if you want to take it seriously, then go ahead.