2016 Scion FR-S Gets Upgraded Interior & Tech.

After Scion added two new cars to their lineup for the first time in years at the 2015 New York Auto Show, we’ve been anxiously waiting to see what the youth-targeted marque would do with their most iconic vehicle for the 2016 model year. Today, Scion released official details for their 2016 Scion FR-S sports coupe.

Let’s start with the exterior. No body modifications have been made to the FR-S for 2016, but Scion will offer the coupe in two new colors – Ablaze Red (pictured) or Oceanic Blue. Remember, the coupe has only been on the market since 2013; Toyota hasn’t yet seen fit to make any body modifications to either their 86 or FR-S offerings in any market. The powertrain will stay the same too – it’s a 2.0L four-cylinder with 200 hp.

The interior is where things start getting really exciting. Scion wanted to improve the premium feel of the coupe’s cabin, so they made a number of interior upgrades. They’ve added new silver accents throughout the center console and dashboard, along with the steering wheel and door grips. Scion has also added in a higher quality audio system as the standard option, along with a crisp 7-inch touchscreen and voice recognition technology.

Scion also says that they’ve added a rear-view backup camera to the coupe for “added safety, comfort and convenience.” Of course, we all know that this is 2015… Backup cameras are required now. Still, we appreciate the sentiment.

With all the new technology, it’s no surprise that the 2016 model year will get a slight price increase of $405. That means the six-speed manual now starts at $25,305. The six-speed sequential automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters starts at $26,405. And don’t forget the $770 destination fee.

Honestly, even after the changes to the 2016MY coming in June, the Scion FR-S is headed for a rough year. First-quarter sales were down almost 30% from last year, and it’s hard to believe that a higher price tag is going to positively affect sales, even with a better interior.

Japanese Car Auction Find – 2012 Toyota 86 G

Since the cars are still so new, you won’t find very many GT86 or BRZ coupes up for auction in Japan (the FR-S is a US-only name). But, we managed to dig up this beautiful blazing red 86 G in superb condition.

Interestingly, the base trim Toyota 86 (as it’s called in Japan) is the RC package, which is a barebones vehicle meant for racing. It’s only once you move to the G trim (the car you see here) that you get all the interior components like air-conditioning, leather upholstery with red stitching, plus the LCD touchscreen display. You also get those slick 16-inch alloys you can see in the images above.

As we said, this 2012 Toyota 86 auction find is in great shape with a B-grade interior and exterior, and an overall rating of 4.5. For more details, get a full translation of the specs below the auction sheet.

“Interior B, exterior condition B, first registered October 2012, G model, 6-speed manual, AC, Kenwood SD navigation system with digital TV, rear view reversing camera, keyless entry, original 16 inch AWs, power steering, power windows, ABS, airbag, one owner, seats worn, front windscreen scratched, interior grime, minor scratches and minor dents, marks as per map”