While we like the Scion FR-S and its fraternal twin, the Subaru BRZ, as much as anyone writing about cars, we’d also admit that we’d like it even more if it had more power. Despite a 30+ horsepower advantage over the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Toyotabaru coupes feel slower to us, and – dare we say it – less precise.
That’s what the aftermarket is for, and to be fair, the Scion FR-S was always intended to be a blank canvas. Give enthusiasts a solid (and affordable) base to build from, and the end result is limited primarily by budget and imagination. The FR-S built by VCMC and Shift Autosport for Canada’s Scion Tuner Challenge is a prime example of this, as the end result is both fast and relatively affordable for a race car.
How fast? Farah doesn’t spit out numbers like 0-60 or lap times, but he does give it praise for its velocity and its balance, and Matt Farah is a guy you can trust behind the wheel. Thanks to a Full Blown Motorsports turbo kit pushing nine pounds of boost, the engine is putting out some 350 horsepower, which translates to about 320 at the rear wheels. “Run more boost,” most people would say, but that is going to impact engine life unless you beef up the internals. Besides, more power translates to more heat, and this particular FR-S still needs development work in the cooling department.
As for the “how expensive” part, the car costs around $25,000 new, and the engine, aero and suspension work have added roughly $20,000 to the tab. If you’ve priced new race cars lately, for any class, you’ll understand how much of a bargain this car really is.
We completely agree with Farah on one other point, too – the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ are indeed destined to become the next spec racer craze, at least until Mazda moves forward with the next generation of MX-5.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
