Meet the Toyota 86 / Scion FR-S GRMN SPORTS FR Concept PLATINUM [w/Video]

To be frank, Toyota got it right the first time with the original concepts for the 86 and the FR-S, but for one reason or another, it toned down the design of both models when time came to introduce the production variants.

While no doubt a success, many people have also complained about the lack of power from the Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat four that generates 200-horses.

Toyota's racing and tuning partner Gazoo Racing is looking to rectify both issues with a new concept unveiled today at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 named the 'GRMN SPORTS FR Concept PLATINUM'.

On the styling front, Gazoo Racing devised a new front end with different headlamps, bumper and vented hood, while it also revised the rear end of the coupe that gains newly shaped taillights, a bumper with a diffuser and a re-sculptured boot lid housing a ginormous wing.

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Gazoo Preparing Unique Looking Toyota 86 – Scion FR-S Concept with 325HP Twin-Charged Engine

The 2013 edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon is turning out to be quite the event with many surprise debuts being announced as we approach closer to the grand opening that takes place on the weekend before the Detroit motor show in mid-January.

Today we learn that Toyota's motorsports and tuning partner Gazoo Racing will host the world premiere of a unique looking Toyota 86 coupe (Japan's version of the North American Scion FR-S) named the GRMN Sports FR Concept Platinum.

From the few cropped pictures we were able to get our hands on, we can see that the study will feature a unique body with different front and rear ends over the stock 86/FR-S along with some interior upgrades including bucket seats.

If the concept's name rings a bell, that's because under the sheetmetal, it shares its performance upgrades with the GRMN Sports FR Concept revealed at the Goodwood Festival in the UK this summer.

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Mini-Me Toyota 86 / Scion FR-S Doesn't Make the Cut at D1GP Drift Event

If you're an avid fan of the art of drifting, you can't go wrong with Japan's D1 Grand Prix or D1GP professional drift series, unless, of course, you stumble upon the wrong car.

We can't say for sure if Gazoo Racing's mini-me Toyota 86 (JDM version of the Scion FR-S) was plagued by a technical problem or if there was nothing wrong and it simply played the role of the rodeo clown, but either way, we can't say we were impressed by its entrance on the track at a recent D1GP drift event in Odaiba, Japan.

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Aww, Isn't That Cute? Gazoo Builds a Real-Life Mini Version of the Toyota GT 86 / Scion FR-S

Anyone remember the craze over the comically-looking mini supercars created with the help of photoshop and various other image editing programs from a few years back?

After a gazillion different design concepts of any vehicle you can think of, the fad passed and we all moved on, or so we thought, as someone over at Toyota's racing and performance partner Gazoo recently had a moment of zen giving it another go.

Mind you, we're not talking about a digital rendering, but a real life, working model designed to look like the Toyota 86 (in case you forgot, it's marketed as the Toyota GT 86 in Europe and Scion FR-S in North America).

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Toyota Unveils Facelifted 2013 Mark X Sports Sedan for the Japanese Market

Yet again, Toyota has refreshed its Japanese domestic market Mark X sedan, which benefits from a series of cosmetic and mechanical tweaks for the new model year.

For those unaware, the Mark X is a mid-size saloon that shares its platform with the Toyota Crown and the (previous) Lexus GS and is available exclusively with V6 powertrains and the option of rear- or all-wheel drive.

In its latest form, Toyota's designers came up with a newly styled front end sporting different headlamps that incorporate Bi-Xenon and LED daytime running lights, a new grille with a more pronounced "X" logo in the center, and a redesigned bumper.

The Japanese automaker also made changes to the rear with a new set of tail lamps that follow the shape of the front headlights and a re-sculptured bumper.

A fresh assortment of exterior finishes along with new silver accents, trims and colors for the interior complete the cosmetic makeover of the regular versions.

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Toyota GT86 Twincharged Sports FR Concept with 315HP to Race at Goodwood Hillclimb [New Photos]

The upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 28 - July 1, 2012) is shaping up to be an extremely interesting event for gearheads and motor racing enthusiasts alike.

Today, Toyota confirmed the participation of the all-new GRMN Sports FR Concept based on the GT86 (a sister model to the Scion FR-S) at the famous Goodwood hillclimb.

The track concept was built by Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, which boosted the standard model's 2.0-liter flat-four boxer with the addition of both a turbo- and supercharger that lift output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft).

A modified six-speed manual gearbox drives the rear wheels while other changes include a dedicated GRMN-tuned suspension that brings the car closer to the ground, larger brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels and a unique sports body kit.

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Gazoo Builds Twin-Charged Toyota GT86 Sports FR Concept with 315-Horses

All this time, automotive enthusiasts have been complaining about the lack of power in the Toyota GT86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ triplets.

Whilst the three companies have no current plans to address these concerns, Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has a solution in the works as previewed by new a concept version of the European market GT86 named Sports FR.

Gazoo Racing's engineers have added both a supercharger and a turbocharger to the GT86's Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter flat four boosting output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft). A modified six-speed manual pushes power to the rear wheels.

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Toyota to Field Four GT86 and One Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring 24 Hours

The moment of truth for the Toyota group and its entries in this weekend's 40th Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race is almost here.

The Japanese carmaker will be represented in the race by four GT86 coupes, which is also known as the Toyota 86 in Japan and Scion FR-S in North America, and one Lexus LFA.

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Toyota to Field a Pair of GT86 Coupes in the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race [Video]

Toyota is wasting no time in preparing its newly launched 86 rear-wheel drive coupe (named GT86 in Europe) for its motorsports activities.

The Japanese automaker announced today that in cooperation with its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, it is entering two GT86 coupes in the famous Nürburgring 24 hour race, which takes place from May 17 to 20. Gazoo Racing will also field a Lexus LFA in the race.

Prior to the Nürburgring endurance race, Gazoo Racing will bring one of its GT86 models to the Japanese Rally Championship.

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Gazoo Racing Builds Toyota Yaris Turbo Concept with 180-Horses [Video]

While Toyota has no current plans to develop a performance version of its latest generation Yaris (marketed in Japan as the Vitz), the automaker's tuning and motorsports partner Gazoo Racing introduced an interesting concept model at this past weekend's Tokyo Auto Salon 2012.

The Vitz Turbo Concept is based on the three-door Yaris and comes with a raft of performance upgrades that may become available to the public in the very near future.

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Gazoo Racing Supercharges Toyota iQ, Production Limited to 100 Units [Video]

Remember the patent drawings of a wide body Toyota iQ (branded as a Scion in North America) that we showed you back in December? As it turns out, the drawings were for the GRMN iQ 130G that was revealed today at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan.

It's the creation of Toyota's motorsports and performance partner Gazoo Racing and is scheduled for a limited production run of 100 units later this year.

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Toyota's MR2 Based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II gets its Motorshow Debut

Visitors at this week's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will have the chance to see Toyota's MR2 roadster-based GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II in the flesh.

Developed by Toyota and its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, the prototype made its debut at this year’s 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring in Germany.

For those of you wondering, "GRMN" is an acronym for “Gazoo Racing tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring,” the latter being a nickname for Toyota’s late test driver Hiromu Naruse who died in an accident last summer while driving a prototype of the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is a development of last year's racing prototype that was based on production MR-2. The second iteration of Toyota's hybrid sports car features a brand new body while also improving upon the first concept on the powertrain front.

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Toyota FT-86 Completes Nürburgring Endurance Race without a Hitch

Endurance races are quite a spectacle if you are a motorsports fan. Even more so if they take place at the Mecca of tracks, the (in)famous Nürburgring circuit.

It’s the only place where you can see an Opel Manta or a Mercedes-Benz 190E finishing ahead of a Porsche 911 or a Lexus LFA. That’s because a lot of things can happen in endurance races and to cross the finish line of the Nordschleife is in itself, quite an achievement.

As we reported, Toyota decided to pull an LFA-like stunt and enter its new rear-wheel drive FT-86 coupe before launching the production version, in this past Saturday's race at the track Jackie Stewart christened “the Green Hell”.

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Our Spies get Up, Close and Personal with the Toyota FT-86 by Gazoo Racing

We are still a couple of months away from the world premiere of the series production Toyota FT-86 at the Tokyo Motor Show in December, but on Saturday, October 15, the rear-wheel drive coupe will make its racing debut at the VLN endurance racing championship on the Nürburgring track.

The race-prepped FT-86 has been developed by Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing and it is based on the actual production model that goes on sale next year.

After the first crop of pictures that we showed you on Thursday, our crafty spies were able to get very close to the racecar during testing at the pits and on the track, and even shot some photos if the FT-86's interior.

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SCOOP: Toyota FT-86 by Gazoo Racing Snagged Testing, will Debut this Saturday on the 'Ring!

In a move that sounds very similar to what Lexus did with the LF-A some two years ago, Toyota and its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing are preparing a specially modified version of the upcoming FT-86 rear-wheel drive coupe that will make its racing debut before the official presentation of the production model at the Tokyo Motor Show in early December.

Our man with the long lens not only caught the FT-86 by Gazoo Racing, but he also told us that it will break cover this Saturday, October 15, at the VLN endurance racing championship at the Nürburgring.

We checked the entries and can confirm that the FT-86 has been officially listed with Masahiko Kagayama and Minoru Takaki taking the driver's seat.

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