However, every now and then, a concept car will stop me in my tracks.
I wouldn't call the new Toyota S-FR concept beautiful. The front end reminds me of an angry Pokemon character. But it feels more significant, more classically-refined. The lines are simple, clean; the silhouette rounded, but not in a hokey, Volkswagen New Beetle sort of way. It reminds me of an original, 1960s Japanese sports car.
The S-FR's exterior design, I suspect, intends to echo its ancestor, the Toyota Sports 800. The Sports 800 debuted at the same show back in 1962, and it was the first sports car Toyota ever produced. Tip-toeing the scales at a little over 1,200 pounds, and measuring a full 20 inches shorter than a Volkswagen Beetle of the time, it made the Triumph Spitfire look like a cargo ship.
The S-FR, its name no doubt an homage to the FR (front-engine, rear-drive) layout, is rumored to be a replacement for the defunct Toyota Supra. But, as it's smaller even than a Scion FR-S, it's likely that Toyota intends to compete with the likes of the Mazda Miata. Of course, it's not the first time a major car firm has taken on that mighty roadster.
Ever since the Mazda Miata rocked the automotive world in 1989, showing that small, two-seater roadsters could be both fun and reliable, other automotive giants have been vying for a piece of that market, with little luck. The closest contender was the Honda S2000, which didn't arrive on the scene until 1999. Sales of the S2000 remained healthy until the late 2000s, when numbers slumped dramatically from 2007 to 2008, leading to the roadster's discontinuation. BMW's Z3 and Z4 roadsters, along with the Porsche Boxster and Mercedes-Benz SLK were too expensive to be considered options, and the Miata continues to hold its title.
While the S-FR concept is a hardtop, it still holds promise as a potential alternative to the Miata. The concept, a very-complete example, showcases a minimal interior, apart from the bright accent pieces. The inside also boasts seating for four, as opposed to the Miata's rigid two-plus-roof format. But, most importantly, the S-FR is described as an entry-level option, meaning prices will (hopefully) make it accessible to young buyers.
Wait a second, you might say. This all sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it?
Yes, it does indeed. If we're on the same page, you're thinking about the Scion Fr-s/Subaru BR-Z twins, which both came out a few years ago. Sales of these certainly haven't been making headlines, despite the relatively-inexpensive entry price of around $25,000. And I'd be lying if I said I believed with all my heart that the S-FR would post even decent sales numbers if it hit our shores.
The problem with the S-FR, if it were to even reach production, is the same problem the FR-S and, to a slightly lesser extent, even the Miata face. These are niche cars. By nature, many, many more people will buy a Ford Taurus before they even think of buying a sports car with bucket seats and no trunk lining. In fact, it would be impractical, foolish even, for most people to even consider buying something as singularly-minded as a Miata or a BR-Z.
Furthermore, the hard fact is that fewer and fewer young people, the type of people interested in budget, pint-sized sports cars with little sound-deadening, aren't able to afford it. Even if they are able to, many will still flock to the secondhand market, where they'll get more car for their money.
All that being said, I want desperately for Toyota to build the S-FR. I want them to sell it here, too, so that every now and then I'll see one on the street and think "man, that would be a neat car to own." Will it be a Miata-fighter? Probably not. The Miata is too well-established, it's got a cult following that's difficult to match, the sort that only comes along in a handful of cars every few decades. But I've got hope for the little bug-eyed guy. Maybe one day I'll be able to look up at a confused pickup driver in traffic, with the confidence that he'll never understand why I bought an S-FR.
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