Yeah, so, the S-FR is still happening, right?

"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
12/02/2016 at 12:20 • Filed to: None

Toyota didn’t just roll out what is clearly a preproduction prototype just to Dodge Razor us, right?

They wouldn’t so obviously raid the parts bin for a one-off show car, would they?

DISCUSSION (24)

S65 > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:21

Dodge Razor?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:23

Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Their current lineup is already bold.

HammerheadFistpunch > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:26

It may happen, but not in the US I would bet.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > S65
12/02/2016 at 12:31

A 2000-pound rear drive concept that Dodge made in 2002 that they really insisted was going to be made.

Kinja'd!!!

gmctavish needs more space > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:39

I wish, but if they do, it’s likely not coming to North America. I would find a way to buy one new if they did

punkgoose17 > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:41

Wow I miss-remembered that the Razor was rwd. I thought the concept was fwd for the last 14 years.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > punkgoose17
12/02/2016 at 12:47

It was like they combined a Miata and a Neon ACR to make the ultimate god of autocross. Such wonderful things we could have had.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:51

My favorite part of that image is knockoff Vanilla Ice looking badass with his Razor scooter.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:52

I bet it will evolve into a second generation GT86 if it ever sees production.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:53

It looks like the offspring of a Neon, MR-S, and Mitsubishi Eclipse.

RotaryLover > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 12:56

Wait a sec...it looks a lot like the MX5 RF to me. Which one came first again?

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
12/02/2016 at 13:27

My favorite part is said knockoff Vanilla Ice’s dad jeans.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
12/02/2016 at 13:49

It’s a lot smaller than an FR-S. It’s basically an Oppo-Yaris.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 13:49

I googled this not long ago and i found some rumors that probably it won’t come to the u.s. market and either way no matter the market it wont be seen until 2020ish if at all. But these are half remembered internet rumors that I don’t remember the source of.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 15:33

I hope not. 10/10 would buy. (Even new)

wiffleballtony > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/02/2016 at 20:33

Kinja'd!!!

RotaryLover > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/03/2016 at 12:43

Fact: There’s a dedicated forum for that exact car lol. People are tired of waiting for the green light tho LOL. http://www.sfrforums.com/forums/index.php

Nauraushaun > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/05/2016 at 03:35

When has America ever made a god of autocross? I just don’t believe it would’ve been any good, even if they had made it. Just another Fiero/Prowler/Solstice.

The earlier 86 concepts were light too, some 1000 kilos. It was all lies. If Toyota can’t do it, I struggle to believe America can.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Nauraushaun
12/05/2016 at 06:21

The original Neon ACR was designed to be precisely that, and it was for a good chunk of the 90s. They left the engine alone but gave it bigger brakes, stiffer springs, adjustable shocks, firmer bushings, stiffer sways, a quicker steering rack and a close-ratio gearbox and to save weight they removed the stereo, air conditioning and ABS. It was, effectively, a modified (or prepared I forget the word they used in the mid-90s) car that you could enter in factory stock class races. I mean, was only available to SCCA members for the first year it was on sale.

So, to answer your question, they made a god of autocross when a major manufacturer modified a car for autocross that was still technically stock because how can it count as a modified car if all the parts are factory original?

Nauraushaun > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/05/2016 at 06:36

Those are all really good points. And it sounds like Nismo and what have you could take a page out of their book.

But let me ask you this: was there ever a Neon that wasn’t wrong-wheel-drive?

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Nauraushaun
12/05/2016 at 07:26

Does it matter? Fast is fast, and it was fast.

And I agree that it is a good idea that more companies should do, but it comes down to the companies with in-house performance divisions like Nismo or TRD or Ford Racing just sell the parts as dealer-installed accessories, so while you can go nuts without voiding the warranty, it’s not the same thing, and it’s a difference that only people who are REALLY into cars can appreciate.

Nauraushaun > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/05/2016 at 16:01

I think it does. This wasn’t just fast, this was supposed to be a handling machine! But with FWD, it’s always going to be severely compromised. It’s far worse for a competition car than it is a road car.

I’m not even sure Nismo do that. If I walked down to my local Nissan dealer, would I be able to get hardcore Nismo parts for any of their models?

You’re right it’s not the same.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Nauraushaun
12/05/2016 at 16:02

And the modifications done to the ACR were a lot more extreme than what you can get from Nismo/TRD/etc. You won’t get a different steering rack, for example.

Nauraushaun > PanchoVilleneuve ST
12/05/2016 at 16:24

Because all you can get is Nismo badges and shift knobs. :<< h8 u nismo