We’ve already seen Toyota’s take on a small, driver-focused sports-car at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show, but the Japanese carmaker still holds many juicy details for itself.
Apart from the obvious conclusions we drew judging from the concept’s dimensions, design and philosophy, we’re still not certain what kind of engine it will use, how much it will weigh, or why does it look so strange.
Well, Motoring tries to answer at least one of the aforementioned puzzles by reporting that the vehicle may feature a 1.2-litre, Atkinson-cycle turbo mill, as one of Toyota’s senior powertrain engineers said that the engine is being developed to suit a wide range of future vehicles.
Moreover, when asked by the Australian magazine if the compact, turbocharged powerplant could be fitted to rear-wheel-drive automobiles, the engineer responded: “From the design or development perspective, we do have this in mind.”
Producing 114 hp and 185 Nm (136 lb-ft) the small 1,197cc, four-pot engine could prove satisfactory if the S-FR weighs less than 1000 kg (2204 lbs), as rumored.
This comes after an initial report – started from S-FR forums – saying that the small sports car may receive a naturally-aspirated 130 PS (128 hp), 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine to power its rear wheels, while still keeping a low weight of 980kg (2160 lbs). The same source stated that the S-FR will get an Aisin 6 Speed transmission only, so we’ll just have to wait this one out, and let Toyota clear any rumors by actually launching the car.
In the meantime, what do you prefer on a compact, driver-oriented pocket-rocket? A turbocharged 1.2-litre, or a naturally aspirated 1.5?
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