Possible power boost for 2015 for the Scion FRS, Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ?

According to a recent interview with Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer behind the 86 platform, they are working on ways to give the 86 MOAR POWA!  The possible options are a turbocharger, larger displacement engine (2.5L boxer) or a special hybrid system.  The bigger engine is probably going to be the most likely result since it will be the most cost efficient way to increase the power without adding too much complexity to the drive train.  Let alone, the large increase in weight that a hybrid system would add.  Oh, and the larger price tag.

According to Tada, they are currently testing all formats at the Toyota proving grounds.  He hopes to do at least one engine upgrade to this platform during it's life cycle.  The 2.5L would possibly boost power from the 200hp now to around 250-260hp.  That would be very nice!

Here's a link to an article with some parts of the interview.

This is one of the reasons that I decided to lease my FRS.  My lease will be maturing at the end of May in 2015.  Depending on what actually happens with the 86, will determine what I do with my car.  Right now I am just doing some easy bolt-on modifications that are easily reversible so if I return my car after the lease is over, I won't have a bunch of hard work ahead of me.  Now if this doesn't come to reality, then I think I may be buying out my lease and do some more significant upgrades.  I really like the Innovate Supercharge and that would likely be the first major mod that I do.

Only time will tell, so I guess we will have to sit back and wait and see how this develops.

2014 Scion FRS & Subaru BRZ

It looks like the 2014 Scion FRS and Subaru BRZ are going to have just some minor updates. The 2014 Scion FRS will now come standard with a touchscreen audio system standard. They are also adding the knee cushions around the door speakers and the center console area. The JDM Toyota GT86 models already had these in the 2013 models, but now we get them here in the US.

The price of the 2014 Scion FRS is now $25,455 for the 6-speed manual transmission and $26,555 for the 6-speed automatic transmission including destination fee (freight) of $755.

Here's the picture from their press release, which can be found here.

Production started on the 2014 models August 1st, 2013.  They should be available for retail some time in Septemeber.  

It looks like the BRZ is also getting the knee pad upgrades as well as a new head unit with Aha radio.  Here's the pricing on the 2014 BRZ's: