You're asking for options on cars (Scion) that are meant to be entry level vehicles. Convertible, increase in power, factory turbo etc etc would put the car well out of the price range Toyota intended. I never said they're an enthusiasts brand cause they aren't. But there are just as many people that love the car as there are people like us who think it's "meh". For ever person that's owned a s2000 or greater that thinks the car needs more or missing something, their are just as many people that moved from a TC, Civic or whatever that see the FRS/BRZ as what they wanted, a modifiable RWD car.

 

It's more like what benefit does Toyota get from BMW? Would take a Toyota engine over BMW any day. In terms of motor sports success, they marques have had similar success.

Platform sharing, common parts, joint technology development between manufacturers is not something new. If competing standards are being developed and two of the biggest settle on one, it helps move that to the standard.

 

That's a good question but one we probably won't know the answer to until we know more specifics about the vehicle. I don't think the vehicle will achieve GTR levels of praise but I do think it has the potential to be something good.

 

Not every car needs to beat a GTR. As great as the GTR is, it represents what electronics and technology does to make a car fast. Other cars are fast due the foundation of the car, electronics play 2nd fiddle. Not saying one is better than the other, but clearly the GTR is on one end of the spectrum.

 

I'm not saying that it has to beat the GTR, I just meant received and well as the GTR was. I agree 100% about electronics but unfortunately those electronics aren't going away anytime soon if ever.

 

But will it really have Toyota reliability? the 86 was a joint venture also, of which the all the important parts are Subaru. If the engine/drivetrain of the FT-1 is all BMW, then reliability might not be something to get excited about with this car...

Reliability is going to come down to the details of this "joint venture" and how much Toyota and BMW engineers will (or won't) be working with each other.

As for the ext design, I have a strong hunch the actual car won't change much from the concept which has been hugely well received.

 

It depends on how much of a true "joint venture" it is, really. I'd trust Toyota electronics and hybrid systems way more. The basic ICE/powertrain should be fine as built by BMW. We'll see!

 

Put the M3/M4 engine in this and keep the weight significantly lower and I would be all over it.

 

Yeah, but the thing is this car is sold as a Toyota in the rest of the world, so your Scion argument is mostly void (i.e. it wasn't developed to be a cheap Scion).

 

Ford Focus ST, Mazdaspeed3 and GTI all come priced at or under what a FRS/BRZ cost and come with factory turbos. Yes they are FWD, but they're based on entry level vehicles and get good reviews.

Maybe the R&D expenses are a turn off , but... plenty of Subaru cars come with turbos so it's not like it's unexplored territory.
Don't want to turn this into a "what the FRS/BRZ could be" thread but it doesn't seem out of the question to add what people want.
Granted their intention was to make a NA coupe, not the next 240.

On the other hand, I see a ton of FRS/BRZ's on the road so maybe they're thinking, "hey it's selling, leave it as is".