The Scion FR-S Won’t Be Rebadged As The Toyota GT86

When Toyota announced that the Scion brand is to be discontinued, many assumed the FR-S would be rebadged as a Toyota GT86. But that's not the case

Matt Robinson

Updated: 10 Oct 2024

The Scion FR-S Won’t Be Rebadged As The Toyota GT86

Following Toyota’s announcement about the discontinuation of the Scion brand earlier this week, there was a common theme in the comments section of the report. Given that all Scion models bar the tC are due to be badged as Toyotas from the 2017 model year onwards, many were pleased at the prospect of the Scion FR-S finally being badged as the Toyota GT86 in North America, as it is in Europe.

The press release made no mention of the GT86 name the car is given in Europe however, so we asked Toyota USA what the rebranded car would be called. We were told that the “current plans” are to keep the FR-S badge, creating the ‘Toyota FR-S’.

While this will in some ways simplify things for the rear-wheel drive sports car - it’ll only be sold under two brands rather than three - this now means that Toyota will sell it under four different names worldwide. FR-S in North America, GT86 in Europe and New Zealand, 86 in Asia, Australia and South America, and (weirdly) FT-86 in Jamaica and Nicaragua.

Meanwhile, a partially camouflaged, lightly refreshed version of the Toyobaru - most likely the 2017 Toyota FR-S - has been spotted undergoing testing.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

Takumi is disgusted.

So what’ll it be now? It won’t be debadged… Will it still be made?

I could do a whole rant on how much I hate this. I know it’s just a name but still, I hoped that we would finally get a car that paid homage to the AE86 in both spirit and name.