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Toyota preparing Scion-badged Nissan Juke fighter

As we've said on multiple occasions, the sub-compact crossover market is The Next Big Thing™. With that in mind, Toyota's lack of a competitor to the new breed of super-small, super-cute crossovers like the Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Jeep Renegade has been especially glaring. But as these photos show, the hole in the Japanese giant's lineup could soon be filled. Our spies captured this heavily disguised prototype testing in the deserts of the American southwest, signaling that Toyota is preparing to wade into the Nissan Juke's space by offering a tiny, but very heavily styled crossover of its own. Our spy photographers call the cute ute's look "aggressive," citing inspiration from the Toyota C-HR concept from the 2014 Paris Motor Show. Based on the meaty wheels and tires and what we can see through the camo, we're inclined to agree with their assessment. Underneath that sheet metal, we're told the new car rides on Toyota's new NGA platform. Like the Juke, a four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission will be on offer, although there's no telling whether Toyota will follow its rival's enthusiast beat and offer a six-speed manual version. What we find most interesting about all of this conjecture, though, is what it means for Scion, rather than its parent. Introducing a small crossover is the next logical step for Toyota's troubled sub-brand, and would serve as a delectable followup to the recently released iA sedan and iM hatch. Such a three-model lineup, when combined with the enthusiast-oriented FR-S, would transform Scion into a force to be reckoned with in the entry level space. Supporting this conjecture isn't too hard, either. As the spy photos show, this camo'd tester is being supported by a xB, the closest thing Scion (or its parent company, for that matter) have to a sub-compact CUV. It's unclear just when this new model will make its debut, but if Toyota hopes to make inroads into this popular new segment, this CUV will need to arrive before its extremely competent rivals can establish a solid foothold. Related Video:

Scion announces FR-S Release Series 1.0 in New York

In the market for a Scion FR-S (or Subaru BRZ), but don't want the same one your neighbor's got? Scion has good news for you. At the New York Auto Show today, the Japanese automaker has announced the availability of this FR-S Release Series 1.0.
As the first Release Series FR-S (the aging xB is debuting its tenth alongside it), this special edition has been spruced up by Toyota Racing Development with a series of visual and aerodynamic enhancements to give the FR-S a bit of extra edge. Included in the Release Series 1.0 is an upgraded aero kit, an exhaust tip for every cylinder in the engine (that makes four, folks), and a lowered suspension with TRD springs and HID headlamps. Did we mention it's all capped by Yuzu yellow paint?
Inside, you'll find black seats with T-pattern upholstery, a TRD steering wheel, shifter and cargo mat, dual-zone climate control and push-button ignition with smart key. Scion isn't saying exactly what this model will cost, but it is saying it will come in under $30,000 (before the $755 delivery charge).

A new Toyota MR2? We want to believe

In the wake of a busy Geneva auto show, the rumor mill is churning, and the latest grist involves one of the most beloved Toyota sports cars of all time. EVO reports that Tetsuya Tada, the chief of the Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 project and a hard-liner about sportscar priorities (light and nimble, but with modest horsepower), wants a third vehicle for Toyota's nascent sporty lineup. Currently, we know there's a Supra-like vehicle in the works, being co-developed with BMW, and the 86 is sticking around. Tada said he'd like a third sportscar to compliment the two we know about, and that he wants it soon. A quick bit of history: Toyota's classic sporty lineup had three components. The most visible was the Supra, whose power and prestige grew as the car evolved from a cushy personal tourer to a high-horsepower, high-technology icon. The Celica was its Clark Kent, more mild mannered but also more accessible and affordable. The third was the MR2, a mid-engined go-kart that lasted for three distinct generations. Each had its charms, and all have their fans. When Tada says that he wants three sportscars in the lineup, we already know about the Supra successor, and the 86 is already filling the Celica's role, so the blank is easy to fill. It doesn't sound like Tada spoke the word "MR2" to EVO, or hinted that the car would be mid-engined, but Tada doesn't seem to say anything without purpose. Whatever the layout, this third car – if it comes to fruition – will probably play a role similar to the MR2 in relation to its stablemates. To translate: it'll likely be even lighter and more nimble, and probably less powerful, than the 86. The closest real-world analogue to the pure MR2 ideal is the Honda S660, a mid-engined Kei roadster that's on sale in Japan right now. It's light, small, and powered by a 0.66-liter inline-three. Toyota could decide to directly compete with the S660, borrow an engine from its small-car specialist subsidiary Daihatsu, and produce a mid-engined MR2. Another possibility, even simpler from Toyota's perspective, would be to adapt the existing Daihatsu Copen roadster. Sure, it's front-engine and front-wheel drive, but it's a small, light roadster. And even better, it sells abroad with a larger 1.3-liter engine. Restyle it slightly, perhaps to resemble the S-FR concept of a couple years ago, and it's an off-the-shelf solution. The S-FR itself is a third possibility.