• Cosworth set to revolutionize its approach to aftermarket products by focusing on validated Power Packages suitable for warranty by vehicle manufacturers
• Company deliberately moves on from individual component supply towards fully validated system packages using motorsport experience
• Cosworth unveils first of its new range of Power Packages - the FA20 engine platform for Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86

Cosworth has today announced a notable step change in its supply of cutting edge performance aftermarket products with the launch of a series of Power Packages for the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86.

In stark contrast to its previous aftermarket strategy, Cosworth has deliberately shifted its focus from individual components to the engineering and manufacture of complete packages. This approach enables Cosworth to guarantee reliability while supporting its business objective of becoming an approved upgrade partner for global car manufacturers.

Cosworth is uniquely positioned to offer fully validated packages as a result of its unrivalled heritage at the highest level of motorsport. The company has spent decades building up successful partnerships with car manufacturers so this shift in aftermarket products represents a natural, yet significant step.

The first result of this approach is a brand new range of Power Package options for the FA20 engine platform that drives the Toyota GT-86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S. Cosworth Power Packages offer enthusiasts and motorsport professionals the ease and reliability of guaranteed power upgrades that only Cosworth's legendary engineering team can deliver.

Developed using the same methods employed in Formula One and sports car racing, Cosworth has engineered cost-effective and scalable performance solutions that can take the engine's power output from the standard 197bhp to a fully validated 325bhp and eventually on to a 380hp race track configuration. Each successive upgrade Stage builds upon and utilizes components in the previous Stage making this approach unique in the Aftermarket. This staged approach allows customers an affordable path to upgrade their vehicles.

Immediately available is the Stage 1 Power Package.

Delivered as part of complete, integrated performance solution, the Stage 1 Power Package offers a power increase of up to 230bhp, 11.6% on stock.

Stage 1 features:

• A Cosworth premium quality, free flow sports exhaust manufactured in partnership with Nameless Performance, specialists in the exhaust sector.
  
• A "Power by Cosworth" calibration kit and calibration file designed by Cosworth using the latest technology to maximise the peak performance of the stage components working together.
  
• An exclusive Cosworth vehicle badge and a uniquely numbered Cosworth authentication plaque.
  
• A Cosworth performance filtration solution and low temperature thermostat working together with the exhaust and calibration to deliver the predictable and consistent performance customers expect from Cosworth.

In accordance with Cosworth's new approach to the performance aftermarket the Power Packages for the FA20 engine platform provide a set of components that have been designed and engineered by Cosworth to work together as a solution, rather than a collection of individual parts, in order to maximise peak performance and reliability. Designed and manufactured to the highest quality, the first time fit of each individual component is assured, while the scalable system approach means that additional packages can be added easily, integrating each system with the next.

Cosworth Power Packages, uniquely deliver what the customer has long been waiting for:

More power, consistently and reliably delivered, created by a world leading engineering company with over 50 years' experience at all levels of motorsport.

As an example of this modular approach, the first option of the Stage 1 Power Package includes a Cosworth free flow sports exhaust that features two 4" diagonally cut, branded, double wall tips and a stylish "Y" shaped back muffler/silencer. In combination with the other components, this high quality, 304 stainless steel exhaust, with a mirror polished finish, increases power output to 220bhp. By adding the optional combined overpipe front pipe, with its unique spherical resonator, the new calibration power output is raised further to 225bhp. The black, thermally coated 4-2-1 manifold header option has equal length piping and CNC machined exhaust flanges, which helps to significantly reduce under hood/bonnet temperatures, boosting output with calibration to 230bhp while bringing a 22% weight reduction on the standard manifold.

Hal Reisiger, Cosworth Group Chief Executive, commented:

"Cosworth has significantly altered its approach to performance aftermarket. We are now able to supply completely validated solutions – as an entire system – to guarantee reliability and performance. This is a huge step change and one that will enable Cosworth to become the performance upgrade partner of choice for car manufacturers, as well as tuning professionals and enthusiasts around the world.

As the first step in this new strategic approach, we are excited to unveil Cosworth Power Packages for the FA20 Platform, FR-S, BRZ and GT86 cars. We are delivering a series of power upgrade solutions that will allow drivers to unlock the real performance potential of their vehicles.

Cosworth are absolutely unique in what we offer to the performance aftermarket – we are able to transfer the knowledge we have gained from over fifty years of motorsport engineering excellence, and our experience in Formula One, to create our Power Packages, so that our customers can benefit. That is why Cosworth continues to set the standard for aftermarket products."

Just over a year ago, Toyota revealed a TRD-enhanced GT 86 (a Scion FR-S for our U.S. readers) concept called the Griffon, which thanks to numerous undisclosed modifications weighed just 2,300 pounds and was capable of lapping a race track faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Now the awesome concept has spawned a production model, the 2014 Toyota GT 86 14R60.

Although the original concept has been watered down for the production world, the GT 86 14R60 still has some pretty impressive features. A new body kit has been installed and carbon fiber accents fitted, including a lightweight roof panel. A rear diffuser has been added and atop this is a large carbon fiber wing.

Raw carbon fiber accents can be found in the cabin along with an Alcantara-lined steering wheel and shifter knob and lightweight bucket seats. Contrast orange stitching, TRD-branded sill plates and special floor mats have also been fitted.

There have been some modifications to the powertrain, too; these include an optimized air intake, high-flow air filter, auxiliary oil cooler and a sports exhaust system. Strangely, there’s no extra power on offer, with the car’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine still rated at 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.

A six-speed manual comes standard on the GT 86 14R60 but the unit has received a lightweight fly wheel, high-performance clutch and quick-throw shifter. Other modifications for the special edition include a strut tower brace at the front, a V-brace in the trunk and adjustable suspension with revised bushings. The brakes have also been upgraded and a limited-slip differential installed.

The GT 86, as well as its Scion and Subaru twins, was always meant to be a blank canvas for owners to customize based on styling and performance preferences. We’re glad to see TRD working alongside tuners to push the performance envelope for these remarkably-capable-yet-still-affordable cars. Sadly, the GT 86 14R60 is only available in Japan, and it's hardly affordable considering its 6,300,000 yen (approximately $58,248) price tag.

I guess Japan listened to all of the enthusiast voices that understand the “concept” and not the general consumers for this one.

This car has EVERYTHING we would do to this car to prepare it for a raceway tuner challenge, except a turbo.

Read this list, and tell me what you think.

It’s derived from the Griffon Concept
Production Limited to just 100 cars. (Japan ONLY)
While the engine stays close to normal production engine, there are unique features that set this car apart, and here are some of the attributes:

TRD Intake system,
manifold cover,
center output muffler,
air core engine oil cooler,
stiffer bushing engine mount,
mechanical 4 pinion 1.5 way differential,
triple puck TRD clutch disk, and lightened flywheel,
close ratio 14R-60 original transmission gear set,
quick-shift lever mechanism.

revised front performance rods
rear V-brace
adjustable height coil-over monotube suspension
revised rear trailing arms
front / rear lower arm revision
front toe control arms
lightened front window

front canards
carbon fiber roof
rear diffuser
rear wing
side skirt
front wide fender
lower arm air deflectors
4/2 pot Mono-block caliper brakes 2-piece rotor
Alloy magnesium ultralight wheels
Bridgestone “Spec 14R60″ Tire
EPS-CAN Engine computer box

Full Bucket Seats (TRD by BRIDE)
Carbon interior Panels
Steering wheel (Alcantara)
Rear seat-delete panels
Alcantara shift lever knob
Scuff plates
Takata “TRD” 4 Point Harness.
Titanium license plate bolt.
Radio and AC delete
Transmission Scuff Plate
Green tint side glass
Revised Quick ratio electric power steering.

Did you catch the color code? The original new paint too for this car, a white called Crystal Pearl and coded not the usual J37 but K1X (and it’s the only color available)

And you want to know how much this costs to the lucky 100 buyers?

It’s a reasonable Y 6,300,000 Japanese Yen. (Approximately $60,000)
Before you gawk and throw a fit, you must understand that I have half of this done by custom fab or with aftermarket parts, and at MSRP for the parts, it’s at $55,000 plus. So with lots of further development, and several things I can’t even replicate, I think it’s totally reasonable. (keep in mind, I never said ‘affordable”)

Just released from Toyota Technocraft and announced on Toyota Japan website below.

86 TRD???????? 14R-60 ???86?????

Scion executive vice president Doug Murtha has flatly rejected the possibility of building a FR-S convertible or turbocharged variant.

Toyota is said to have failed to make a business case for either proposal, suggesting development costs would be higher than any associated uptick in sales, despite alleged vocal enthusiasm from both Scion executives and existing customers.

The company is already experiencing a steep slide in sales, halfway through the FR-S' product lifecycle, however a drop-top and more powerful edition have been rejected as potential options to reinvigorate shipments.

"I think we were pretty aggressive on our (submitted plan), but we looked at what we would have conceivably lost on the [convertible] and said, 'We're not going to even push it further,'" Murtha told Wards Auto in a recent interview, adding that the rumored turbocharged edition is "not something that's coming."

The executive is hopeful that its latest modestly-enhanced package, the FR-S Release Series 1.0, will be enough to revitalize interest in the sports coupe. The limited-edition build features aesthetic tweaks and lowered suspension, commanding a $5,000 premium over the base model.

The Toyota GT 86, known as the Scion FR-S in these parts, harks back to Toyota’s legendary sports cars of the past. The “GT” moniker comes from the 2000GT of the 1960s, while the “86” leverages the name of the AE86 drift hero of the 1980s, so it's fitting that Toyota is using the GT 86 to pay tribute to some of the automaker’s classics. It's doing this with some special liveries applied to the cars for this month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K.

The company responsible for the transformation is vinyl specialist Motor Model, and it has reproduced the original liveries in a shape and size to fit the GT 86. There are six of the special liveries in total. One of the designs represents the 1970s Celica 1600GT that was used as Toyota's entry into rallying. Two of the other models features liveries used on the 2000GT sports car during various racing events, and the rest features liveries from racing Celicas and Supras of the 1980s and ‘90s.

The one-off cars also get a few performance and suspension upgrades. The ride is dropped by 40 millimeters with the help of some lowering springs, and unique wheels are provided by Rota. The vehicles are topped off by a Milltek Sport stainless-steel exhaust that gives them a sporty sound and look.

Toyota will also have a number of its racing cars at the upcoming Goodwood fest. These will include the 2014-spec TS040 Hybrid Le Mans prototype that secured the automaker the overall win in the World Endurance Championship, as well as some Camry NASCAR racers and some heritage World Rally Championship cars.

SCION PAIRS SPORTS AND STYLE FOR 2016 FR-S RELEASE SERIES 2.0

TORRANCE, Calif., (Oct. 29, 2015) – Drivers of the 2016 Scion FR-S Release Series 2.0 will look better than ever in the most stylish version of the sports car ever offered. The new FR-S Release Series 2.0 comes with luxurious appointments and premium features, and with just 1,000 vehicles available, it's the most elusive and exclusive Scion Release Series yet.

The interior creates the lap of luxury with heated seats in black Alcantara and leather with camel-colored accents. The same black and camel theme continues to the leather-trimmed steering wheel while the shift knob and parking brake lever are covered in black leather. Camel trim also appears on the door armrest and the upper door trim while the center armrest and knee pads are black. Camel accent stitching is prominent throughout the interior and embroidered on the dash insert is the release series badge, sequentially numbered from 1 to 1000.

Additional luxury features include Smart key with push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control and HID headlamps with LED daylight running lamps.

On the outside, the Release Series 2.0 will make a statement with Lunar Storm paint and 17-inch forged alloy wheels. For added flair and distinction, a unique aero kit features spoilers on both the front lip and trunk.

"The FR-S is well known for being a fabulous sports car, and now we're taking it up a notch in the luxury arena," said Scion Vice President Andrew Gilleland. "It's the perfect car to take from the race track during the day to the red carpet that evening."

The 2016 FR-S Release Series 2.0 will come with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management® technology. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) will be $29,510 for the manual transmission and $30,610 for the automatic transmission, excluding the delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $795.