Is Scion FRS made by Toyota?
Yes. The Scion FR-S was a Toyota-backed project developed in collaboration with Subaru and marketed in North America under Toyota’s (now-defunct) Scion brand. It is essentially the same car as the Toyota 86 (known as GT86 in some markets). Since Scion was retired, the model continues in most markets as the Toyota 86.
Origins and development
The FR-S arose from a joint project between Toyota and Subaru to create a lightweight, driver-focused rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. In North America, Toyota packaged it under the Scion banner as the FR-S, while Subaru sold a nearly identical version as the BRZ.
Co-development details
Both manufacturers contributed key elements: Subaru supplied the 2.0-liter flat-four engine and low-slung chassis hardware, while Toyota led the overall project and branding in many markets. The FR-S designation emphasizes front-engine, rear-wheel drive, sport intent, and the car shares its fundamental architecture with the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ.
Manufacturing and market timing
Production was carried out primarily in Japan, with Subaru handling the assembly and Toyota coordinating regional distribution. The Scion FR-S debuted in 2013 for the North American market, and after the Scion brand was retired in 2016, the model lived on globally as the Toyota 86 (with some markets using the GT86 name).
Branding and market naming
Before examining the naming by market, here is a quick overview of how the car was presented to consumers around the world:
- North America: Scion FR-S (2013–2016), a Scion-branded version of the Toyota 86 designed for the U.S. market.
- Other markets: Toyota 86 or GT86, depending on region, with the same core engineering and design.
- Current status: The Scion brand has been retired; the model continues under Toyota’s badge in most regions as the Toyota 86.
In practical terms, the FR-S was Toyota’s product under a separate North American brand for a time, and the underlying car is the same as the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ—born from a shared engineering collaboration.
Technical and market recap
The FR-S/Toyota 86 family uses a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed (boxer) engine, rear-wheel drive, and a light, balanced chassis aimed at engaging, driver-centric handling. The collaboration between Toyota and Subaru produced a car that remains popular among enthusiasts for its approachable performance and tunability.
Summary
Bottom line: The Scion FR-S was a Toyota-backed product developed with Subaru. It was marketed in North America under the Scion banner, but internationally the same car is known as the Toyota 86 (and GT86 in some markets). With Scion retired, the model continues under Toyota’s badge in most places today.
