The Scion brand is a wholly-owned division of Toyota Motor Corp. sold in the North American market only primarily marked to "Generation Y". The FR-S is a front engine, rear wheel drive, sport type car; thus the name FR-S.

Why is this car so special in the Toyota family of vehicles?

What makes it so different?

The FR-S is the first front engine, rear wheel drive Toyota imported to North America since 1998, and the first rear wheel drive since the demise of the MR2 Spyder. The FR-S is also the first boxer type engine in a Toyota vehicle.


Now…

In October 1966 Toyota introduced the Corolla Sprinter Coupe; this vehicle had an 1100 cc engine coupled to a 4 speed manual transmission and was rear wheel drive. This Corolla was also the first generation of the Toyota Corolla we all know.

In May 1970 the second generation Corolla was introduced to the Japanese domestic market with a 1600 cc hemispherical combustion chamber, push rod engine developing 102 horsepower--for the US market--called a 2T-C engine. When installed with a manual transmission the 1800 lb. Corolla ran pretty good.

In 1972, Toyota imported a new model of Corolla called "SR5." The…

The first question that needs to be addressed is: with the advanced technology in a Toyota Hybrid, is the reliability as good as the other Toyotas in the model line? After all, Toyota has built a reputation of building a reliable vehicle.

I will answer this question by breaking down the vehicle by system:

1. Power train, engine and transaxle:  All the engines in Toyota hybrids are used in another Toyota model imported to or made in the USA. There are slight differences in the cam timing and electronic engine control system to meet the power delivery needs of a hybrid…

First, I think we need to explore the three main types of hybrid power trains.

The first type is called a series hybrid; in this type the internal combustion (IC) engine drives a generator to either supply electrical power to an electric motor or to recharge the batteries that supply electrical power to the drive motors. The best example of this type is a diesel locomotive we see pulling trains.

The next type is a parallel hybrid; in the parallel system, most of the driving power for the vehicle comes from an IC engine which is assisted by an electric…

How Does My Hybrid Work?

First, I think we need to explore the three main types of hybrid power trains.

The first type is called a series hybrid; in this type the internal combustion (IC) engine drives a generator to either supply electrical power to an electric motor or to recharge the batteries that supply electrical power to the drive motors. The best example of this type is a diesel locomotive we see pulling trains.

The next type is a parallel hybrid; in the parallel system, most of the driving power for the vehicle comes from an IC engine which…

"Are Hybrids are too new to be reliable?"
"Should I wait until they have been out a while before I buy one?"
"Are Hybrids are too slow, will you get run over?"

Have you ever made--or overheard someone make--one of these statements?

This week were having a history lesson about Hybrid vehicles. In the year 1900, Jacob Lohner & Co. built the first Hybrid automobile designed by a young engineer: Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. Yes, that's the same Porsche you know today!

The vehicle was a simple hybrid: an internal combustion engine (like we have today) drove a generator…

Hello! Let me first introduce myself, I am Terry Buchanan, Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician, ASE Certified Master Technician and a Member of The Toyota International Service Champions Society. I am also a proud husband, father, grandfather, fisherman and gear head.

Most of the people in the USA think Toyota is a foreign company, rightly so; however did you know Toyota has 11 manufacturing plants, 5 Research & Development centers and 2 Design Centers, employing over 365,000 Americans? Toyota invested over $18,000,000,000 in the US facilities and spends $29,000,000,000 buying parts from other US suppliers…