Toyota's new S-FR has the MX-5 in its sights

With nearly a million cars produced, the Mazda MX-5 holds the crown as the world's best selling sports car - featuring compact dimensions and relatively economical engines with enough power to put a smile on your face when required, it is easy to see why Mazda's roadster has a lot of appeal, it makes you wonder "Why haven't other car manufacturers produced a rival to the MX-5?" So far, only Fiat have taken notice and the upcoming 124 Spider is based on the ND platform of the MX-5. Now however, there is a third contender set to enter the ring and it comes courtesy of Toyota. Say hello to the S-FR Concept.

Starting at the front, what takes your notice right away is that gaping front grill. It is complemented by round LED headlights which are partially covered by the bonnet which gives the S-FR a very angry but cute front fascia. On the side, you can see a profile which merges the modern lines of a GT86 with the classic features of the iconic Sports 800. Why that familiarity? Well all of these cars share in common a front-engine, rear wheel drive layout and we know that is a recipe for fun in a minimalist compact sports car. At the rear, the cute design features continue with circular tail lights and a rounded diffuser, hiding a downward-facing exhaust pipe.

Rather surprisingly for a concept car, the interior of the S-FR looks almost production ready. Sticking with the minimalist theme, the S-FR features a bare dashboard with just the essentials like USB cable inputs and climate control options. There are no performance specifications given yet but with the digital instrument cluster highlighting a tachometer redlining at 7000RPM and a manual gear stick positioned at the centre of the cabin, we can be sure Toyota is going to give the production S-FR a buzzing power unit!