With the release of the new Toyota 86 also known as the Scion FR-S / Subaru BR-Z here in the states, Toyota tries to bring back the fun in driving. On my way home from my parents the other day, I spotted a black FR-S and I was ecstatic. The JDM sport hatch is back!
Remember the glory years of the hot hatches? there was the Si, GTi, GTX, GLH, and of course the 86. Other than the Trueno, Toyota also gave us the Corolla FX16 GT-S. What is it? Its a 1.6-liter, twin-cam, sixteen-valve, fuel-injected four-cylinder that produces 108 horsepower at 6600 rpm, strapped to one of the smallest lightest Corolla.
In a world where 8valve single cam was the norm, the FX16 stood out. Compared to the GTi and the CRX Si, the GT-S was a little sleeper with the 4A-GE. Since the 86 was the sought after hotter sister during those times, the FX16 was quite a wall flower and left to rust some where; which makes this little hatch harder to find used in mint condition.
Definitely a “Hot hatch” in it’s time, and quite a treat if you spot one these days.
