Scion Unveils 600-HP, Turbocharged FR-S Drift Car in Detroit

The 2013 Scion FR-S is supposed to provide an experience like that of the 1980s rear-drive Toyota Corolla, which just so happens to be popular among drifters. (Those fond of oversteer, not vagabonds.) Scion is apparently hoping the FR-S will be subject to the same fondness, so it helped the cause along by creating the drift-ready version that was shown at the 2012 Detroit auto show. The FR-S’s 2.0-liter boxer-four has been turbocharged to produce 600 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque—increases of 400 hp and 349 lb-ft over stock. That ought to do it, but just to be safe Scion also gutted the car, lightening it by roughly 300 pounds for drift duty.
Why are such insane power numbers necessary? Because getting sideways and staying there requires tire-frying horsepower. Scion Racing partnered with Greddy to create the FR-S specifically for Formula Drift competition, where it will replace the Scion tC as drifter Ken Gushi’s ride of choice.

This car’s existence will certainly reignite speculation of factory-turbocharged versions of the FR-S and its Subaru BRZ twin. While it does prove that a turbo will fit under the hood—and probably a big one at that—this one-off nutso setup is far from production-feasible. Still, we’re relatively confident that one or both of the Subayota cars will eventually offer a turbocharged version for consumers. With a more modest power bump, of course.