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The FT86 platform is still one of the most exciting things to happen in years. It is a front-engine, rear-drive, simple, fun-to-drive car. But let's be honest, everyone agrees on one thing it needs: More power.
The Scion FR-S was the US-special 86/BR-Z, which was only sold from 2013 to 2016, but it quickly became a favorite among tuners and car enthusiasts. The aftermarket support for this car is still crazy, even after almost ten years.
Apparently, the Scion brand is preparing to make a comeback, but it will be a whole different animal. If you have the OG driver's car, keep it. There aren't many enthusiast coupes like this anymore, and probably, there won’t be.
If you want to give your FR-S the power and response it needs, here are the best Scion FR-S mods that will really change the car.
Engine: Getting Up The 4U-GSE to Speed
The 2.0L flat-four 4U-GSE engine is what powers the FR-S. It makes about 200 horsepower from the factory, which is fun but not particularly fast. And because it is naturally aspirated, you shouldn't expect big gains from just a tune, intake, or exhaust. The classic I/H/E makes the engine sound and breathe better, but going forced induction is the real move to make power for a naturally aspirated engine.
The One Big Move: Supercharger
A supercharger kit is the only mod you need for daily driving and instant power. Jackson Racing is a well-known name in the industry, and their full bolt-on kit can reportedly increase the stock motor's power by up to 50%, as they claim. The Rotrex C38-81 supercharger gives the car a strong, smooth powerband while still being easy to drive and getting good gas mileage when driving normally.
The kit comes with CNC-machined aluminum brackets and parts, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler, powder-coated aluminum piping, and an ECU calibration that can be installed through the included EcuTek Programming Kit. That's the kind of plug-and-play system that makes sense if you want power that works and is reliable.
To finish off the performance side, get a good cat-back exhaust. Apexi, Borla, HKS, Milltek, or GReddy all sell quality systems that fit perfectly and sound great. A good exhaust not only helps your Scion breathe, but it also gives your 300 HP engine a nice rumble.
FN Tuned Throttle Response Controller
The FN Tuned throttle response controller makes the FR-S feel completely different, even before you add power. FN Tuned fixes the stock car's lazy drive-by-wire system.
The module plugs right into your stock throttle assembly with an OEM-quality harness after a dead-simple 15-minute job. FN Tuned is completely wireless to control. You just pull up your phone, fire up the free FN Tuned app, and tap your way through different modes. FN Tuned gives you 36 individual throttle maps to choose from, so you can change the pedal feedback to fit your driving style. Every time you floor it, your FR-S will feel sharper and more connected, just like it should have from the factory.
Plus, you can disable the gas pedal completely with the integrated Anti-Theft feature, so you can stay confident when you have to leave your FR-S unattended in a public parking lot, in a remote place, or even parked on the street.
Click here to order your FN Tuned!
Driveline: Control the Power
If you have an automatic, good luck with that. Hope it’s not that bad for your driving enjoyment. If you have a manual, you may need to beef up the driveline for the new supercharged power.
Add a heavy-duty clutch kit to beef up the stock stick shift. While you’re in there, throwing in an upgraded lightweight flywheel is a good idea. ACT makes good clutch kits, and you can get them with a lighter flywheel, too. Choose between Streetlite or Prolite depending on how aggressive you want to be.
Just don't go overboard with race-spec parts; they will make your car hard to drive every day. Stick with something that can handle your extra power without making every stoplight a leg workout.
Suspension and Brakes: Balance It
Your FR-S will need to handle and stop better now that it has 50% more power.
Get a set of coilovers first. BC Racing is a good choice for those of you on a budget. Bilstein and KW, on the other hand, make high-end systems with adjustable damping, rebound, and ride height. Coilovers make a huge difference in grip and control, and they are a great one-and-done solution for a suspension upgrade.
When it comes to braking, you have two good ways to stop. If you want to improve your stopping performance, you can get high-performance pads and rotors with steel lines. If you want to go all out, you can get a full big brake kit like the Brembo GT series with 4-piston fronts and 2-piston rears.
If you can't put power down, it doesn't mean anything. To save some unsprung weight, get a set of lightweight wheels and high-performance tires. Better grip, better handling, better looks…better everything.
The FR-S may not be the fastest car right out of the box, but it's one of the best platforms to modify. These are some of the best Scion FR-S mods to make your fun little coupe a real street weapon without making it a struggle to drive day in and day out, or throwing the famous Japanese reliability out the window.
Images: Toyota Newsroom, Enq 1998 on Unsplash