Toyota’s Tiny S-FR Sports Car Could Return as a Rear-Drive Kei Coupe in 2027

Japan's Response reports Toyota is considering a kei-size S-FR coupe with a 660cc turbo engine and rear-wheel drive, potentially launching in 2027.

Toyota’s Tiny S-FR Sports Car Could Return as a Rear-Drive Kei Coupe in 2027
3 min read

Toyota could revive its S-FR sports car as a tiny rear-wheel-drive coupe as early as 2027, according to an original scoop by Japanese publication Response.

The proposal would put a kei-size coupe below the GR86 as Toyota's cheapest sports car. Neither Toyota nor its subsidiary Daihatsu has confirmed the project, and an Australian launch is unconfirmed.

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The proposed specifications pair a turbocharged 660cc three-cylinder engine producing about 47kW (64PS) with rear-wheel drive and a choice of five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions.

Dimensions are approximately 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1230mm tall, with a 2265mm wheelbase. That makes it 595mm shorter and 220mm narrower than the original S-FR concept.

Toyota revealed that concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show as a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive four-seat coupe with a six-speed manual, but never approved it for production.

The new design described by Response's sources combines a low coupe profile with sharper headlights and retro grille elements recalling the original concept and Toyota Sports 800.

The dimensions match Daihatsu's K-OPEN, a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive open-top concept shown at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 to preview a next-generation Copen. Daihatsu has also demonstrated running prototypes, though the project remains a study.

One possible outcome is an open-top Daihatsu Copen alongside a fixed-roof Toyota S-FR. Matching dimensions alone do not establish shared hardware, and no joint development or shared platform has been officially announced.

Seating remains unresolved, as do weight, engine placement and suspension details. For now, the GR86 remains Toyota's most affordable sports car in Australia.

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