Best Mods to Speed Up Your Scion FR-S

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Scion FR-S entered the world as a near-perfect sports car. It was a coupe with rear-wheel drive and it had a front-mounted engine. However, it had a fundamental flaw. The engine was considered underpowered, and its 200 horsepower only showed up at the top of the rev counter. The new Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ may have this problem worked out, with 25 extra horsepower rearranged for more torque, but does this leave FR-S owners with no options? As it turns out, FR-S owners have a few options they can turn to in order to eke out those extra ponies.

Cold air intake

Scion FR-S at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb | Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

A stock FR-S gets 155 horsepower to the rear wheels, so any kind of gain is significant. Cold air intakes have a reputation for not making a big difference unless the car is severely inhibited from the factory. Luckily this appears to be the case with the FR-S. With an Injen Intake, Dynos report a 12 horsepower increase, which is staggering. For even better performance, tuners recommend rerouting the cold air intake farther into the front bumper for the coldest air.

Tune for E85

scion fr-s engine bay
Scion FR-S Boxer Subaru engine | David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The FR-S suffers from an excruciating torque dip at around 4,000 RPM. Luckily this can be fixed with a simple tune and E85 pump gas. A Vishnu Performance OpenFlash Tablet coupled with a set of good headers can net a 25 horsepower increase, according to Dynos on Modbargains. This with the cold air intake gets total wheel horsepower to around 190. The FR-S’ stock exhaust flows well already, but opting for a single exhaust conversion would save some weight.

Forced Induction

A tried and true method for gaining as much power as possible from the FR-S motor is a supercharger. Owners report over 230 wheel horsepower from a supercharger, pulley, and cold air intake. Some owners get over 300 wheel horsepower, with a stage 1 turbo kit and bigger injectors. Either way, it’s not terribly expensive. A supercharger kit for the FR-S runs around $4,000. A turbo kit runs for around the same.

Lightweight pulleys and rear end gearing

scion fr-s engine bay
Scion FR-S Boxer Subaru engine | David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images

These won’t increase horsepower, but lighter pulleys could help the engine spin faster. Likewise, getting a lower gear ratio in the differential will make the wheels spin faster. Additionally, FR-S owners benefit from having aftermarket tires and wheels. The stock wheels are reportedly 7-inches wide, which doesn’t allow a very large contact patch. The car comes stock with Prius tires, which don’t offer a lot in the way of grip. A new set of wider wheels and bigger tires could help the car retain significant grip, and thus be faster in the turns. 

A lot of ways exist for getting an FR-S more power, and more off-the-line grunt. The air intake, tune, and headers cost around $1,500, which is considerably less than forced induction. However, the performance gains from a turbo or supercharger are hard to beat. Getting into forced induction unfortunately makes reliability take a back seat. If using the FR-S as a daily driver, a tune plus E85, headers, and a cold air intake should provide more than enough power.

RELATED: The Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS Are Basically The Same Cars

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No, You’re Not Being Punk’d–the Acura Integra Returns in 2022

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The new Countach might throw back to the ‘80s, but it’s no longer the only iconic nameplate making a return. Anyone who was into cars in the late ‘90s and early 2000s remembers the Acura Integra. It helped fuel the import scene propped up by Fast and Furious, especially in high-revving Type R form. And guess who’s back, back again for 2022?

Yes, the Acura Integra is coming back

2022 Acura Integra teaser | Acura

No, this isn’t some prank or miscommunication. After Acura officially debuted the NSX Type S at Monterey Car Week, it pulled a ‘one more thing’ via a lit-up drone show. And the post-credits news is that the Acura Integra is returning in 2022.

Shortly after that, the first teaser image of the new Acura Integra appeared. As shown above, it doesn’t reveal much beyond the headlight and part of the grille and front bumper. However, it clearly shows that, just like the late-90s model, the new Integra wears its name embossed on its front bumper, MotorTrend says.

While the Acura Integra’s 2022 return came as a surprise, the revival’s been in the works for six years, MT reports. For context, the original Integra launched in 1986 in the US. The iconic Type R came in 1996 as a 1997 model during the car’s third generation. And in 2002, Acura updated and relaunched it as the RSX, which lasted until 2006. It was the RSX that helped spread the ‘Type S’ name in the US, along with the contemporary CL and TL.

Will the Acura Integra coming in 2022 be as fun to drive as the original?

A yellow 2001 Acura Integra Type R on a racetrack
2001 Acura Integra Type R | Acura

Speaking of the Type S, Acura hasn’t revealed if the new Integra will receive a Type S variant. However, given that the brand plans to expand its Type S offerings past the TLX and NSX, it wouldn’t be surprising. No less than brand officer Jon Ikeda has expressed interest in “doing a Type S version of all models,” Motor1 notes. But even if there won’t be an Integra Type S in 2022, Ikeda promises that the new car “’will live up to the hype,’” MT reports.

As of this writing, Acura hasn’t officially revealed what kind of body style the 2022 Integra will offer. The third-gen car, as well as the RSX, were compact two-door coupes with hatchback rears. And based on the silhouette displayed at the drone show, it appears the new Integra will also be a two-door hatchback, Road & Track reports. But whatever the new car looks like, Acura says that it will be “a…compact premium entrant.”

In short, then, the new Acura Integra could be a genuine rival for sports cars like the GR 86/BRZ and the Mazda Miata. Not to mention a potential competitor for the Volkswagen GTI and Hyundai Veloster N, too.

There’s still a lot left unknown

Besides the teaser image and some speculation, hard details about the reborn Acura Integra aren’t available. It could share a platform with the current Civic, and a hypothetical Type S could use Civic Type R hardware, Roadshow muses. But the new Integra could also go away from FWD in favor of AWD, and/or pursue hybrid tech, MT says.

Acura will reveal more details about the new Integra closer to its spring 2022 reveal date. But while there’s a lot we still don’t know, with it, the new BRZ/GR 86, and the upcoming Nissan 400Z, 2022 is turning into a second coming of the 2000s import scene. And perhaps one more chance to shout ‘VTEC kicked in, yo!’

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RELATED: Can’t Afford an Acura Integra Type R? Buy a 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S Instead

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The Must-Have Kia Telluride Accessories for Parents

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Kia Telluride has won many awards and is widely considered to be a top-tier family vehicle. However, nothing is truly perfect and there’s always room for improvement. Here are some factory options and aftermarket accessories that can take the Kia Telluride to the next level, especially for parents of young children.

Rear seat entertainment for the family

If you’ve ever taken a long trip with children under ten, you’ve likely experienced the chaos that can unfold without something to keep them occupied. Although it was not available when the vehicle launched, Kia now offers rear seat entertainment as an option on any trim level of the Telluride. If purchased in the build of a new vehicle, the cost is listed on Kia’s website as $1500. However, the system is also available from Kia dealers as an accessory.

Accessory prices can vary depending on the dealer and installation is typically extra. The system comes with two monitors, each with its own remote, as well as HDMI and USB ports. The monitors connect to the vehicle’s electrical system for power. Due to the interior panels removed during installation, we recommend professional installation by the Kia dealer.

Tablet holders are another affordable option

Thankfully, if you or your kids already have iPads or tablets, you can save money by using those devices. Kia’s tablet holders attach to the Telluride’s headrests and can be configured for landscape or portrait viewing. The clamps open to a maximum of 11″, providing lots of room for the most common device sizes.

As an added bonus, the kits even include 7″ and 11″ silicone cases and a trim-to-fit screen protector. They are available at Kia dealers or via the Kia Accessories website. Like the full rear entertainment system, pricing varies by dealer, but installation is much easier. It’s worth noting there are similar and cheaper options on Amazon, though many are not specifically made for the Telluride.

All-weather mats offer improved protection from spills

Kia Telluride with a WeatherTech FloorLiner installed in the second row | WeatherTech

All-weather floor mats have been around for a while, and they are useful for most folks, but especially to parents of young kids. They provide impermeable protection from liquids and foods, which will inevitably end up on your floor with children. Carpeted floor mats may be more comfortable, but have you tried cleaning up apple sauce or ketchup on carpet? It’s definitely not easy, and often there’s a residue left behind.

With all-weather liners made from today’s advanced plastics, you can simply wipe away the offending substance and move on with your day. WeatherTech is an established leader in all-weather mats, and they are worth considering. An advantage of their FloorLiner product is that it covers the center of the floor, in addition to the footwells.

Three-row unibody SUVs like the Kia Telluride have become popular alternatives to minivans. By adding a few key upgrades from the Kia accessory catalog or the aftermarket, you can protect your investment and hopefully make family trips a little more peaceful as well.

RELATED: Here’s Why the Kia Telluride Should Get a Hybrid Option

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Comparing the Audi Skysphere Concept to the Tesla Roadster

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Roadster has been talked up for months, with its incredibly 0-60 time, ultimate prestige, and electric car capabilities. But Audi just debuted the Skysphere electric concept car that makes the Tesla Roadster look basic. It’s high society at its highest, with brand new luxury features never seen on a car. Though perhaps this isn’t a fair comparison, as one of them is a fully-fledged concept, while the other will be a production car… eventually.

The Audi Skyphere Concept is twice the electric car than theTesla Roadster

We aren’t saying that to sound dramatic either, the Audi Sky Sphere concept is literally two cars in one. Of all the vaporware technologies the Sky Sphere introduced, its ability to transform from a long-wheelbase grand tourer to an invigorating sports car is the most incredible. In the GT position, the Skysphere is 17 feet long, a decision made that pays homage to the classic Horch 853 convertible (which was 17.1 feet). But by putting the car in sport mode, the body contracts to 16.2 feet to make a shorter wheelbase that improves overall handling.

The Tesla Roadster is just shy of 14 feet, which in theory means it’d handle better. A shorter wheelbase allows for a nippier car. But that smaller body doesn’t equal less weight, as the Roadster weighs 4,409 lbs while the Skysphere weighs 3,968. So while the Roadster may, in theory, handle better, the lightweight would make the Skysphere a faster car. Right?

The speed, range, and specs of the Tesla Roadster and Audi Skysphere Concept

Audi Skysphere Concept and Tesla Roadster | Audi/Tesla

One would come to the conclusion that the lighter, longer Audi would be faster. But in actuality, the Tesla takes the cake. The Roadster is powered by a 1000 kW electric motor, equal to somewhere around 1,300 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Skysphere only packs 465 kW or 623 horsepower. So sure, the Roadster is 500 lbs heavier, but it’s also twice as powerful.

And that electric motor can get the Roadster from 0-60 in 1.9 seconds (or 1.1 seconds with the SpaceX Package), whereas the Skysphere takes four seconds to make the dash (“if required,” according to Audi). So now you’re thinking, if the Roadster’s engine uses so much more juice, it should be less economical, right? Wrong again, actually. The Skysphere has an estimated range of 310 miles, whereas the Roadster doubles that, managing 620 miles per charge.

So now you’re thinking “alright, being able to shrink and expand is a neat party trick. But can the Audi Skysphere do anything better than the Tesla Roadster?” Well, I’m glad you asked. The Audi Skysphere boasts one technology the Roadster couldn’t dream of: Level 4 Autonomous Driving.

The Audi Skysphere Concept is a genuine self driving car

Audi Skysphere Electric Concept Car Interior
Audi Skysphere Concept Interior | Audi

The Roadster will have Autopilot built-in, Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving mode. But the Audi Skysphere has Level 4 autonomy, allowing the driver to take their hands off the wheel and mind off the road. In fact, when in the autonomous GT mode, the car doesn’t just extend to give it a bigger presence. The entire interior, from the pedals to the dashboard and steering wheel all tuck away. The cabin transforms into an immense lounge for two people to enjoy.

That said, the Roadster does beat out the Skysphere in terms of seating, with room for four passengers. But in terms of luxury features, that’s about all the Tesla has over the Audi. The Skysphere has a touchscreen spanning the length of the cabin, that passengers can enjoy as the car drives itself. And it can link to exclusive events and concerts, granting Audi owners brand new experiences.

But all the technologies Audi threw into this concept won’t make it into production electric cars, at least not all at once. Self-driving still has some evolving to do, and I doubt production cars will expand and condense like the Skysphere anytime soon. So for now, even though the Tesla Roadster is still unavailable, it’s the most realistic of the two.

RELATED: Rocket-Powered Tesla Roadster vs. Jet Powered Beetle

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