Scion's first real sports car (FR-S, get it?)

(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

The buzz around the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ sister-ships has been very strong, yet the FR-S CNET tested met the hype. Putting the FR-S is one of the more sublime experiences you can have in a car.

Rear-wheel-drive and a very mechanical feeling, precise six speed manual transmission contribute to the sports car attributes, and the engine uses a direct injection system that helps it output 100 horsepower per liter, pretty good for natural aspiration. However, the power feels a little flat until you are up at 6,000 rpm. The FR-S won't win any drag races so don't risk your pink slips.

Being a Scion, we expected a certain amount of modern cabin tech, and the base head unit did not disappoint. Good iPod and phone connectivity is always a plus. More intriguing is Scion's new Bespoke system from Pioneer, which brings in limited navigation and a number of apps by leveraging the driver's own iPhone.

Check out CNET's review of the 2013 Scion FR-S.

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