2013 Scion Fr-s Base Coupe 2-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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J.D. Power study sees new car dependability problems increase for first time since 1998

For the first time since 1998, J.D. Power and Associates says its data shows that the average number of problems per 100 cars has increased. The finding is the result of the firm's much-touted annual Vehicle Dependability Study, which charts incidents of problems in new vehicle purchases over three years from 41,000 respondents.
Looking at first-owner cars from the 2011 model year, the study found an average of 133 problems per 100 cars (PP100, for short), up 6 percent from 126 PP100 in last year's study, which covered 2010 model-year vehicles. Disturbingly, the bulk of the increase is being attributed to engine and transmission problems, with a 6 PP100 boost.
Interestingly, JDP notes that "the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with four-cylinder engines, where problem levels increase by nearly 10 PP100." Its findings also noticed that large diesel engines also tended to be more problematic than most five- and six-cylinder engines.

Toyota GT86 GT4 racer is ready for UK competition

It's about time we saw someone cook up a legitimate race version of the delectable Toyota GT86, and now it looks as if GPRM has done just that. The Buckingham-based race engineering team has built the creation you see here, complete with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder boxer cooked up by Nicholson McLaren Engines. The team says the new mill delivers between 360 and 400 horsepower to the rear wheels depending on final testing, which is a sight bit more than the 197 horses the naturally aspirated stock mill offers.
The car will compete in GT4 events, including the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Technically, the GPRM effort isn't factory backed, but the team says the effort "has the blessing of Toyota Great Britain." How could it not? You can check out the brief press release below below, and be sure to take a closer look at the machine in our gallery.

Scion's SEMA show cars display tuner creativity [w/videos]

Scion brought four FR-S concepts to SEMA this year and one xB concept, while another three Scion tCs were brought to the show by three different shops that are competing in Scion's Tuner Challenge. The modified Scions range from mild to insane, and show how popular they are in the tuner world.
The Tuner Challenge teams brought unique creations to SEMA, after Scion gave each of them a tC, $15,000 and 90 days to modify it. At 11:00 AM on Wednesday, judges picked the Young Tea Scion Simpli-tC as the winner, the Walter Franco Scion L-DZ Concept got second, and third place went to the Josh Croll Scion WSD-tC. Check out the three videos below to watch the tC builds from start to finish.
Out of the FR-S concepts brought to the show, we're gravitating toward the GReddy Performance x Scion Racing Drift FR-S (top), which has the venerable 2JZ-GTE turbocharged straight-six engine in place of the flat-four that comes standard in the rear-wheel-drive coupe - ready to pump out 750 horsepower - and the Bulletproof FR-S Concept One, which features a striking, handmade wide body and a heavily modified, turbocharged flat-four that puts out 500 hp.