Scion FR-S to be called Toyota 86 for 2017 model year

Toyota has surprised no one in announcing plans to re-brand the Scion FR-S as the Toyota 86 starting with the 2017 model year.

The move to rename the coupe comes after Toyota announced in February that it would begin dissolving the Scion name, eliminating it completely by August.

"We are excited to be moving into a new stage of growth for Toyota, by welcoming fresh and inspiring designs like the Toyota 86 into the fold," Toyota Canada's vice-president of sales, Cyril Dimitris, said in a statement.

Set to debut at the New York International Auto Show, the 2017 Toyota 86 features new bumpers, LED turn signals and head- and taillights, and new alloy wheels outside, and new materials inside.

All 86 models get "revised shock tuning" and a change to the spring rates, while manual versions get a five-horsepower increase to 205 horsepower, hill start assist and a revised gear ratio.

"The new name and features perfectly complement our existing Toyota lineup of cars designed to meet the needs of creative, young urban professionals and we know this important vehicle will be very well received," Dimitris continued.

Toyota said the 86 will hit Canadian dealerships in the fall.

The FR-S, which was jointly developed with Subaru and also sold as the Subaru BRZ, is already sold as the Toyota 86 in most of the rest of the world, and the GT86 in Europe.

Expect an announcement on a rebadged version of the Scion iM in the near future.