The Toyota S-FR was one of the most promising concepts of the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon, but the automaker’s initial plans for a production version never materialized. Fast forward to the 2024 edition of the show in Japan, students of the Saitama Automobile College build a convincing replica of the concept in roadster form, based on the Mazda MX-5 NC.
The model appears to retain all the hardpoints of the body, including the windshield, mirrors, doors, hood, and retractable fabric roof, but everything else has been redesigned to resemble the Toyota concept. The front end features round LED headlights sourced from a MINI, which are nicely snugged between the custom bumper and the stock hood.
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Saitama Automobile College / Tokyo Auto Salon
The large grille, canards, rear diffuser, and fixed rear wing, are clear references to the more aggressive-looking Toyota S-FR Racing Concept that appeared in the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon. The rear end is also bespoke, with round LED taillights of unknown origin and a sculpted tailgate with an integrated ducktail spoiler below the oversized wing.
Inside, the team added a pair of racing buckets and an aftermarket steering wheel removing all of the Mazda emblems. There is no word on mechanical modifications but the vehicle is visibly lowered hinting at a tweaked suspension. The aftermarket alloy wheels by Work are a nice touch.
The ingenious transformation shows what could have been if Toyota collaborated with Mazda for a production roadster. Interestingly, there is a rumor that the Toyota S-FR concept was created using Mazda MX-5 NC and ND parts. While there is no confirmation of the latter, Japanese Nostalgic Car speculated the same based on the similar hardpoints and the timing of the concept’s launch.
In any case, the modified Mazda by Saitama Automobile College is a convincing Toyota S-FR clone – and probably the only one that exists. Should a Japanese tuner offer a similar bodykit conversion for the Mazda MX-5 NC?