2016 Scion FR‑S

At the 2025 Pagoda Hillclimb in Reading, PA, a sleek 2016 Scion FR‑S stood out on the 1.35-mile Duryea Drive course. With its low-slung, lightweight chassis and sharp rear‑wheel‑drive dynamics, the FR‑S carved through the iconic nine-turn sprint beneath the Pagoda at high revs.

Powered by the stock 2.0‑liter boxer four, outputting around 200 hp, the car leaned into each corner with precision—its crisp steering and balanced weight distribution making tight hairpin swings look effortless. On the straights, it used momentum rather than brute power, carrying its momentum smoothly over the “Jump” section that famously lifts cars off the ground

Although exact times for the FR‑S aren’t listed among official results, its presence in the Street Modified class highlighted how well-tuned this platform is for hillclimbs. Enthusiasts cheered as the FR‑S’s boxer rumble echoed off the hillside—proof that analog driving joy still thrives in modern sport compacts.

In the world of vintage and performance machines climbing Pagoda Hill, the 2016 FR‑S was a fresh reminder that sharp handling and a connected driving feel can still steal the show.