Kuzuri

  You may have read my recent coverage on the JDM Chicago season opener, lacked mention of this particular car.  The FR-S shown, made the trip down from Milwaukee Wisconsin.  I had seen this car originally in a YouTube video months ago, but immediately recognized it in person. That said, it is a particularly well done video.  I took a few shots, but honestly could not do the car justice with my amateur photo skills.  This car is easy to overlook in the presence of more over-the-top fare you might find at car meets and shows, but I urge you not to.  You see, it is this simplicity and clean aesthetic that makes this car special.

  This particular FR-S has been dubbed Kuzuri; which from my quick search, translates to wolverine in Japanese.  I would submit that the name Kanso, japanese translation; clarity through removal of clutter, might be a bit more fitting.  This simplicity is what I love about the look of this FR-S.  This subtle styling had me reflecting on what will be more desirable in 20 years, an FR-S with the full Rocket Bunny body kit treatment, or one like Kuzuri, with such a simple and understated look.  Now don't get me wrong, many of these Rocket Bunny cars look great, but it is a shouty, aggressive, "look at me" kind of great.  How that look holds up with age, only time will tell.  The FR-S in general is a car that can lure one into the trap of trying too hard, always being looked at for what it lacks (horsepower, turbo, etc.), instead of being appreciated for what it is and already does well.  A shame really, but I do believe, years from now, it will receive the same reverence it's predecessor, the AE86 holds today.

  A timeless and subtle styling is what Kuzuri captures quite well.  It is like a masterful Sumi-e painting, fine continuous brush strokes, a feel for emphasizing negative space, and an efficiency in it's beauty; adding nothing excessive and leaving out nothing essential.  As a whole it strikes a harmonious and balanced portrait, but there are tiny aesthetic details to pour over when you study it further.  The carbon fiber accents throughout, the purposefully placed decal on the rear bumper, and even the mirror tag, all flow with the proper cool aura this car possesses.

  So let this serve as a declaration of my official fan boy status, I really do appreciate and enjoy what the owner has done with his FR-S.  I know my photos did not do it justice, hopefully my words were bit more up to task.

-writing: Robert Sixto

-photos: Robert Sixto