A recipe with few ingredients is usually a good recipe. It was the same with the Toyota GT86 and its twin, the Subaru BRZ. Compact sports coupés, rear-wheel drive and manually shifted, light as a feather and with narrow tires. Two grandiose and above all pure driving machines were ready.
But there was a lack of performance. With only 147 kW / 200 PS from a two-liter naturally aspirated engine, it was hard to beat the turbocharged competition. The duo sold accordingly badly, the target group was too small, which really understood and appreciated the recipe of the two.
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Toyota GR 86 announcement came as a surprise
All the more surprising now the announcement that there is not only one successor, but that it will also make it to Germany. However, the name is new: Toyota GR 86 (vehicle is not yet for sale, homologation pending²). In terms of nomenclature, the 86 follows the Gazoo Racing concept of Supra and Yaris. But in contrast to the forced ventilation siblings, the new one also comes with a classic free-sucking boxer engine.
But Toyota has learned from past mistakes and has turned the power screw vigorously. The four-cylinder engine now generates a whopping 35 horsepower from its displacement of 2.4 liters. Much more important for drivability, however, is the over 20 percent increase in torque to 250 Newton meters.
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235 hp and 240 Nm torque
Above all, it is no longer at dizzying heights like its predecessor, it was over 6,000 revolutions for the nominal torque of the GT86, but nice in the mid-rev range at 3,700 revs. Nevertheless, the engine of the Toyota GR 86 continues to rotate up to 7,000 revolutions and should show a significantly more snappy response.
As a further bonus, the Japanese technicians give the sports driver a 50 percent increase in body rigidity. Despite these reinforcement measures, the weight could even be reduced. At just 1,270 kilograms, the GR 86 weighs a good 50 kilograms less than its predecessor.
Market launch and prices
With its improved and newly tuned chassis, which relies on a double wishbone axle at the rear, the Toyota GR 86 should actually promise a significant increase in driving pleasure.
However, the price remains to be seen. Toyota is expected to announce this in the summer, with a market launch expected towards the end of the year at the earliest. However, we assume that the entry will be successful for 36,000 euros. This would mean that the Toyota GR 86 would continue to pass as a true national athlete. (Text: fm, tv | Images: manufacturer)