Toyota unveiled the new 86 sports car nearly five months after Subaru did the same with its BRZ rear-wheel drive coupe. More than 200,000 examples of the original version have been sold, and their replacement is aimed at bringing about improvements on all fronts, while keeping the lightweight recipe almost intact.
To keep the weight in check, the engineers used aluminum for the roof and screens while adjusting the front seats and silencers to cut as much grease as possible. The revised roof offers another great advantage by lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle, which has to deliver the handling of dividends.
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The torsional stiffness was improved by about 50 percent to improve stability, while the footprint of the car remained largely the same. It is 4,265 millimeters (167.9 inches) long, 1,775 mm (69.8 inches) wide and 1,310 mm (51.5 inches) long, with the wheelbase 2,575 mm (101.3 inches). The Toyota 86 86 is equipped with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and weighs just 1,270 kilograms. Optionally, an automatic gearbox with the same number of gears will be available.
Motivation is provided by a larger 2.4-liter engine that replaces the old 2.0-liter unit. The horizontally angled four-banger, still naturally aspirated, delivers 232 horsepower (173 kilowatts) at 7,000 rpm and 250 Newton-meters of torque at 3,700 rpm in the JDM spec 86. The upgraded engine enabled Toyota to shave 1.1 seconds from the sprint to 100 km / h, which now takes 6.3 seconds.
Aside from more power consumption, Toyota says the engine responds better and offers ‘smooth, voltage-free sensations from low to high rpm’. The new GR 86, which joins the GR Yaris, GR Supra and the upcoming GR Super Sport hyper-engine, also boasts a range of aerodynamic improvements developed to improve stability and steering response. The front suspension consists of a MacPherson strut, while the rear setup boasts a double strut setup, with both axles with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 215/40 tires.
You can easily see that the GR 86 has once again been combined with the BRZ, as the two largely share the exterior of the design. The most obvious distinction is the design of the grille, as Toyota’s version is slightly more aggressive. The grille is similar to what you would find on the GR Yaris hotplate, and we note that the LED headlights are not exactly the same as on the equivalent Subie.
The cabin is also a case of déjà vu, as it is virtually identical to its BRZ sister model, apart from the slightly different seat upholstery and the GR badge on the steering wheel. It boasts the same seven-inch digital driver screen and an eight-inch infotainment. From the shape of the air vents and seats to the shift gear and the pedals, the 86 and BRZ have basically the same interiors. For safety, the automatic model uses Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.
The second-generation Toyota GR 86 will go on sale in Japan this fall, with details of the North American version to be announced later.