New Toyota GR86 sports car takes over from GT86

This is the Toyota GR86: a new rear-wheel-generate sporting activities auto which is a successor in all but name to the GT86, and owing to go on sale in Europe either late 2021 or early 2022. 

Just like the GT86, the GR86 is the fruit of Toyota’s reaffirmed partnership with Subaru to establish compact sporting activities cars and trucks, with the latter brand’s BRZ product – discovered late last yr – sharing the exact platform and engines. Toyota statements that it has “engaged in a welcoming rivalry” with Subaru to acquire two new sporting activities cars and trucks with distinctive driving feels. 

Employing the exact chassis and engine as the BRZ, the GR86 is powered by a 2.four-litre naturally aspirated flat-4 ‘boxer’ engine in area of the aged 2.-litre unit. 

Toyota has not confirmed specs for the European sector GR86, but the Japanese edition of the auto provides 232bhp and 250Nm of torque with a redline of seven,400rpm. That is 35bhp and 45Nm much more than the auto it replaces and success in a much more quickly -62mph time of six.3 seconds – 1.1 seconds speedier. But we’ll have to see if the ultimate figures away from Toyota’s property sector are distinct, when much more aspects are discovered later on this yr. 

The new engine is mated to a six-speed handbook gearbox as typical, whilst a six-speed automatic transmission will be presented as an option. Each send energy to the rear wheels through a minimal-slip differential.

The GR86 is primarily based on the exact essential platform as the GT86. Having said that, the brand name has upgraded the chassis with much more strengthening panels and much better bonding approaches to strengthen the body shell’s stiffness and sharpen up the managing. Torsional rigidity us up by 50 per cent, whilst the entire matter strategies the scales at 1,270kg. 

The ‘GR’ in the car’s name stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s in-household tuning division that helped acquire the brand’s GR Supra sporting activities auto and GR Yaris very hot hatchback, so it’s no surprise Gazoo Racing has had a hand in the growth of the GR86’s chassis, far too.

The platform evolution usually means the GR86 retains the exact essential proportions as its predecessor, only the exterior styling has advanced to match the purer surfaces of the new BRZ. 

At the front the headlights and daytime running lights are less complicated in style and design and the front stop surfacing is smoother, with Toyota placing a bit of distance concerning its sporting activities auto and Subaru’s with a new front apron with a massive rectangular air intake, in comparison with the BRZ’s much more angular detailing. 

The GT86’s carefully sculpted roof continues to be, whilst at the rear the chunky bumper properties a new diffuser aspect and a twin-exit exhaust. As with the BRZ, the GR86’s bonnet, front wings and roof are designed from lightweight aluminium.

Inside, Toyota has equipped its new compact 2+2 sporting activities cars and trucks with a great deal much more tech, including a 7-inch digital sprint unit and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment set-up, as aspect of a thorough redesign of the centre console and dashboard.

Computerized versions of the GR86 will be available with Subaru produced Eyesight driver aid systems. Earning use of a forward dealing with camera set up, this provides pre-collision avoidance help. 

Whole United kingdom information is however to be confirmed, but we count on the auto to go on sale either late this yr or early in 2022, whilst costs could start out from all over £30,000.

What do you consider of the GR86? Permit us know in the comments…