GR86 joins the wild bunch

  Toyota's iconic 86 sports car has joined the growing GR stable of cars with the launch of the new GR86 coupe. GR86 becomes the third...

 

Toyota's iconic 86 sports car has joined the growing GR stable of cars with the launch of the new GR86 coupe. GR86 becomes the third model from Toyota Gazoo Racing and sits alongside GR Supra and GR Yaris (not counting the C-HR GR Sport or the GR Corolla coming next year). New GR86 builds on this heritage with a raft of improvements that take its motorsport roots to new levels, making it more than worthy of a Gazoo Racing badge. Power comes from a new 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that produces 174kW of power and 250Nm of torque, an increase of 22kW and 38Nm over the previous 2.0-litre engine. The naturally aspirated engine provides linear throttle response and the ability to rev effortlessly, with technologies including optimised D4-S direct injection helping to provide significantly more torque for better mid-range response. It's paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed torque-converter automatic, with paddle shifters for the latter and a range of drive modes. A limited-slip Torsen rear diff is standard. Straight-line acceleration has improved, with the manual able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in as little as 6.3 seconds and the automatic in 6.8 seconds. Those wanting to take their GR86 to the track can choose from five different stability control settings ranging from full support to being completely switched off. Fuel consumption ranges from 8.7 L/100km for the GT automatic to 9.5 L/100km for the GTS manual with CO₂ emissions from 199g/km to 217g/km. The car benefits from many improvements including suspension and steering components, larger-diameter front brakes and chassis reinforcements that significantly improve torsional and lateral rigidity. Combined with a focus on weight reduction and a lower centre of gravity, they promise even sharper handling and responsiveness. Exterior design cues are taken from some of Toyota's great sports cars of the past, such as the 2000GT and AE86 Corolla. An evolutionary exterior design reflects the outgoing model's dynamic proportions and silhouette, while Gazoo Racing's global motorsport experience has led to cooling and aerodynamic improvements that deliver a Cd of 0.276. Slightly longer and lower than before, new GR86 features a long bonnet, sloping roofline with a tapered rear end and prominent lip spoiler giving the vehicle a low planted stance. Dual tailpipes and GR badging complete the rear-end look, with 17-inch or black 18-inch alloys available depending on grade. Inside, designers have created a cockpit focused on pure driving, with a simple and ergonomic layout framed by a horizontally configured instrument panel. All variants feature an upgraded 8.0-inch multimedia infotainment system that offers digital radio plus compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A configurable 7.0-inch driver display shows Track Mode that provides real-time readouts of the most important information for circuit driving. Six-speaker audio includes Active Sound Control (ASC) to enhance the sound of the engine. GR86 GT is priced from $43,240 for either manual or automatic, while the range topping GTS manual and automatic are priced from $45,390.

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