Friday 1st February 2013

Toyota to preview GT-86 drop-top with concept

Upcoming convertible teased in sketch form before concept is shown at Geneva

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Toyota has confirmed that it’ll be bringing its FT-86 Open to Geneva. And while it’s still officially a concept, the car looks set to be a GT-86 convertible in all but name.

Here's one we made earlier...

As we reported back in March, the go-ahead has already been given for an open-topped version of the GT-86. Indeed, appetite for this derivative over at Toyota is strong. As Autocar reports, Toyota’s tech bods know they’re onto a winner with the GT-86, and they want to capitalise on that by churning out a clutch of different variants. No word yet on what those will be, although Gazoo Racing’s fascinating turbo-supercharged effort, as well as the slightly more low-key TRD package, both show that there are undoubtedly plenty of ideas bubbling around in the GT-86 development stew.

However, for now, all we know for sure is that the first '86-based car we can look forward to will be the drop-top. The sketch suggests it’ll be a two-plus-two, and logic would dictate that it’ll retain the fizzy 200hp, 151lb ft 2.0-litre boxer engine of the coupe. Early reports have, however, suggested that the price may be a trifle on the steep side – around £5,000 more than the coupe, to be precise.

Leaving price to one side for the moment, the real challenge for Toyota will be whether it can keep the convertible simultaneously stiff enough and light enough to retain the same pure driving experience that made the coupe our Car Of The Year. If it manages that, and assuming the price isn’t too unpalatable, then the lure of the GT-86 chassis combined with the appeal of blue-sky motoring will prove hard to resist.

[Sources: Toyota; Autocar]

[gforceg]

2+2? Oh dear.

Let's wait to see what the roof looks like.

I predict a dud. Sorry.

[NGK210]

Eww, it sure ain't priddy - bonnet's too short/stumpy.

[Gary C]

Take the one thing the car can do well and compromise it !

[Hellbound]

They should only release this variant in STI/TRD guise, with the extra 30bhp to disguise the added weight and compromised chassis.

Is there a large enough market for a car like this at over £30k? I'm not so sure.

But then what do I know?

[Arun_D]

Not an unexpected move, surely?

[booner]

Looks like a longer 350z convertible and they ain't pretty! (ex 350z owner - tintop)

[SimonSaid]

Fantastic! Really is an ideal shape to make into a droptop - provided they can keep it rigid somehow!

[brasse]

From 7tune earlier today:

.

Wonder if they'll lose the back seats…

[greggy50]

So nearly 35k specified up that is only 3k less than a standard boxter which is rather laughable!n

[Lightningman]

Arun_D said:

Not an unexpected move, surely?

Not at all.

However, it is a shame that they don't look outside the JDM and give a percentage of the population a chance to buy what is missing from the mass offering: a cost effective track car.

The R26.R was the last factory caged, semi-affordable, mainstream offering that I can recall (can anyone name an OEM spec car with a cage option that is sub 911 GT3 price?)

Please Toyota, Subaru, etc, give the UK a stripped out, cage option, GT86/BRZ - there is no competition in this market segment!

Make power windows, A/C and rear seats an option.

Add cage and harnesses as a dealer fit/factory option

Job done.

[jcl]

Lightningman said:

The R26.R was the last factory caged, semi-affordable, mainstream offering that I can recall (can anyone name an OEM spec car with a cage option that is sub 911 GT3 price?)

Please Toyota, Subaru, etc, give the UK a stripped out, cage option, GT86/BRZ - there is no competition in this market segment!

Make power windows, A/C and rear seats an option.

Add cage and harnesses as a dealer fit/factory option

Job done.

Totally agree.

This is the car they need to offer and not just in the UK. Get it as light as possible and as cheap as possible. Take the back seats out and replace the bulky recliners with a cheap composite
seats, remove the soundproofing and possibly fit more basic trim, fit the TRD springs but leave the standard dampers. Perspex rear windows would be nice too.

Offer this and a premium version. Done.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

jcl said:

Lightningman said:

The R26.R was the last factory caged, semi-affordable, mainstream offering that I can recall (can anyone name an OEM spec car with a cage option that is sub 911 GT3 price?)

Please Toyota, Subaru, etc, give the UK a stripped out, cage option, GT86/BRZ - there is no competition in this market segment!

Make power windows, A/C and rear seats an option.

Add cage and harnesses as a dealer fit/factory option

Job done.

Totally agree.

This is the car they need to offer and not just in the UK. Get it as light as possible and as cheap as possible. Take the back seats out and replace the bulky recliners with a cheap composite
seats, remove the soundproofing and possibly fit more basic trim, fit the TRD springs but leave the standard dampers. Perspex rear windows would be nice too.

Offer this and a premium version. Done.

I agree, I would-I've just bought the mini gp which although not totally stripped out is at least in that direction.

However, although the R26.R was released at the beginning of the financial recession, it has to be said they hardly sold any. Mine was no154 & was one of the last batch of 6 brought into the UK

[Ved]

So £30k? And you thought the 370Z didn't sell well!

[Rumblestripe]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

jcl said:

Lightningman said:

The R26.R was the last factory caged, semi-affordable, mainstream offering that I can recall (can anyone name an OEM spec car with a cage option that is sub 911 GT3 price?)

Please Toyota, Subaru, etc, give the UK a stripped out, cage option, GT86/BRZ - there is no competition in this market segment!

Make power windows, A/C and rear seats an option.

Add cage and harnesses as a dealer fit/factory option

Job done.

Totally agree.

This is the car they need to offer and not just in the UK. Get it as light as possible and as cheap as possible. Take the back seats out and replace the bulky recliners with a cheap composite
seats, remove the soundproofing and possibly fit more basic trim, fit the TRD springs but leave the standard dampers. Perspex rear windows would be nice too.

Offer this and a premium version. Done.

I agree, I would-I've just bought the mini gp which although not totally stripped out is at least in that direction.

However, although the R26.R was released at the beginning of the financial recession, it has to be said they hardly sold any. Mine was no154 & was one of the last batch of 6 brought into the UK

Because when it comes down to it there is no market for such a stripped down car. We love our comfy seats and exercise windows! The very thought! What you have to turn this handle thing to make the windows work!!!! What do you mean no air con? Additionally, "productionizing" such a thing would probably mean that the manufacturer would have to take a completed car off the production line and then rip bits out of it. Not going to happen.

As for a convertible GT-86, why not? I suspect they'll lose the +2 seats to make it work, but if they keep it simple and it's not too wobbly it could be a lovely way to get around.

[vanschpunk]

brasse said:

From 7tune earlier today:

.

Wonder if they'll lose the back seats…

IMHO i really looks alot better than a Honda S2000!!

I like it!

[anonymous-user]

I agree with rumblestripe. I think it would be nifty

[AlexKing]

If it's not a 2+2, then I'm not sure where this scores over an MX-5?

[storminnorman]

Looks alright, I'd take that shooting brake that popped up in the news a while back though!

[Lightningman]

Rumblestripe said:

Because when it comes down to it there is no market for such a stripped down car. We love our comfy seats and exercise windows! The very thought! What you have to turn this handle thing to make the windows work!!!! What do you mean no air con? Additionally, "productionizing" such a thing would probably mean that the manufacturer would have to take a completed car off the production line and then rip bits out of it. Not going to happen.
.

If there is "no market" and "not going to happen", can you explain why it is already happening in the JDM?

[5pen]

Lightningman said:

If there is "no market" and "not going to happen", can you explain why it is already happening in the JDM?

I guess he means there's not a big enough market in the UK for the type of stripped-out car being suggested, to make it happen. I can't say I disagree with that.