Friday 17th October 2014

Toyota GT86 facelift details

Lower price, more models and new options for Toyota's MY15 GT86

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Toyota was never going to let Subaru sell the BRZ at £2.5K less than a GT86 for long. The most important news of the GT86 update, bigger even than the carbon pack, the shark fin antenna and the Giallo special edition is the lower price: a Toyota GT86 is now available for £22,495.

Yes, this is the revised car. Honest

Sort of. That price is as a result of a £500 'early-bird' discount from Toyota on the 'Primo' GT86 (nice to see naff Japanese trim levels haven't disappeared). After the unspecified early-bird period has finished that car will cost £22,995.

Toyota describes the Primo as a 'pure-bred' GT86. It is manual only and lacks the regular car's rear spoiler (probably a good thing), push-button start (a key? How primitive) and is on 17-inch wheels rather than 18s.

The 'classic GT86', as Toyota describes it, remains as before at £24,995. Further equipment gains from the Primo include cruise control, climate control and automatic headlights.

Annoyingly Toyota hasn't yet released an image of the GT86 Aero yet. This isn't a turbocharged front-wheel drive special (one for the Saab fans) but instead a GT86 with a bodykit and different wheels. Hmm. You certainly won't miss it when the Aero does arrive, Toyota describing the bodykit as 'striking' with a large rear spoiler and skirts all round. The wheels are 18-inch OZ Ultraleggeras in a dark anthracite finish.

Price on this one starts with '16'...

Not distinctive enough? Toyota has a solution in the shape of the GT86 Giallo. Yes, that's Giallo as in yellow. Again without pics but the prospect is, er, bold. Just 86 will be made with a black side decal and no-cost extra stripes on the yellow paint. There are some leather seats too. And you thought the GT86 TRD was an odd special...

Both the Aero and Giallo cost £27,495 with the automatic gearbox a £1,000 option on all models bar the Primo. Orders are being taken now with the first cars due over here in January. Used early versions of the GT86 are at £17K if you're tempted. Now feel free to discuss how it's not fast enough!

 

[Jimmm]

As much as I like the GT86 and everything it stands for it sounds like they are clutching at straws with all these "special" editions.

[Pommygranite]

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

[Frimley111R]

TBH even if they did I think they've missed the boat now. Best idea would be a convertible version.

[Dazed & Confused]

Pommygranite said:

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

The fact they haven't done that makes me wonder if there's a technical challenge stopping them? Emissions?

I know anecdotes do not equal data, but I still see very few of these around. Maybe I've got the wrong impression, though, and they're not struggling for sales.

[TheAngryDog]

Pommygranite said:

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

Forced induction and wider wheels. I'd be interested.

[Steve vRS]

I still like them and hope this 'official' price drop will at last move the second hand prices below the high 16s low 17s which they have been hovering at for months.

Steve

[thebigmacmoomin]

I like they way they look, just want more power to consider it an option when I buy a new car.

[bicycleshorts]

TheAngryDog said:

Pommygranite said:

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

Forced induction and wider wheels. I'd be interested.

It would be £30k+ . I think £7.5k would easily get you FI and wheels with some change.

[Dakkon]

TheAngryDog said:

Pommygranite said:

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

Forced induction and wider wheels. I'd be interested.

Yup, completely agree, could not care a less about silly trim options, give the car a bit more power.

[exceed]

NOTE - feel free to skip over this post if you like the GT86/BRZ.

<rant>
What the hell is this crap??

Why are we being sold rehashed baloney all the time with these stupid cars.

Toyabaru please just give us the damn STI/Supra version with a 2l turbo boxer engine and a 2l diesel option and be done with it.

Noone wants your sporty looking city car.
</rant>

[SteveSteveson]

[quote=Dazed & Confused]

Pommygranite said:

Just increase the power and rejuvenate the sales. Simple

The fact they haven't done that makes me wonder if there's a technical challenge stopping them? Emissions?

I know anecdotes do not equal data, but I still see very few of these around. Maybe I've got the wrong impression, though, and they're not struggling for sales.

Me too. They seem to be selling enough from what I can see. I think most people aren't that bothered about power. Despite it's modest engine the MX5 still seems to be doing well. This looks like a normal styling refresh and tweak that happens with every car mid way through the run rather than some need for sales. I don't see that they need to increase power. It would increase fuel consumption and may well put off quite a few buyers. It would probably also push it in to competition with the 370Z.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Friday 17th October 14:19

[Alex]

TheAngryDog said:

Forced induction and wider wheels. I'd be interested.

Forced induction would ruin what this car is about.

[vincevega]

Giallo eh? The Italians are getting their special edition in ‘Sunrise Yellow’.

http://www.motorinolimits.com/2014/10/13/toyota-gt...

[nunpuncher]

They need to stick these on a cheap lease deal. If they did i'd have one. Purely because that's the only way i'd ever "buy" one. Certainly not with my own money.

[danp]

No spoiler and smaller (hopefully more attractive) rims on the "primo" sounds fine, assume no climate means it still has manual a/c.

But yes a real shame no convertible...

[GTEYE]

Hmm - not sure this will help the sales particularly.

IMHO, perhaps part of the problem is that they are broadly competing with hot hatches, Focus ST and Golf GTI and similar, which are all much more practical as an everyday car.

The likely buyer of one of these is probably buying it as their only car, and perhaps it fails as too impractical as a daily (poor rear seats) and not special enough as a weekend car (too many seats, too much roof).

Also, at the higher end of the £20k's, its way too tinny compared to the competition.

I think many people will walk on by and order a new MX-5...

Edited by GTEYE on Friday 17th October 14:53

[Johnnytheboy]

DazedandConfused's name doesn't work in quotes said:

The fact they haven't done that makes me wonder if there's a technical challenge stopping them? Emissions?

A thousand angry car nerds would get off the internet and burn Toyota's factories to the ground.

[Denorth]

peculiar...

Japanese guys built a car by british recipe - RWD, light and with reasonable power and great steering feel.

What Americans (who allegedly go for power, big engine size, big car size and SUV) do? they buy this car in big numbers and having fun driving it.

What Brits (who allegedly know more about steering, use of light weight and cornering) do? They whine a lot, talk about power and continue driving FWD hatches that understeer like barge.

Sometimes I wonder, who actually knows more about having fun and (possibly) about driving. So far those journos that drove it praised it for what it was from the beginning. But seems like general public in UK and so-called pistonheads don't.

[k-ink]

About time those fugly wheels were ditched!!

[thatdude]

I would really like one of these cars. I dont think there is much wrong with them, except they currently cost too much for me!