Toyota GT86 Initial D concept

Manga drift hero AE86 reimagined as a one-off GT86 by Toyota UK

If you're not fully up on your Japanese drifting or manga culture the full press release from Toyota explaining the roots of this car can be found below. Even with just a passing knowledge of such things hopefully Initial D, and its association with the Toyota Corolla GT driven by its fictional hero Takumi Fujiwara, will ring a bell.

In the build-up to the arrival of the GT86 we drove Toyota UK's immaculate Corolla GT AE86 and rather fell in love, awarding it PH Heroes status off the back of it. Not something we'd ever have anticipated for a Toyota Corolla.

In name and spirit the GT86 clearly riffs on the traditions of the AE86 and its role at the heart of Japanese drifting culture, this one-off 'concept' car celebrating the Corolla GT's starring role in Initial D. Again, for the full geek-out see below. But from the livery to the carefully selected modifications it's clearly been put together with impressive appreciation of Japanese car culture and Initial D's place therein.

Special edition GT86s are nothing new of course but this clear link with Initial D is something a bit cool, the illustrations Toyota has prepared with British-based manga artist Sonia Leong adding to the wow-factor. If you want to see the car in the metal Toyota says it will be "attending motoring events around Britain" over the summer months. Once those obligations have been fulfilled we'll see if they'll do a loan of this and their AE86 and find some roundabouts...

Verbatim reproduction of Toyota GB press release, issued June 29 2016:

TOYOTA CREATES MANGA-INSPIRED GT86 INITIAL D CONCEPT

Inspired by the Initial D Japanese manga comic series, Toyota's new GT86 project re-imagines the world-famous AE86 Corolla for a new generation.

On its launch in 2012, the Toyota GT86 was instantly recognised as a spiritual successor to the rear-wheel drive Corolla GT Coupe - also known as the AE86 - of the mid-1980s. That connection has been re-emphasised with the creation of a one-off GT86 Initial D concept, liveried and kitted to match its comic book Corolla predecessor.

Initial D was a cult Japanese manga comic series in which the young hero, Takumi Fujiwara, famously drove a modified AE86, honing his driving skills on mountain roads while moonlighting as delivery driver for his father's tofu shop. The car emerged as a star in its own right, influencing the emerging drifting scene and inspiring a live action movie and various arcade games.

To emphasise the new concept's roots in pop culture, Toyota commissioned UK-based manga artist Sonia Leong to design a series of panoramic backdrops that effectively put the real GT86 into comic strip action scenes. Sonia has previously applied her graphic skills to create a manga film featuring the Toyota Aygo.

The concept
Created by Toyota's UK special projects department, the GT86 Initial D concept is a faithful re-imagining of the fictional AE86. The coupe not only copies the manga car's distinctive panda-style monochrome livery but uses new versions of the same Japanese market components that were featured so successfully on the original.

These include custom-made RS Watanabe alloy wheels, TRD suspension, a Fujitsubo exhaust system, Cusco strut brace, and a carbon fibre bonnet. Less obvious cues are the yellow-tinted fog lights, which hint at the Cibié spotlights fitted to improve Takumi's night-vision, and the silver-painted engine cover that is a nod to the high-revving 20-valve 'Silver Top' 4A-GE engine installed towards the end of the series.

The thorough makeover is also evidenced by the inclusion of carbon fibre door handle protectors and mirror covers that give an effect similar to the black plastic material used on the AE86. In addition, mud flaps have been installed because they were on the original Initial D car, the boot lid spoiler has been removed, and the rear lenses have been tinted.

Joe Clifford from the special projects team commented: "Right from the start, the Toyota GT86 was developed as a car that would appeal to enthusiasts, whether in standard trim or as an exploitable base for further modifications. With this Initial D concept we not only acknowledge how important the AE86 was in influencing Toyota's modern approach to sports cars but also demonstrate how the GT86 can be aesthetically and dynamically improved with relatively simple aftermarket accessories. But perhaps most of all, we just thought it was an achingly cool idea."

The Toyota GT86 Initial D concept will be attending motoring events around Britain throughout the summer.

Technical specifications

Wheels: 8x17-inch (ET40) RS Watanabe F8 alloys with optional black finish
Suspension: TRD Sportivo suspension system
Exhaust: Fujitsubo Authorize S system
Bracing: Cusco Type OS front strut brace
Bonnet: Seibon OEM-style carbon fibre
Body graphics: Panda-style metallic black vinyl graphics
Detailing : Cusco carbon fibre door handle protectors, OEM carbon fibre mirror covers, OEM mud flaps, tinted rear lenses, tinted front fog lights, TRD oil filler cap, TRD high-pressure radiator cap, TRD push start button

NOTE TO EDITORS:
The text on the driver's door reads Fujiwara Tofu Ten, which translates as 'Fujiwara Tofu Shop'. The word in parenthesis is jikayou, which means 'private' and refers to the car's classification in the Japanese tax system.