Monday 28th November 2011

Official: Toyota GT 86 revealed (at last)

Final production version of Toyobaru coupe unwrapped before Tokyo show debut

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This is it, folks - Toyota has finally revealed its new coupe in proper, final production form. And it's to be called the GT 86.

The Toyota half of the Toyota-Subaru 'Toyobaru' joint venture has been dubbed the FT-86 in concept form, but will be called GT 86 in Europe (after the iconic AE86 coupe of the 1980s). In the US it will be known as the FR-S and simply the '86' in Japan.

As we expected, the 1998cc Subaru-developed boxer unit, helped by D4-S direct injection, delivers 200hp at 7000rpm and a maximum torque of 151lb ft at 6600rpm. Toyota's press bumf describes the GT 86's performance merely as 'brisk', but expect a sprint to 62mph in around 7.0secs and a top speed in excess of 140mph.

Performance shouldn't be the 1180kg coupes star turn however - that goes to handling (we hear - the chap who's driven it for Autocar reckons it's up there with a Cayman in handling terms). And in order to make it exciting to drive, the GT 86 gets MacPherson struts up front, double wishbones at the rear, a limited-slip differential, a six-speed manual 'box (an auto is also an option) and an ultra-low centre of gravity (just 460mm, thanks to that engine configuration and a low hip-point for the driver).

So far, so good. But with every silver lining comes a cloud - in this case that's the fact that it's now expected to cost around the £28k mark rather than the £22k that had been hoped, and a long way beyond the sub-£20k mark originally envisaged...

Nevertheless, we're keenly looking forward to the arrival of the GT 86 when it lands in UK dealers in June 2012...

 

[Andy665]

Not pretty, surely a pre-requisite for a sporting coupe and too expensive

[Oddball RS]

Hmmmmmm a bit of MG6, a bit of Scooby, a bit of Hyundia Scoop, hmmmmmmm i do like the interior though, the rest of it does look sadly like it has been about for 4 years.

Lets hope its a great driver, it should be.

[theJT]

A proper coupe at last. None of this "slightly squished hatchback" nonsense.

[Robmarriott]

I'm genuinely disheartened now, it's not as good looking as either of the concepts and it's far far too expensive.

at £22k it would have been spot on, but £28k? No thanks.

[Frp']

I'm not a fan. The wheels and those rear lights are very very poor for a 25k car.

Will hold out for the actual driving reviews before condemning it but not a great start. I think the Black coloured pre-production model helped it out from a looks pov.

[JSquaredJim]

Not a bad looking motor.
Shame the same can't be said about the spelling, punctuation and grammar in the news article.
Come on chaps lets proof read things shall we?

[Robmarriott]

That boot handle is atrocious as well!

[Chimaera001]

BORING!

What a missed opportunity. Again. It's a cooking coupe at best, in the finest lame traditions of dross such as the Paseo that preceded it. Hairdressers of the UK rejoice...

Sht name too

[Madmatt74]

I really like it and as mentioned before its a proper coupe.

Wonder if the lease prices are out yet?

[SSCooperS]

It certainly ain't pretty, but it's more interesting than anything Toyota have produced in the last five years.

[Y282]

Agree with some of the above. Its not a huge power model is it? Imho that needs to be 300bhp. That said, the original ae86 wasnt big on power, but was nicely balanced.

Just think its a waste of a new rwd car to make it 200 in todays world.

[Codswallop]

Not as good looking as the original concept, but not bad either. I think the looks will grow on you, though the interior isn't too attractive imo.

The price however is way too high for what it is. Would rather get a pre-reg 370z for that money.

200bhp should be ample for the weight and if the drive is as good as it will supposedly be.

[pSyCoSiS]

That looks so cheap and tacky from the rear shot.

In certain angles, it looks like the 370Z.

Not for me, no way worth the £25k+ they want for it!

[Escort Si-130]

Looks good, only downsides are the tail lights, they should have been tinted and the price is a bit more than I was expecting.

[Y282]

Agree the styling is a bit fiddly in places, especially that full on rear shot. It also looks like its sat like a s**tting dog a bit.

[KennyGT]

Looks like a Hyundai coupe. It has horrible lexus lights and at 28k I can't see why you would want one.

[Fittster]

Those that think it's too expensive need to take a look at what Merv King has been doing to the value of the pound.

[k-ink]

So... way more expensive, heavier and slower than originally predicted. Shocker.

I suspect it will only make sense in their home market for the usual half price we are always asked to pay.

[leon9191]

It looks far to fussy for my tastes, looks like a barry boy special where you can just about see the nice orginal car underneath the bonded on fibre glass tat.

[[AJ]]

Certainly not the best looking car by a long shot. I'd suspect the £28k price tag would put it out of reach of it's target demographic too? The Celica it replaces was a good £10k less.