Tuesday 22nd November 2011

PH Blog: why Toyota needs the FT-86

It's been a long time since Toyota made a PH-worthy car - the FT-86 needs to end the drought

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FT-86, here under Scion brand, looks the business

Toyota hasn't made a PH-worthy car for ages. But the FT-86 is one of them and I, for one, can't wait for the car to arrive. And it seems I'm not alone, the response to our story last week from the LA show where its Scion-branded brother was showing in concept form alongside its Subaru BRZ equivalent showing a real appetite for both of these cars.

Toyota has a lot to prove. Because, let's face it, the mainstream products are the very personification of cars as white goods blandness. Worse than that, the safe middle ground Toyota has occupied lately is rapidly being taken over by the Koreans, whose products combine unpretentious dependability AND a little bit of design verve. Leaving Toyotas as expensive, boring to drive and utterly anonymous to look at.

Baby Lexus LFA looks are grower

The timing for the FT-86 for Toyota is therefore bang on. Cars like the Celica, Supra, MR-2 and even classic old AE-86 prove that there is - or was - a sense of fun at the heart of the brand once. And it's up to the FT-86 to rekindle that.

But it's relevant to more than Toyota. The 911 we've driven this week (you may have noticed...) is now so outrageously competent that to extract even a modicum of excitement from the drive requires a doubling or even trebling of local speed limits. Um, apparently. Very impressive. But how long before the laws of physics or the land catch up with you, in a very big way?

A lighter car with less power but more emphasis on handling? You'd have never thought Toyota would be leading the charge but it is. With a bit of help from Subaru - another brand desperate for a new direction.

Subaru version ain't half bad either

Scion badges or not, the FT-86/FR-S I saw last week looked utterly fabulous and the real thing is just days away from its Tokyo debut, alongside its Subaru equivalent. The Toyota looks every inch the LFA's little brother, at a price and performance level more relevant than the Lexus. 200hp and a price around £25K? With rear-wheel drive and an emphasis on weight saving that's something PH can really get behind. All of a sudden that Scirocco or TT doesn't quite look so appealing, does it.

So. Expect a whole lot of FT-86 and BRZ chatter over the coming days. We're excited. You should be too. And just to whet your appetite here's a little teaser video, heavy on the corporate schmaltz and racking up the hype another notch but a game we'll happily play a part in.

[Denorth]

not the most important bit, but: door windows with no frames? sweet.

and everything else is sweeeeet.

[TRUENOSAM]

Will it be produced like that though?

[Frimley111R]

Its a real shot in the arm for Toyota and boy do they need it. Description of Toyota's range above is 100% spot on!

[bobzilla7]

About blooming time!

[LuS1fer]

I don't think it will affect the perception of Toyota's total current output as being anything other than glacially boring but will hopefully mark a new direction for them.

I like the back of the Scion but not the Botox lip front so on that basis would tend to err in favour of the Subaru which sadly is a bit generically boring at the front and needs to lose that rear wing.

Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 22 November 14:16

[danp]

http://sniffpetrol.com/2011/10/28/toyotaft86ashtra...

[Luke.]

Denorth said:

not the most important bit, but: door windows with no frames? sweet.

and everything else is sweeeeet.

My Outback's got door windows with no frames too.

[NITO]

Somehow, I just cannot see this being sub £25K, I certainly hope it is though...

[Bullett]

I registered interest on the website and last week got a nice thick letter from them. Was it about the car I was interested in? no it was about the rest of the white goods they provide. I registered to get more info, not to be marketed to about other stuff.

Poor form Toyota. I know it's not in the same price range as the GTR but take a leaf (ha) out of Nissans book, they didn't try and sell me a Micra.

[Rhythmeister]

Denorth said:

not the most important bit, but: door windows with no frames? sweet.

and everything else is sweeeeet.

Frameless Windows ARE cool, my 4 CAM rocks them!
Please GOD let the FT86 be as good as we wish it to be...

[5lab]

don't all subarus have frameless windows?

[Cotty]

Looks funky

[Baryonyx]

I am really excited about this now. After all, 15 years ago Toyota were making some of the best performance cars on the planet. Then they followed suit with the rest of the world and started making bland, sensible cars. The world desperately needs some excitement injected into the proceedings, and car manufacturers need to move away from the 'big, heavy, powerful' design briefs. Smaller, lighter and with less power is what is needed, with more focus on handling and enjoyment, as opposed to seeing who can make the biggest, heaviest and most powerful car.

That said, I hope Toyota will make a wild, lairy high powered turbo version like they did with the MR2.

[s31tof]

That Blue BRZ will do me nicely thanks

Wonder what spec that is though- I can't see that being £25k?

[davidcharles]

..prefer the subura one TBH...minus the rear wing.

can't believe it'll be THAT fast that it needs a rear wing like that

[ARAF]

dan trent said:

The 911 we've driven this week (you may have noticed...) is now so outrageously competent that to extract even a modicum of excitement from the drive requires a doubling or even trebling of local speed limits.

I remember selling my '87 325 for the same reason, and buying an old Mk2 Escort. Getting caught provoking a car sideways on a road at 30mph used to get you a 'telling off' The BMW wouldn't even be getting into its stride.

[M666 EVO]

Nice, nice, nice...

[geoffracing]

Why do ALL new cars have HIDEOUS headlights?

[geoffracing]

...and a GIGANTIC vulgar mouth?

[Clivey]

danp said:

http://sniffpetrol.com/2011/10/28/toyotaft86ashtra...