Wednesday 20th July 2011

Toyota FT-86: Designed For The True Enthusiast

At least that's what the project's chief engineer reckons

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Proof if ever you wanted it that Toyota has finally re-awakened its inner petrolhead: the FT-86 coupe has been reportedly designed with a roll cage in mind.

This little gem of information - namely that the dash has been left with recesses in to accommodate a roll cage with no cutting up of plastic required - has spilled onto the web via Club4AG, a forum dedicated to the most die-hard fans of tuned Toyotas, and courtesy of a chap called Moto-P.

It seems that Mr P was lucky enough to have dinner with the FT-86's chief project engineer, Tetsuya Tada, and that during said meal was able to glean plenty of information about the eagerly awaited coupe. And it isn't just the roll cage-friendly dash that has got Mr Moto-P excited - there's plenty of other nuggets of info that seem to indicate that the rear-drive coupe could be quite a car...

You can read his post in full on the Club4AG website, but the salient points run thusly: the EJ20 Subaru engine remains - in basic shape, but they essentially only share the same flat-four layout. Everything has been re-cast, right down to a whole new block design, and the Toyota-Subaru motor has been fine-tuned by Yamaha... but the mounting points are the same, so racers, sprinters or merely keen tuners can simply bolt in a Subaru motor should they wish.

The car has also been designed to be a 'basic and pure' sports car, to the extent that it may well come without nav or even a CD player (Tada-san's argument being, apparently, that we will all be plugged into the world via smartphone come 2012, so we won't need such heavyweight optional extras).

Most intriguing of all - and proof that a car nut really is at the helm of the Japanese motoring giant - Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has often dropped in to test drive the FT-86, including arriving unannounced at a Nurburgring test session, strapping himself into an FT-86 development car, and chasing down a Lexus LF-A.

"Endorsed by CEO Akio Toyoda, designed by passion (of Tada's team), and not by a committee" is what Moto-P signs off with. We hope that means the FT-86 will be quite a car. Sounds promising...

[neiljohnson]

Looking good will it be turbo??

[Riggers]

neiljohnson said:

Looking good will it be turbo??

Wish I knew...

Mind you from the sounds of it it will be a simple job to bung in a heavily turbocharged Subaru lump (says the man for whom a 'two spanner' Haynes manual job is too scary to attempt... )

[MSportUK]

God, I hope they keep to the 'affordable' part of the original plan.

[Actus Reus]

I also hope they change the looks back to the earlier concepts - this thing is fugly.

[Or888t]

Sounds spot on, exciting stuff.

[stew-S160]

I soooooooo want one.

[Bada Bing!]

If it's RWD and comes with a turbocharged impreza engine, it should be fantastic. Something tells me it'll stay normally aspirated and end up front wheel drive though.

[Riggers]

Bada Bing! said:

If it's RWD and comes with a turbocharged impreza engine, it should be fantastic. Something tells me it'll stay normally aspirated and end up front wheel drive though.

It's not going to end up front-wheel drive... the whole platform has been engineered to be front-engined, rear-wheel drive. It's the car's USP. Almost worth a rolleyes smiley, that one...

[snotrag]

Bada Bing! said:

Something tells me it'll stay normally aspirated and end up front wheel drive though.

Theres no way this will become FWD. Its already in development?

I've been looking forward to this for ages - yes its optimistic, but it really does sound like they want to get this one right - as for the looks - yes its a bit 'Japanese' but its sleek and modern, better than most rubbish out there. At least its not 'retro'.

It would be great if this heralded the return, properly, of the Japanese sports coupe. Theres only really the GTR left.

[neiljohnson]

MSportUK said:

God, I hope they keep to the 'affordable' part of the original plan.

Depends on what you consider affordable?? I think there would be a Market for different engine sizes on this maybe an entry level 1600 which would be insurable for younger people with crazy premiums & a turbo quick one for us older ones that can afford the insurance I think if it's less than 30k for the quick version it will sell although I would have to wait for a second hand one

[MarJay]

snotrag said:

It would be great if this heralded the return, properly, of the Japanese sports coupe. Theres only really the GTR left.

370Z?

[Zero7]

When is this due out?

[nsa]

Brilliant. I just wish Honda would do the same.

[EDLT]

Whatever, how about they just sell it and worry about roll cages late?

[luke g28]

As its built with a nod to the AE86 I would expect it to be a fairly highly strung NA motor in a light and chuck-able chassis.

Hmm is the car market changing? Mclaren change their car following magazine reviews and Toyota build a rwd motor with the performance modifier in mind :O

[carl carlson]

I like the way it looks and it sounds like it could be an interesting car. Is it FWD or RWD?

[Twilight1]

The Toyota version will be a N/A engine running rear wheels trough manual transmission. Keeping the weight as low as possible, closely to 1000kg. I think it looks awesome and if the price is correct, it will fill the empty spot of affordable Japanese sports cars in the new decade.

It would be weird if Subaru wouldn't use the platform in their lineup. Turbocharged 4WD- version would be awesome, i just don't see it happening on that wheelbase without major modifications, though.

[snotrag]

MarJay said:

370Z?

Ok yeah and that. But Mazda need another decent coupe (I think they are developing one? Hybrid wankel maybe?) Toyota used to do Celica and Supra. Nissan no longer make a Silvia I dont think, or if they do the S15 is ancient is it not?

and Honda only have the CRZ which doesnt really count as its more an alternatvie to a Civic.

[otolith]

It will definitely be rear wheel drive, it's too far down the development path to backtrack on that.

I doubt there will be a turbocharged version at launch - the idea is that this will be affordable to buy and run for young folks. I think this will provide an alternative answer to the "cheap, fun, great handling, rear wheel drive" question for those who don't like open cars, need to cram a couple of kids in the back or who are insufficiently secure in their sexuality.

[snotrag]

Twilight1 said:

Keeping the weight as low as possible, closely to 1000kg.

I think its already been said that its going to be more like 13/1400kg. Sure I've read that on here. I think 1000kg is pretty ambitious really.