Posted on 29 June 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 during 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 : 8 x 17″ (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.

A special edition with better brakes, stickier tires, and a retro paint scheme.

Most automotive nameplates can only dream of the kind of customer engagement that the Toyota 86(formerly the Scion FR-S) and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, have achieved. Case in point: Two of the dozen automotive journalists assembled for the reveal of the 86’s new TRD special edition drove their own personal 86s to the event, both of which featured mechanical and cosmetic modifications. Not to mention the innumerable lowered and bewinged examples that can be spotted in practically every American metropolis and many other places besides. But why let the customers do all the wrenching? Toyota is getting in on the fun with the 2019 Toyota 86 TRD special edition.

Highs:
Standard summer tires, front and rear Brembo brakes, all the fun of the original plus a little more.

Lows:
Single available color scheme, limited run, most of this equipment is already available on the BRZ.

Limited to 1418 examples and seated on the top branch of the 86 family tree, the TRD shares its powertrain and basic chassis with its siblings but features a few significant equipment upgrades and several distinctive design elements. Let’s start with the equipment. By nabbing one of these manual-transmission-only $33,340 coupes, drivers will enjoy Sachs dampers, front and rear Brembo brakes, and standard 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Never mind that the BRZ has been available with that damper and brake combination since 2017; Toyota assures us that its Sachs dampers have been tuned specifically for the car by the good people at Toyota Racing Development (TRD).

Our experience with the 86 TRD was limited to a few laps on a short track with a few more laps of an 86 GT for the sake of comparison, so we’ll need to spend more time with—and test—the car to fully quantify this performance setup. But even in that short time, it’s clear that the changes have a real impact on the driving experience. Compared with the 86 GT, the TRD edition rolls less in corners and is less likely to be unsettled by braking inputs. The brakes feel firmer but are never grabby, and the Pilot Sport 4 tires keep the car firmly planted under aggressive driving. By comparison, the GT we drove felt looser, with more body motions, softer responses from the brakes, and a lot less stick.

Toyota assembled a team of professional drift drivers to accompany us at the launch of this latest 86, and—unsurprisingly perhaps—all of them extolled the benefits of the TRD edition’s performance enhancements. But one conceded that the GT’s lower threshold makes it a little more pliable, easier to coax into a drift, and thus more fun in certain applications. Drifting is in our nature, he told us. We couldn’t disagree.

The 86 GT may better capitalize on the joy of driving a slow car fast, but drivers who plan to autocross an 86 will be better served by the increased competence of the TRD model. It remains to be seen whether they will also be better served by its looks. The 86 TRD is available only in black and adorned with yellow, orange, and red TRD graphics on both doors. A body kit for the front and rear bumpers and the side sills plus a modest three-piece spoiler make the TRD look just slightly more menacing than the stock 86. The interior is black, too, with bright-red accents on the seats, shifter, and steering wheel. The car is not unattractive, but when so many 86 owners customize their cars with unique paint jobs, bolt-on spoilers, and lowering kits, it’s easy to imagine some of them being disappointed that they won’t get to make any design decisions on the special-edition model.

Multiple paint colors or no, we look forward to spending more time with the 86 TRD and measuring the impact of its special equipment on our tests. Maybe we can even find some local 86 enthusiasts to hoon around with—after all, sports cars love company.

The Toyota 86 will definitely get a second generation, and it'll function as a way to offer customers a performance rung underneath the Supra in the company's lineup, according to Toyota Australia public affairs manager Brodie Bott in a discussion with GoAuto. Last week, the Japanese magazine Best Car reported that Toyota and Subaru weren't replacing the 86 and BRZ.

"I don’t know where these reports have come from, but at this stage we are certainly not looking to discontinue it, it’s a pretty important car for us and it will be the little brother to the Supra," Bott told GoAuto.

An American spokesperson made a similar statement assuring the 86's future to Motor1.com. "As Akio Toyoda said at the reveal of the 2020 Supra, Toyota is committed to building exciting vehicles, including sports cars. The 86 has been in the Toyota family since 2013 and the plan is that it will continue to be a part of Toyota’s sports car line-up," the company representative told us.

Rumors indicate that Subaru and Toyota are continuing their partnership for the new generations, and the debut could come as soon as 2021. Power reportedly comes from a 2.4-liter flat-four-engine, which might be a version of the turbocharged mill from the Ascent where it products 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The pair would also allegedly have a lower center of gravity to make them even sharper handling machines.

Before the new model arrives, Toyota might give the existing 86 a farewell with a special edition model. A trademark filing suggests it has the GR moniker after the company's Gazoo Racing performance division.

A new Toyobaru is officially happening. Toyota confirmed in a business release last week that the next generation of the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ sports car is under development.

The pure driver’s car should continue to use a rear-wheel-drive platform. Previous rumors have suggested the car could debut as soon as the Tokyo Auto Show later this month. Expect an improved powertrain — perhaps a version of the 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the Subaru Ascent — but not too improved, to avoid undercutting the Toyota Supra. (Though the Toyobaru could be a compelling option for the Supra enthusiast on a budget.)

Toyota announced the 86/BRZ news as part of a broader expansion of its collaboration with Subaru. As part of this move, Toyota has increased its Subaru holding from 17 percent to 20 percent. Subaru will become an equity affiliate, allowing Toyota to incorporate Subaru’s strong U.S. sales on its income and profit statements. The enhanced partnership should yield further vehicle collaborations like the Crosstrek Hybrid, which uses Toyota’s hybrid engine technology paired with Subaru’s formidable all-wheel-drive system

Collaboration is also part of Toyota’s broader strategy to survive in an uncertain automotive climate. Expanding partnerships allows Toyota to limit development and production costs for internal combustion cars and have more resources to react to whatever the future market dictates — EVs, hybrids, fuel cell cars or anything else.

86, GT 86, or Hachi-Roku as a nod to the AE86 series, the boxer-engined sports car from Toyota is up for a redesign from the ground up. Developed in collaboration with Subaru, the newcomer is expected to come out in July 2021.

This information comes courtesy of a source who sent Motor1.com“a photo from an internal presentation, proving he knows what he’s talking about.” If the information proves correct, then the U.S. will get the second generation for the 2021 model year. Rear-wheel drive is a given for the fixed-head coupe, but two mysteries have yet to be addressed by the source in question.

First and foremost, will it be called the GR 86? Toyota is likely to change the nameplate to better represent Gazoo Racing in the automaker’s performance lineup alongside TRD. Switching to GR would also bring the 86 closer to the Supra although the two are very different animals underneath the skin.

Secondly, what kind of engine will drive the rear wheels? Word has it the 2.0-liter FA20 will be replaced by a 2.4 similar in design to the FA24 but without the forced induction of the twin-scroll turbocharger. Natural aspiration will, therefore, translate to lower output ratings than 260 horsepower at 5,600 revolutions and 277 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm.

The free-breathing version of the FA24 is expected with 217 horsepower and 177 pound-feet, specifications that seem likely when compared to the output of the FA20. In addition to higher numbers, turbocharging adds weight and delivers peak performance differently from natural aspiration.

According to the unnamed insider, Toyota is also going to refresh the Camry this fall for 2021 while the next generation is scheduled to launch for the 2024 model year. The more spacious Avalon will be facelifted for 2022, the model year that will also bring forth the Corolla Cross to the United States.

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The 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition, or the "Ha-what?" for those who don't regularly keep up with the Cult of Green Cars and Gold Wheels (I keep telling my comrades we need a shorter name if we want to grow our membership), arrived in the US as one of the final hurrahs for the first generation of the Toyota 86 and its mirror image at Subaru, the BRZ.

The cars share a 205-horsepower, four-cylinder Subaru boxer engine and offer a choice between two six-speed transmissions: a manual or an automatic. While the regular 86 starts at $27,060, the special-edition Hakone's base model will run you $29,870.

With options like a $1,100 exhaust system, $550 sway bar, and $75 air filter from the Toyota's TRD performance arm, my loaner for the week came to $32,778.

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When you open the door, you're greeted with an interior so gorgeously styled that you almost don't notice its aging features. Strips of tan material slice through the black upholstery, and the contrast stitching truly contrasts: On black leather, it's tan, on tan leather, it's black. That, accompanied by the tan leather key holder with black contrast stitching and an "86" imprint so deep an ant could swim in it, makes the car feel like it was designed with care, not just put through a color configurator to please car nerds who like green and gold.

For a casual street car, the 86 Hakone is rigid. The seats are hard; the driving position is stiff. The throttle is bitey. Despite car enthusiasts complaining about the car's low power output for as long as it's had a power output, the 86 feels like it would take a chunk out of you if it had teeth — perfect for a buyer who prefers something a little raw over the refined six-speed manuals that can be found elsewhere.

What makes the 86 so special, I told my friends as their eyes betrayed boredom, is that Toyota doesn't need the car in its lineup. It was the brand's second-worst seller in the US in 2020, saved only by the 2021 Mirai, a new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that debuted as a California-only offering. Toyota sold 499 Mirais in 2020, while sales for the 86 and any leftover Scion FR-S models totaled 2,476. The Yaris, which was discontinued in 2020, sold 6,437 units.