Toyota’s GT 86, sold in the United States as the Scion FR-S, hasn’t had much in the way of updates since the debut in 2011. That’s about to change soon, though, as prototypes for an updated version have been spotted testing. For a few lucky buyers in Toyota’s home market, there will be a special edition too, and this one will be packing more power.

The special edition GT 86 has been revealed ahead of a debut at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon in just a few weeks. It’s called the GT 86 GRMN, and it was developed by the official Toyota Gazoo Racing performance division. Just 100 examples will be built, and as mentioned above all of these will be sold in Japan. The starting price is 6,480,000 yen (approximately $53,740).

The modifications made to the GT 86 GRMN aren’t quite as aggressive as what we've seen on previous GT 86 concepts built by Gazoo. There is extra power, though. Output registers at 216 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque, up from 200 hp and 151 lb-ft in the stock GT 86.

Modifications made to the powertrain include low-friction internals, a new intake system and a high-flow exhaust. Note, these are the same modifications expected for the updated version of the GT 86, which will likely be introduced for the 2017 model.

Other mods for the GT 86 GRMN include an aero kit, stiffer suspension, uprated brakes, and a recalibrated six-speed manual transmission. Weight is said to be down by as much as 100 lb compared to the stock GT 86 thanks to the removal of some elements as well as the use of lightweight plexiglass for the windshield and carbon fiber for body panels.

Scion is dead, and the FR-S name passes away with it. The rear-wheel-drive sports coupe isn't gone, though, because it's now the the 2017 Toyota 86. To match the new moniker, the latest model finally has a little extra power and more aggressive styling. The public debut will take place at next week's New York Auto Show, and sales begin this fall.

"When we announced the transition of the Scion models to Toyota we hadn't planned on changing the names of our cars, but by popular demand, for our sports car, we decided to adopt the global name of 86," said Toyota Division Group Vice President Bill Fay.

The 2.0-liter boxer-four's output grows to 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque – increases of 5 hp and 5 lb-ft. The 86 still isn't the turbocharged rear-wheel-drive coupe of some peoples' dreams, but at least this is an improvement. Toyota also promises "additional performance" thanks to different gear ratios for the six-speed manual transmission, and there's now Hill Start Assist Control. New shock tuning and spring rates will affect the handling, too.

The 86 wears a meaner look than the outgoing FR-S. The biggest change is a new front bumper with a large intake that stretches across the coupe's width, and the two sharp points along the bottom look like teeth ready to chomp down. Toyota also replaces the headlights and taillights with LED units. The twist-spoke wheels are a great accompaniment to the more aggressive look, too. The tweaks are more modest inside, including silver stitching and new materials for the dashboard and doors.

Toyota will also display the C-HR crossover concept again in the Big Apple. We won't see the production version until later this year, and sales won't begin until spring 2017 as a 2018 model.

Toyota, the world’s largest car manufacturer responsible for pushing millions of vanilla Camrys and Corollas, occasionally needs to let off some steam. The GT86 Shooting Brake Concept revealed here is just that – Toyota showing to the world that it can still go a little bit mad.

Dreamt up by its Australian design team (hence the moody Harbour Bridge backdrop in the pictures), but built in Japan, it’s a one-off design study that shows how a more practical version of the coupe could look. Frankly we’re all for it, especially as Toyota claims it drives just as well.

“It is a fully functioning, driveable vehicle that has been put through its paces on Toyota test tracks,” explains Tetsuya Tada, GT86 chief engineer. “The GT86’s nicely weighted and direct steering ensures the car retains the coupe’s involving driving experience with a slightly more neutral feel in tight corners.”

This would suggest Toyota is more invested in the project than it’s letting on. Tada-san calls it “an internal design study” with no plans for production, but also adds: “We never say never, and I would love this concept to become a production reality.” Mixed messages, but fingers crossed.

Tada-san was apparently convinced to build a full-scale version after being shown a quarter-scale clay model during a visit to Australia in November 2014. The one proviso being the Aussies didn’t tamper with the front-end too much, as Nicolas Hogios, Toyota’s Australian design chief explained.

“Like kids in a lolly shop, we thought about restyling more of the car; however, like a good parent saying ‘no’ to too many sweets, we made the conscious decision to keep as much of the original GT86 as possible, only changing what was absolutely necessary.”

Let’s be honest though, nice as a wagon with more head and boot space is, what we really want is more grunt than the coupe’s modest 196bhp output. So internet, what would make you more likely to shell out on a GT86: more power or more practicality?