[Article] Toyota 86

Two articles about the Toyota 86 from the Driven motoring section of the local New Zealand Herald newspaper (printed back in August) ...

Toyota puts the fun back into driving -------------------------------------- The super sporty 86 coupe is selling faster than hot cakes.

Australian rally champion Neal Bates sums up Toyota's new sports coupe, the 86, in one sentence, "it's the most fun you can have without losing your licence".

At the New Zealand launch this week, the Toyota Australia driving instructor was flown in to highlight the capacity of the vehicle. And it's a vehicle Bates knows well. After testing the vehicle for Toyota he bought one - a white manual, of course - to use at his Canberra home. As the sports version of the 86 was so popular in Australia, Bates had to use his Toyota contacts to track down a model that hadn't been pre-sold, and eventually surprised a dealer in a small town who had one available. Demand for Australia's top spec model (the GTS) is such that there is a two year waiting list, said Bates.

The pre-launch demand here was just as strong as Australia with the 120 alloted models snapped up. It's no surprise really, as it's been a long time since Toyota has had a sports car in it's lineup.

The 2-litre rear wheel drive coupe will be available in two specifications - the 86 and the racier GT86 - while the company brought in 20 versions of the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) package available (see article below). Toyota NZ's General Manager of Sales, Steve Prangnell, said, "Our stock situation is good, but we know from what's been happening overseas that demand will exceed supply, and we're expecting the same situation here in New Zealand."

The six-speed manual base model 86 was priced at NZ$41,986, and NZ$1000 more for the automatic version, while the manual GT86 would have the price tag of NZ$46,986, and again another NZ$1000 for automatic. To give the GT86 a sportier road presence, a sports aero kit was priced at NZ$1600.

The sports coupe was a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, the result of Toyoat's 17 per cent share in Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries. Subaru's version, the BRZ, lands in New Zealand in December with the 12 cars already pre-sold.

The 86 and BRZ shared a normally aspirated 2-litre twin-cam flat-four that develops 147kW of power at 7000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 6600rpm. Toyota chose natural aspiration for the 86 to optimise acceleration response, improving the 'connection' between throttle application and power delivery to the rear wheels.

At 4.240m, the 86 is shorter than a Corolla hatch and at 1.285m high is lower than a Yaris hatch, while the wide rear - and dual exhausts in the 86 and GT86 - create a dynamic look. Inside the sports seats and stramlined fascia highlight value for money in this coupe - and even the two rear passenger seats could handle an adult - though anyone around 1.8m tall would find it a struggle.

But to back up Bates' "fun" theory, and test the handling and cpability of the 86, the launch incuded an afternoon at Hampton Downs racetrack after a road trip from Rotorua, via Thames. A speed trial (or three) on the track, plus a lesson then spin (literally for some) on the skid pad showed its extensive handling and capability.

With the track day finishing, Bates reminded the media that the speed we reached on the track, and his hot lap combined with a drifting session, should stay opn the track. Easy advice from a man who is paid to drive fast around a track. Instead I fell asleep dreaming about driving fast around Hampton Downs.

- Driven, New Zealand Herald 25 August, 2012

Release the inner Penelope -------------------------- It's a swept-up Toyota that attracts buyers of any age.

If the GT86 isn't high performance enough for you, what about the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) version? It's a swept-up version that has already enticed three Kiwis to hand over more than NZ$60,000 each.

Only 20 models are for sale, and they will be kitted out at Toyota New Zealand's Thames plant - home of the Signature Class that is also kept busy accessorising Hilux utes. Buyers can pick any of the 86 range - from the manual base model to the GT86 auto - to be souped up, and the makeover will take a week.

During that time, the coupe will have added to it a Toyota Racing Development front spoiler, side skirts, rear lower bumper and boot spoilers. All panels are spray painted at the plant. The TRD model also gets forged aluminium 18 inch alloy wheels, a high response muffler with four tip exhaust and a brake package by Brembo.

To highlight that it is from Toyota Racing Development, the car will come with a badge, key ring, radiator and oil filter caps and a push start button for GT86 cars marked with the TRD stamp. The TRD starts at NZ$63,486 for the manual version and NZ$64,486 for the automatic. TRD version built off the GT86 are priced at NZ$68,486 for the manual model and NZ$69,486 for the automatic.

Toyota New Zealand's General Manager of Product Planning, Neeraj Lala, said, "We're building this car for diehard sports car fans and race entusiasts. It's a car you could take straight to the race track."

And one of those buyers has been revealed - a 70-something year old woman from Taranaki who traded in her Toyota Yaris so she could experience being Penelope Pitstop every day. I'm jealous.

- Driven, New Zealand Herald 25 August, 2012

Reply to
Your Name
Loading thread data ...

lmao, saw some french piece of crap on the road the other day. the guy could not afford alloy wheels in 4 corners but did find some money for the funky flame paint job :^)

Reply to
AD

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.