Toyota’s new Toyota GR86, also known as the Toyota FR86, is the latest addition to the automaker’s growing family of sports cars. Designed with the aim of providing drivers with an even more thrilling driving experience, the Toyota GR86 builds upon the already impressive legacy of its predecessor, the GT86. From a revamped chassis to a driver-focused cockpit, the Toyota GR86 has been designed to meet the needs of sports car enthusiasts.
In South Africa, the Toyota GR86 is a highly anticipated sports car. Toyota South Africa has a strong presence in the country, with a reputation for producing high-quality and reliable vehicles. As such, the introduction of the Toyota GR86 is expected to generate significant interest among sports car enthusiasts across the country.
One of the most notable features of the Toyota GR86 is its handling. Toyota has focused on improving the car’s handling and responsiveness, with a reworked chassis and body that utilizes light but high-strength materials to provide extra rigidity while reducing weight. The body rigidity has been increased by 50% with the addition of reinforcements in key areas, such as the installation of new front diagonal cross members. The result is a sports car that moves exactly how the driver wants it to.
To further enhance the car’s handling, Toyota has focused on weight reduction and bringing down the car’s center of gravity. This has been achieved through the use of strong and lightweight materials in key areas, such as high-strength and hot-stamped steels and aluminum. The Toyota GR86 is now the lightest four-seat sports car on the market, with the lowest center of gravity.
The Toyota GR86 also boasts a rear Torsen limited-slip differential that provides reassuring traction when cornering. The suspension, which features a front independent MacPherson strut and rear double-wishbone setup, has undergone significant performance tuning for an even higher level of response and stable handling. Shock absorber damping and coil spring characteristics have been optimized throughout to give the car planted, predictable handling.
The new electric power steering system (EPS) has a 13.5:1 ratio and requires just 2.5 turns of the Toyota GR86’s three-spoke steering wheel to move from lock to lock, giving easy maneuverability. The steering system has a new column-mounted integrated motor that reduces weight and takes up less space, while also improving responsiveness and the car’s “light” handling.
In terms of design, the Toyota GR86’s exterior is an evolution of the taut, low-slung look of the GT86, expressing its classic front engine/rear-wheel drive set-up. Short overhangs add to the agile look, together with a wide and low stance, while the front and rear wings and cabin are individually accentuated, generating the dynamic feel of an authentic sports car. The new, parabola-shaped LED headlights have an internal L-shaped arrangement like those on the GR Supra, while the grille has a GR-exclusive “G” motif mesh pattern. The rear light clusters have a strong three-dimensional form and blend into a garnish that runs across the width of the car.
The Toyota GR86’s interior has been designed with a strong horizontally configured instrument panel that gives the driver a wide field of vision and helps them focus on the business of driving. Function controls are designed and located for intuitive recognition and operation, including an air conditioning panel in the center console with large LED-illuminated dials and piano key switches. The new-shape front sports seats feature supportive pads that are independent of each other, ensuring a slim design and good body-holding. A walk-in release lever on the front seat shoulder makes for easy access to the rear.
The Toyota GR86 is set to become one of the most exciting and fun-to-drive sports cars on the market, and it will undoubtedly make a big impact in the South African automotive industry. With its advanced engineering and impressive specifications, the new Toyota GR86 promises to deliver an exhilarating driving experience that is sure to attract sports car enthusiasts from all over the country.
One of the most significant features of the Toyota GR86 is its powerful 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, which delivers an impressive 173 kW of power and 250 Nm of torque. This represents a significant increase in power over the outgoing GT86, and it will allow the Toyota GR86 to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, both of which provide smooth and responsive gear changes.
The chassis and handling of the Toyota GR86 have also been significantly upgraded, with the use of light but high-strength materials to provide extra rigidity while reducing weight. The addition of reinforcements in key areas, such as the installation of new front diagonal cross members, has increased front body lateral rigidity by 60% while overall body rigidity has been increased by 50%. This focus on weight reduction and bringing down the car’s centre of gravity is reflected in the use of strong and lightweight materials in key areas, including high-strength and hot-stamped steels and aluminium.
The suspension system of the Toyota GR86 has also been upgraded, with considerable performance tuning for an even higher level of response and stable handling. Shock absorber damping and coil spring characteristics have been optimised throughout to give the car planted, predictable handling. With more torque being generated by the 2.4-litre engine, the rear suspension has been reinforced with the anti-roll bar now connected directly to the subframe to gain maximum stability.
In terms of exterior design, the Toyota GR86’s evolution of the taut, low-slung look of the GT86, expressing its classic front engine/rear-wheel drive set-up, has created a dynamic feel of an authentic sports car. Short overhangs add to the agile look, together with a wide and low stance, while the front and rear wings and cabin are individually accentuated. Design details reference some of Toyota’s great sports cars of the past, such as the 2000GT and AE86 Corolla.
The interior of the Toyota GR86 has been designed to deliver the best possible layout for usability and operation of the car’s systems, with a strong horizontally configured instrument panel that gives the driver a wide field of vision and helps them focus on the business of driving. The new-shape front sports seats feature supportive pads that are independent of each other, ensuring a slim design and good body-holding. A walk-in release lever on the front seat shoulder makes for easy access to the rear. The upholstery is a combination of Ultrasuede™, which gives good body-holding performance, paired with genuine leather.
The multimedia system has increased CPU computing power, giving faster response. Standard features include DAB reception, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® smartphone integration. The driver’s instrument binnacle features a multi-information display, to the left of the single-dial tachometer with central speed read-out. The display contents can be selected, reset and scrolled using switches on the steering wheel. In Sport mode, the meter gains red highlights.
The Toyota GR86’s body structure has impact-absorbing elements to soak up and channel forces in the event of an impact. Seven airbags are provided as standard in the cabin, and the safety and driver assistance package provides a high level of driver support, with functions including pre-crash system, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitor.
The Toyota GR86 is designed to provide an exhilarating driving experience, combining power, agility, and handling in a lightweight, four-seat sports car. The model builds on the success of its predecessor, the Toyota GT86, with a range of updates to the chassis, body, and drivetrain to deliver even better performance.
One of the key areas of focus for Toyota in developing the Toyota GR86 was the chassis and handling. The car features reworked body and chassis components, with the use of lightweight but high-strength materials helping to increase rigidity and reduce weight. The focus on weight reduction is reflected in the use of strong and lightweight materials in key areas such as high-strength and hot-stamped steels, aluminum, and structural adhesives throughout the underbody, which adds to the taut, connected quality of the car’s frame.
The car is also designed with a low center of gravity, which helps improve handling and responsiveness. The use of strong and lightweight materials in key areas has helped lower the center of gravity by 1.6 mm and shift 0.05% of the weight distribution to the rear of the car. The suspension setup carries over from its predecessor, but with considerable performance tuning for an even higher level of response and stable handling.
The Toyota GR86 features a new electric power steering system (EPS) with a 13.5:1 ratio and just 2.5 turns of the three-spoke steering wheel from lock to lock, giving easy maneuverability. The car also features a new column-mounted integrated motor that reduces weight and takes up less space while improving responsiveness and the car’s “light” handling.
The drivetrain of the Toyota GR86 retains the rear Torsen limited-slip differential which provides reassuring traction when cornering, and heat dissipation fins have been added to the casing to assist with cooling. The rubber used for the differential mounts has also been optimized for better heat resistance in line with the increased engine output.
The exterior design of the Toyota GR86 is an evolution of the taut, low-slung look of the GT86, expressing its classic front engine/rear-wheel drive setup. Short overhangs add to the agile look, together with a wide and low stance, while the front and rear wings and cabin are individually accentuated, generating the dynamic feel of an authentic sports car. A series of aerodynamic features have been introduced, including a front air dam and fully functioning air vents combined with aero fins, created with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s motorsport expertise to better manage airflow and reduce turbulence around the tires, enhancing steering stability.
The interior of the Toyota GR86 is designed to deliver the best possible layout for usability and operation of the car’s systems, with a strong horizontally configured instrument panel that gives the driver a wide field of vision and helps them focus on the business of driving. The car features new-shape front sports seats with supportive pads that are independent of each other, ensuring a slim design and good body-holding. The functionality of the center armrest has been improved with cup/small bottle holders, two USB ports, and an AUX socket.
The safety and driver assistance package provides a high level of driver support, with functions including pre-crash system, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam assist, and collision damage mitigation braking.
In conclusion, the Toyota GR86 is a four-seat sports car designed to provide an exhilarating driving experience. The car combines power, agility, and handling in a lightweight package, with updates to the chassis, body, and drivetrain to deliver even better performance than its predecessor. The Toyota GR86 is designed to be a driver-focused car, with a strong focus on usability and operation of the car’s systems.
