Toyota launches GT 86 coupe at Tokyo Motor Show
ABOUT time, you might say. Here, at last, is a bit of excitement in the Toyota range to give business users something to get worked up about.
It’s all very well having plenty of worthy family cars knocking about your range – and some of them like the Avensis make good company cars too – but they all seem to have sidestepped the route called ‘characterful’.
But now, Toyota looks to blast away that image – and recall those glory coupes of the past: think MR2, Celica, Supra… Affordable sports cars all – perfect for business users – with the double edge guarantee of Toyota unburstability.
Enter stage left, then, the new Toyota GT 86 sports car, due to be unveiled at the Tokyo motor show on November 30. However, it won’t be long before we see it in the UK too: the compact 2+2 model will go on sale in the UK in June 2012.
So what will the new Toyota GT 86 offer?
Toyota says the GT 86 will give drivers a true sports car experience with crisp throttle response, eager steering and terrific performance.
What’s more it promises to sound good, too. Toyota has teamed up with rally specialists and car maker Subaru for the engine – one of Subaru’s great-sounding horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines with Toyota D-4S injection technology. This has been tuned to deliver 197bhp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 205Nm at 6,600rpm – and, no doubt, a huge aural treat as well.
Transmissions will be a choice of short-shift six speed manual or six-speed automatic. Drive will go to the rear wheels in classic coupe fashion.
The new Toyota GT 86 measures 4,240mm long, 1,285mm high and 2,570mm wide, dimensions which make it the most compact four-seater sports car available today, says Toyota.
Light weight, MacPherson front strut suspension with double wishbones at the rear, 17-inch alloy wheels and front and rear ventilated disc brakes complete the package.
Although the new Toyota GT 86 conjures up images of Celica and Supra the new GT 86 owes more of its heritage to the rear-wheel drive Toyota Corolla GT of the mid eighties – the car won two British Touring Car Championships with Chris Hodgetts at the wheel – as well as numerous rally stages off the tarmac.
Sounds like the new Toyota GT 86 really could put the fun back into Toyota and knock out some of that grey stuffing. Business users queue here.
