FT-86 Concept Becomes Toyota GT 86

[West]

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the next Toyota sports car ever since we saw the FT-86 concept, and we know you have too. The original concept was unveiled towards the end of 2009, and was followed by the mean-looking FT-86 II concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show.

But now the wait is over. Making its world debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, we are thrilled to introduce you to Toyota’s new sports car: the GT 86.



The GT 86 has been conceived as an entirely driver-focused machine, designed to deliver the core qualities of the classic sports car experience. That means precise, instant response to the smallest throttle and steering inputs and the kind of performance that appeals to those for whom driving is a passion, not a necessity.

The GT 86 is built on a new platform, with a highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the car’s mechanical elements. Rather than fitting a heavy, large capacity powertrain, Toyota has opted instead to go back to its sporting roots, installing a compact, front-mounted, free-revving petrol engine that drives the rear wheels.



The GT 86’s engine is the result of a joint Toyota and Subaru development programme that brings together their technical know-how and mutual passion for sports cars.

Toyota has added its D-4S injection technology to Subaru’s new, horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated 1,998cc four-cylinder boxer engine. This system features separate twin injectors for both direct and port injection, and a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, increasing power and torque across a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

This four-cylinder “boxer” unit generates 197bhp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 205Nm at 6,600rpm, giving engaging performance. The powertrain is matched to the world’s most compact four-seat design to create a car that benefits from light weight, low inertia and a low centre of gravity to achieve the best possible power-to-weight ratio. For the driver that means lively, accessible performance and dynamic character with minimal intrusion from electronic systems.



Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential to give the best possible grip in all driving conditions. The ABS and switchable vehicle stability control systems have been tuned specifically to deliver dynamic stability at the limit of the car’s performance envelope with minimal electronic intervention to help preserve the purity of the driving experience.

The design of the GT 86 successfully works within the technical constraints of achieving the most compact dimensions possible, a low centre of gravity and aerodynamic performance inspired by motorsport technology, while also displaying evocative, sweeping styling that recalls Toyota’s sports car heritage.

The lower grille’s “scorpion” look gives the GT 86 a more powerful appearance, with further sporting details including the model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, twin exhausts and the “86″ piston logo that denotes the car’s special powertrain configuration.



On board, the ergonomics and function of every element the driver interacts with have been scrutinised to make driving the car as natural, instinctive and rewarding as possible. For example, the steering wheel has a 365mm diameter, making it the smallest ever fitted to a Toyota, and it is trimmed in buckskin, developed from exhaustive feedback from test drivers on how to achieve the best steering performance and grip.

The three-meter instrument cluster is arranged around a large tachometer, its design benefiting from close attention to the positioning of the displays, markings and typeface. The result is the best possible visibility and readability. The driver-focus of the cockpit is further reinforced by the carbon-effect trim, all-black roof lining, red stitching on the upholstery, aviation-style rocker switches and lightweight, aluminum pedals.



The compact 2+2 model, one of the most keenly awaited new cars of the coming year, will go on sale in the UK in June 2012. Until then, visit our new GT 86 Flickr gallery to see more images or click here to register your interest in the car.

Source: FT-86 Concept becomes GT 86 reality as new Toyota sports car is unveiled | Toyota UK news, reviews, video and pictures | Today Tomorrow

Gallery: Toyota GT 86 - a set on Flickr

[Toyoriffic]

I take it back, I like the Toyota GT-86 better than the Subaru BRZ! Nice article, touches on perty much all the mechanical delights built in to this car that made it attractive in the first place. I think it's going to be worth waiting for for those that are going to buy it.

[ej25ti]

I take it back, I like the Toyota GT-86 better than the Subaru BRZ! Nice article, touches on perty much all the mechanical delights built in to this car that made it attractive in the first place. I think it's going to be worth waiting for for those that are going to buy it.

though youll be seeing it as a scion

looks as expected, minor changes on the interior but i like
i like how they kept the 86 on the streering wheel
not sure that will stay for us spec though
dont really like the tails, and by that i mean the circle of LEDs
i know the reverse light thingy will be gone too
and why do these wheels keep popping up? they are SO UGLY!!

[Run]

ugliest tail lights ever

[ej25ti]

i really hate this color too

[bersh]

I love it.

[ej25ti]

wonder what ft86club is gonna do now... lol :P

[Exitspeed]

I sound like a broken record, but god I love this car. I'm so happy that Toyota actually delivered.

[Cal]

I really hope these cars sell well. Maybe that will make Nissan and Mazda get off their asses and make some real cars.

[modifiedMR]

I really hope these cars sell well. Maybe that will make Nissan and Mazda get off their asses and make some real cars.

I don't care if they do. I just want one of these with a stock turbo!!!!! Meaning stock when I buy it.

[Turbowned]

I really hope these cars sell well. Maybe that will make Nissan and Mazda get off their asses and make some real cars.

You're right, Mazda needs to 86 the RX-8 (haha, get it?) and build something new. At least the current MX-5 is great. Nissan needs to take the engine in the Juke and put it in a new S-chassis, call it the Silvia and sell 'em like hot cakes!

[modifiedMR]

You're right, Mazda needs to 86 the RX-8 (haha, get it?) and build something new. At least the current MX-5 is great. Nissan needs to take the engine in the Juke and put it in a new S-chassis, call it the Silvia and sell 'em like hot cakes!

Yeah, the rx-8 is junk. The mx-5 is much better, but still needs to be a little lighter stock. A new silvia would be cool, but Silvia won't sell too well against the gt86/frs/brz, especially if a turbo model appears. Subaru already is coming out with turbo's for their new engines and the new WRX STI might have as much as 330 hp. IF and it seems like a BIG IF anymore, the new BRZ STI gets even a smaller versioned turbo model, 260+ hp would be cake and I don't see Nissan doing anything against that. They already have a 370z. Mazda is who needs a new RX, but they need to drop the bs rotary stuff. A light weight, high rev's inline 6 would make a sweet sports car in a sub 2900 lb car. Like the older m3, but without all the hype, extra's and price.

[Cal]

Yeah, the rx-8 is junk. The mx-5 is much better, but still needs to be a little lighter stock. A new silvia would be cool, but Silvia won't sell too well against the gt86/frs/brz, especially if a turbo model appears. Subaru already is coming out with turbo's for their new engines and the new WRX STI might have as much as 330 hp. IF and it seems like a BIG IF anymore, the new BRZ STI gets even a smaller versioned turbo model, 260+ hp would be cake and I don't see Nissan doing anything against that. They already have a 370z. Mazda is who needs a new RX, but they need to drop the bs rotary stuff. A light weight, high rev's inline 6 would make a sweet sports car in a sub 2900 lb car. Like the older m3, but without all the hype, extra's and price.

Why wouldn't a new 240sx/silvia sell that well? If Nissan came out with an attractive RWD coupe and made it turbo and kept it around genesis pricing and no more than 2900LB, it would sell like crack sprinkled hot cakes.They would fill a segment in the market that few cars qualify for. A cheap RWD turbo car. They would make some N/A base models for most people and have the premium be turbo for the enthusiasts.

[modifiedMR]

Why wouldn't a new 240sx/silvia sell that well? If Nissan came out with an attractive RWD coupe and made it turbo and kept it around genesis pricing and no more than 2900LB, it would sell like crack sprinkled hot cakes.They would fill a segment in the market that few cars qualify for. A cheap RWD turbo car. They would make some N/A base models for most people and have the premium be turbo for the enthusiasts.

They would not sell well against the frs/brz/gt86 because of the boxer engine. It would be very difficult to beat this car at handling. Then if they go turbo, well, try beating them when the next wrx STI is possibly going to have 330 hp. The genesis weighs too much and doesn't really handle that well. If the brz STI drops with a turbo, the genesis will not sell well either. If they do a drop top frs/brz/gt86, even Mazda will have trouble selling their MX-5. This car has to potential to steal many buyers from other cars because of the two companies can put different options on them. Turbo's, drop tops, drop top turbo's LOL. This could push up into Z, mustang and camaro territory with a turbo. It's got the handling and descent looks. Just needs power to compete with the bigger dogs.

[ProZach626]

I don't think Nissan will take as big of a jump in the styling direction, like toyota did. Nissan seems like they like to keep their looks conservative. Look how the sentra kept getting more and more bland. The spec v used to be a fun car. I owned a b15 spec v, but the newest one (b16) is just laughably ugly and boring looking. The 370z looks amazing, but even it isn't as in your face as this toyota.

My point is, even if Nissan makes a competitive vehicle, I don't think it will look nearly as good.

[West]

I don't think Nissan will take as big of a jump in the styling direction, like toyota did. Nissan seems like they like to keep their looks conservative. Look how the sentra kept getting more and more bland. The spec v used to be a fun car. I owned a b15 spec v, but the newest one (b16) is just laughably ugly and boring looking. The 370z looks amazing, but even it isn't as in your face as this toyota.

My point is, even if Nissan makes a competitive vehicle, I don't think it will look nearly as good.

I disagree, Nissan still has "it". They produced the GT-R after all. IMO they are the only ones who could come up with a unique and competitive car that would compete in the empty space the Toyobaru sits in. I dont put other cars in the same space as this car is truly unique. The Genesis, RX-#, Z, etc are all nice cars with their own +/- but its the same tired FR platform that keeps getting fatter and fatter. Toyota and Subaru got this right to go back to the fundamentals of what made early sports so fun to drive. Nissan can do this, after all the s15 was still in production 2002. They are likely the one ones who can produce something that would make Subaru and Toyota execs lose sleep at night.

[Cal]

They would not sell well against the frs/brz/gt86 because of the boxer engine. It would be very difficult to beat this car at handling. Then if they go turbo, well, try beating them when the next wrx STI is possibly going to have 330 hp. The genesis weighs too much and doesn't really handle that well. If the brz STI drops with a turbo, the genesis will not sell well either. If they do a drop top frs/brz/gt86, even Mazda will have trouble selling their MX-5. This car has to potential to steal many buyers from other cars because of the two companies can put different options on them. Turbo's, drop tops, drop top turbo's LOL. This could push up into Z, mustang and camaro territory with a turbo. It's got the handling and descent looks. Just needs power to compete with the bigger dogs.

While the boxer is a good engine choice it is not the end all of engines. Nissan knows how to design a quality chassis. Take the GTR for example. On paper that car should not be able to make the kind of times it puts down, yet we have seen time and time again it beating cars that outpower it and cost quite a bit more. If Nissan decided to sell a car to compete in the light way RWD market they could and would bring out a car that like West cleverly said would make Subaru and Toyota execs lose sleep at night.

Seeing as the S-chassis as a huge following now they would more than likely resurrect it in some way.

[modifiedMR]

While the boxer is a good engine choice it is not the end all of engines. Nissan knows how to design a quality chassis. Take the GTR for example. On paper that car should not be able to make the kind of times it puts down, yet we have seen time and time again it beating cars that outpower it and cost quite a bit more. If Nissan decided to sell a car to compete in the light way RWD market they could and would bring out a car that like West cleverly said would make Subaru and Toyota execs lose sleep at night.

Seeing as the S-chassis as a huge following now they would more than likely resurrect it in some way.

The GTR is not what it is cracked up to be. Yes, it is a techno wizard for the price and will beat most anything for the price, but it's nothing but a hyped STI/EVO. There is not much exotic about it. IMO, look at my "Supra thread" or "STI letter." I am willing to bet that a hyped ft86 could beat the old Supra AND come close to putting down GTR times. It wouldn't be a leap. Think if the 2700 lb BRZ put down the possible 330 hp the next wrx sti had. Weight can change alot and the GTR isn't that light. Take 500+ lbs off and track times drop easily. It's all about power to weight and then weight/ weight distribution to make lap times (suspension and other factors will make differences, but not like those aforementioned). An inline 4 will have a hard time competing with what is already coming forth in the Subaru line-up. The only question is, who is going to come out with the monster. It's going to be hard to beat the compact and powerful boxers of Subaru. The real question is that, "Is Subaru or Toyota willing to put forth the effort to release such a car?"

[ej25ti]

if it can beat anything for the price, then why does it need to be exotic :P

[Cal]

The GTR is not what it is cracked up to be. Yes, it is a techno wizard for the price and will beat most anything for the price, but it's nothing but a hyped STI/EVO. There is not much exotic about it.

Based on that statement calling the GTR a Hyped up EVO/STi does not make sense. The GTR hangs with cars that are several classes ahead of it. I read an article in a magazine where they tested a bunch of cars on the track like the Evo, GTR, 370Z Boss mustang, and Ferrari 458 Italia. The writers put the Ferrari ahead but kept likening the GTR to it. That is not a "hyped up evo". Secondly the GTR was never meant to be exotic. That would be the LFA. Nissan never pretended that they were making a super car.

IMO, look at my "Supra thread" or "STI letter." I am willing to bet that a hyped ft86 could beat the old Supra AND come close to putting down GTR times. It wouldn't be a leap. Think if the 2700 lb BRZ put down the possible 330 hp the next wrx sti had. Weight can change alot and the GTR isn't that light. Take 500+ lbs off and track times drop easily. It's all about power to weight and then weight/ weight distribution to make lap times (suspension and other factors will make differences, but not like those aforementioned).

So hyped gt86/brz could put down close times to a stock GTR? Yes that could be the case, but how much money would one have to spend in order to make the GT86 compete with the GTR? Stock vs stock Weight wise yes, there is nearly a 1000lb difference however there is also nearly a 300hp difference as well. Evened a lighten GT86 with a mods that make it produce 250HP IMO would have a hard time bridging that gap. Plus taking off 500lbs is not exactly an easy matter. Seats, wheels, wiring, a/c stereo, Carbon fiber doors, truck, hood, wing, sound dampening with all that some people are not able to do 500lbs.

An inline 4 will have a hard time competing with what is already coming forth in the Subaru line-up. The only question is, who is going to come out with the monster. It's going to be hard to beat the compact and powerful boxers of Subaru. The real question is that, "Is Subaru or Toyota willing to put forth the effort to release such a car?"

I would say depends on how that inline was designed. Lets take an older design for example. The good ol SR20 (the s14/15 versions). That was inline four that was light, sat pretty far back in the bay and on a factory tune could produce 220-250 crank hp depending on which turbo it had. One tuned the S15 version could crack into the 300's reliably and that was with the stock turbo. Now that was a design that was lasted used in 1999. 13 years later to say that an inline 4 can't compete with the new boxers to me depends on what they are competing in. Yes the boxer will have a lower center of gravity, but that is only 1 part of the equation. As you said before chassis design plays a lot into it. Which IMO comparing Subaru's chassis design to Nissan's is like comparing Oranges to Grapefruit. Very similar but still different enough not to compare all the way. (Subaru and its rally racing, vs Nissan and GT/togue/drift)

[ra23celica]

My local paper today (Sunday) has just published a driving impressions report after having driven the car in Japan on Wednesday or Thursday. They love it, oversized go-kart like handling. But they did mention the engine lacks torque. Has anyone seen an official weight, published by Toyota, for the (GT) 86? Thanks.

[modifiedMR]

My local paper today (Sunday) has just published a driving impressions report after having driven the car in Japan on Wednesday or Thursday. They love it, oversized go-kart like handling. But they did mention the engine lacks torque. Has anyone seen an official weight, published by Toyota, for the (GT) 86? Thanks.

weight is just under 2700 lbs (~2670 lbs).

When it comes to putting out better than gtr numbers, it's not easy, but Subaru has what it needs already. A 330 hp FA 2.0 T engine and a car that is substantially lighter will beat the GTR in straight line and around the track. As I outlined in my other thread, it could be done for less than 60k out the door price.

New GTR SPECS> 3800 lbs and 530 hp = 7.17 lbs/hp
BRZ STI needs> 2500 lbs and 350 hp = 7.14 lbs/hp

It wouldn't be hard to make the BRZ as fast, over 1,000 lbs lighter AND handle better due to such low weight. 170 lbs is possible. Relocate the battery to the rear and similar weight shifting and dropping in the right areas will push the car closer to 50 F/50 R for more nuetral driving. STI brakes with Toyota EBD will stop the car faster than the heavy GTR. Most of the technology and R&D is already available for them to produce to GTR competitor for almost half the price. The STI is what 35k?

In BASIC concept, the WRX and GTR are the same. front engine + AWD + electronics + diffs = GRIP. Compared to traditional FR/FMR, MR and RR cars of competitors who focus on maximizing power, reducing weight and having lots of aero, while using your foot mostly as traction control, the GTR and WRX are VERY similar. Different in how that is exactly done, but similar in concept.

[ej25ti]

weight is just under 2700 lbs (~2670 lbs).

When it comes to putting out better than gtr numbers, it's not easy, but Subaru has what it needs already. A 330 hp FA 2.0 T engine and a car that is substantially lighter will beat the GTR in straight line and around the track. As I outlined in my other thread, it could be done for less than 60k out the door price.

New GTR SPECS> 3800 lbs and 530 hp = 7.17 lbs/hp
BRZ STI needs> 2500 lbs and 350 hp = 7.14 lbs/hp

It wouldn't be hard to make the BRZ as fast, over 1,000 lbs lighter AND handle better due to such low weight. 170 lbs is possible. Relocate the battery to the rear and similar weight shifting and dropping in the right areas will push the car closer to 50 F/50 R for more nuetral driving. STI brakes with Toyota EBD will stop the car faster than the heavy GTR. Most of the technology and R&D is already available for them to produce to GTR competitor for almost half the price. The STI is what 35k?

In BASIC concept, the WRX and GTR are the same. front engine + AWD + electronics + diffs = GRIP. Compared to traditional FR/FMR, MR and RR cars of competitors who focus on maximizing power, reducing weight and having lots of aero, while using your foot mostly as traction control, the GTR and WRX are VERY similar. Different in how that is exactly done, but similar in concept.

you would have to super strip the car to get it to 2500lb after adding all turbo components, and larger brakes, wider wheels, etc
as far as handling it will still be hard to keep up w/o awd, the reason the gtr weighs over 3600

[modifiedMR]

you would have to super strip the car to get it to 2500lb after adding all turbo components, and larger brakes, wider wheels, etc
as far as handling it will still be hard to keep up w/o awd, the reason the gtr weighs over 3600

To drop 170 lbs isn't that crazy. I've dropped near that in my mr2 and still have a full interior. I have not done ANY body work yet. A cf hood, cf roof, lighter battery and exhaust would drop quite a bit. Probably easier though to go for 400 hp out of the boxer. Regardless, it's doable to make that power to weight with MUCH less weight. AWD is great, but it'll be hard to make up the +1000 lb difference.