Toyota finally announced the prices of its much-awaited enthusiast favorite, the GR86, and the sports coupe is quite the bargain!
The current 86 traces its roots back to the legendary AE86 Corolla hot hatch — a car that is now steeped in JDM history. As the years went by, the markets matured over time, and the demand for conventional passenger vehicles far exceeded the number of takers for these drivers’ cars. Luckily though, the Japanese giant returned the 86 emblem in 2012 with a lightweight and affordable RWD sports car (GT86 and the Scion FR-S) that paid homage to the OG hot hatch. As expected, there was pure merry and smiles on the enthusiasts’ faces as they embraced their future toys.
Building on the legacy of the Scion and the GT, the latest gen 86 promises to be even more thrilling and fun to drive, all while keeping the DNA intact. Interestingly, the successor was approved by the CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, who himself is well-known among enthusiasts and motorsport circles. Moreover, Akio also reiterated that the 86 is fully worthy of the Gazoo Racing (GR) performance division, just like the Yaris or Supra.
The new-gen GR86 retains the original silhouette of its predecessor for the most part, albeit with some styling changes. For instance, the front fascia features new LED headlamps, a larger boxy radiator grille, and sporty air curtains on either side to pull off a modern sports car’s appearance. Over to the sides, its appeal is enhanced with more aggressive side skirts and an option to choose between 17-inch standard aluminum alloys on the GR86 and 18-inch blacked-out rims on the GR86 premium. Similarly, the rear end also underwent a styling exercise with a new taillamp design, duckbill spoiler, and a twin exhaust system mimicking the one on the Supra.
But, what are a driver’s cars without stonking performance and driving dynamics? More importantly, does it come with a manual? – the obvious question on everyone’s minds. Fortunately, Toyota bestowed the latest GR with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with paddle shifts.
The power unit is derived from the previous model; however, the displacement shot up to 2.4-liters thanks to 7 mm larger pistons (94 mm vs. 87 mm). As a result, the new vehicle puts out 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque@3,700 rpm, which signifies better low-end and mid-range performance. Other fundamental changes include a 50% stiffer platform, uprated 11.9-inch front and 11.7-inch rear brakes, better suspension, and a new twin-pipe exhaust system to pop it off!
Additionally, the cabin also receives a makeover to modern standards, with digitization at the core of the experience. For example, the old-school analog dials now give way to a 7-inch customizable multicolor TFT cluster. There is also an 8-inch infotainment system in the middle, supporting Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and three months of complimentary SiriusXM for all your entertainment needs.
Furthermore, leather-trimmed accents are also present on the steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake, giving it a premium touch. Last but not least, the GR86 comes standard with ADAS and passive safety equipment such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Collision Warning System, etc. Typical Toyota, then!
The list goes on and on as the manufacturer also offers a whole suite of exclusive accessories and kits for the customer to choose from. All of this kit boils down to one single factor – pricing! The GR86 starts at a competitive $28,275 for the manual and $30,225 for the auto. Meanwhile, the Premium variants garner an additional $2,600, respectively — not bad at all!
The enthusiast culture lives on!
Gallery: 2022 Toyota GR86
