Toyota 86 2012 News

Toyota has given Australian media the first sneak peak at a new range of performance tweaks for its 86 sports car. Despite the 86 -- and its Subaru BRZ twin -- drawing worldwide acclaim since its global unveiling in early 2012, hardcore performance fans have been crying out for a performance boost to the already dynamic sports coupe. The aftermarket has been quick to answer this demand, with a huge variety of power-up, handling and aesthetic upgrades appearing around the globe. The tuned 86 prototype shown to the media in Canberra this week sports larger 18 by 7.5 inch (up from the GT model’s 16x6.5 and GTS’s 17x7 standard specs) BBS forged alloy wheels with staggered width 215mm front and 225mm rear '86' branded Dunlop Direzza R-spec tyres (up from GT’s 205mm and GTS’ 215mm spec) , plus specifically tuned non-adjustable Sachs dampers on all corners. The 86’s standard springs, swaybars, and suspension bushes are unchanged, and all are intended to leave Toyota’s factory warranty unaffected, and to be made available for both new and used 86 owners. The grippier tyres and more focused dampers are likely to improve the 86’s cornering stability, while the 18 inch wheels better fill the wheelarches for a subtle aesthetic gain. Chief engineer of the 86 project Tetsuya Tada admits that the upgrades are the first of many under consideration, and are intended to maintain demand for the model once the existing order banks are cleared. Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing boss Tony Cramb confirmed the existing local waiting list spreads from 3-6 months, depending on model, colour, and transmission choice, and he expects to satisfy pent-up demand by early 2014.  This first upgrade follows Tada-san’s statement at the Australian launch of the 86 last year: “The dynamic potential of the 86 should not rely on high-performance tyres, but customers who opt to buy high-performance tyres will be pleasantly surprised at the net performance gain.” Subaru Australia have already put a toe in this water with the largely aesthetic S pack for the BRZ earlier this year, and the “tuned by STi” BRZ  tS that appeared online this week looks to take enhancement a step further with a carbon fibre rear wing, Brembo brakes and Recaro seat upgrades. Subaru’s production plans for the  BRZ tS are yet to be confirmed however.  The new enhancements for the 86 were developed in Japan by Tada’s engineering team, so should rival any aftermarket alternative in complementing the 86’s basic engineering. Asked when the new hot bits might be available for sale, Tada-san refused to suggest timing or possible pricing, but asserted that they may arrive simultaneously with new exterior and interior enhancement options, across several international markets.  Tada did confirm that the wheel/tyre/damper package has already passed Toyota’s internal quality evaluation process, and their availability is now up to Toyota’s marketeers. Owners seeking a cohesive factory-approved boost to their 86’s performance should keep their fingers crossed. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn  

Toyota teased its GT 86 TRD Griffon concept teased at the start of June. The car was eventually revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and now fans of the lightweight coupe are going to see it hit the track. Toyota is taking the two-door to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, and this little machine should prove to be quite the adept hillclimber. To prep it for its track time, the TRD team shed as much weight as they could. Carbon fibre body panels have been swapped in so that the door, roof, bonnet, bootlid, and rear wing are all made up of the lighter material. Additionally, the front bumper and guards have been swapped out for carbon fibre composite pieces. TRD were able to shed a very impressive 225 kg which brings the curb weight down to approximately 1040 kg. The engine was left alone, but the handling and braking have been upgraded. A TRD mechanical differential was swapped in to replace the Torsen unit, and a set of lightweight 18-inch wheels was bolted on. This GT 86 clearly looks to get down to racing business, and we can't wait to see it hit the hill. This is a concept car, and although Toyota has released a limited-edition GT 86 TRD in the UK, Australia won't be getting that model -- we have to wait until Toyota is ready to bring a higher-performance version of the 86 here. In the meantime, you'll have to resort to importers of the TRD parts catalogue to dress up your 86. www.motorauthority.com  

The Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins that claimed the 2012 COTY has been voted as Australia’s Overall Best car.The car took 21 per cent of the votes in the Carsguide.com.au People’s Choice competition – 14 per cent with people who put the Toyota first as the 86/BRZ and 7 per cent with Subaru fans who preferred to select it as the BRZ/86.From there it was a sizable gap to the Ford Falcon Ecoboost in second place with 11 per cent, and another stretch to the Holden Commodore on 6 per cent. They’d both overtaken the Toyota Camry and also the Mazda CX-5 – which had held second place in the early days of the poll. The Overall Best win crowned a triple success for Toyota, which took out three of the five categories in People’s Choice.It shared again with Subaru in the Sports/Luxury section, where the 86/BRZ held a strong lead from the start in and crossed the line with 31 per cent, leaving the other contenders to jostle for second place. That became a war among the German brands, with positions changing every week and coming down almost to a photo finish with the Audi RS5 on 19.3 per cent – a nose ahead of the BMW M3 on 19.1.Toyota also claimed the Best Trade/Commercial segment with the Hilux getting a whopping 40 per cent of the vote, fending off a late rally from the Ford Ranger/Mazda BT50 which finished on 26 per cent. The newest brand to the ute showroom, Volkswagen, saw fourth place for their Amarok with 17 per cent.Toyota’s Camry forced its way past the Ford Falcon Ecoboost’s earlier lead in the Best Family Car section, with the Camry finishing on 29 per cent to the big Ford’s 27, and the Subaru Liberty on 19 per cent snatching third place from the Holden Commodore on 17.However Ford had a winner – and the biggest margin – in the Fiesta, which blitzed the Best First Car with 46 per cent of the votes. From there it was a long stretch back to the Hyundai i20 on 22 per cent and the Kia Rio on 15 per cent in third.Close voting in the Best SUV/Recreational section saw the Subaru Forester gain on the Mazda CX-5, with the two sitting level at the start of the final week. However the Forester put on a burst in the last few days and nudged ahead with 29 per cent, leaving the CX-5 on 27 and several lengths ahead of the third-placed Mitsubishi Pajero on 16 per cent.BREAKOUTWinner of the $5000It was a hard to choose a winning entry among so many great comments about why particular cars are your favourites.  But in the end, we felt Chris Mitchell of Queensland had written the best justification for his choice (the 86/BRZ) with: Subaru meets Toyota = heart, soul, and speed.WHAT YOU SAIDBEST OVERALL AND BEST SPORTS/LUXURYToyota 86/Subaru BRZIt is hard to go past this pairing as they are arguably the most complete package to enter the market. - Pete PetrassDriving pleasure and value for money at a price that is affordable to all. - Puay SimIt’s quite simply the car we have been begging for since the turn of the century. - Ryan ReynoldsBEST FIRST CARFord FiestaEconomical, affordable, attractive, easy to drive, easy to park and reliable. - Karen EkholmCute, easy, can still carry a full load and so easy to drive. The perfect car. - Courtney DettmanGreat fuel economy, stylish little car. Very zippy & full of great options. - Baden KellyBEST FAMILY CARToyota CamryTotal reliability. Outlasts competitors. Years of trouble-free motoring. Overall outstanding. True value. - Nichole MealingThe Camry has very well thought out features that make driving safer and more enjoyable. - Tony John WaiteReliable, family friendly and economical. - Lisa-Marie SanderyBEST TRADE/COMMERCIALToyota HiluxUnhook boat, hose the fish smell off (yourself too)...and this fancy pants is ready for the ball.  - Elizabeth ELlisWork, Play, Family. Hilux gives me versatility, flexibility and reliability. - Paul JarmanIt’s the best of both worlds: a family car and a workhorse.  - James McDonnellBEST SUV/RECREATIONALSubaru ForesterSuperb Urban Beast, All Round Ultimate winner. - Caroline ShanksSmart choice for a go anywhere vehicle for anytime. - Richard LwinBecause it’s a great family car as well as a car to take out bush. - Rebecca Costa 

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are joint winners, edging out the Hyundai i30 after an intensive three-day round of judging and more than 6000km of evaluation by nine COTY judges with more than 100 years of combined motoring experience.The result is no surprise, because the Japanese sports car twins have been COTY favourites since the day they were unveiled. They also embody the Carsguide mantra and COTY methodology: "Real cars, on real roads, for real people".The 86/BRZ is a landmark collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, classy engineering with a concentrated focus on driving enjoyment, and value packaging by both brands. That means a $29,990 starting price for the Toyota and driveaway pricing with free servicing on the Subaru."This is the era of the SUV and that makes the BRZ and 86 quite remarkable. It's a ground-breaking car, regardless of the badges it wears," says Carsguide editor, Paul Pottinger. "This car is a gift. Has anyone got out of either one without a smile on their face?" says James Stanford, summing up the majority feeling.The performance of the i30 is a surprise, as it edges the new Toyota Corolla to make the final four showdown alongside the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V, which fly the flag for the SUV stars of 2012. "I really like the i30, and would give it my number one vote," says Chris Riley.The COTY showdown for 2012 involves 11 cars including The Twins -- as we dub 86 and BRZ -- nine judges, video and backup crews, and the photographer who insists on a 5am start on Day Two. The judging starts with a 120km run west from Sydney into the Blue Mountains, then laps around a testing and varied 44km loop from Mount Victoria.Each car has been chosen to reflect the best value and strongest sales, not just for the way it would look if it was fully loaded with an unrealistic bottom line. From the start, the troubled Ford Falcon is in trouble again. Its sales have slumped this year and, despite the addition of the excellent EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, it is still too old in too many ways to make much of an impact.But by even making the Top 10 COTY contest, it's a winner. It's a pity Ford has not done nearly enough to promote the car, and not enough people have driven a package that makes it the best riding and handling Falcon of its generation. The Ford Ranger, too, struggles. It's a pickup that can do double duty as a family car, and it led the world with five-star ute safety, but it cannot compete in such a classy field.From the Holden camp, the plug-in electric Volt is a window on the future that's not good enough for the present. We could live with the cramped back seat and the crimped boot and the confusing dashboard if the car was priced at around $35,000. But it's $59,990. "It's trying to be the car of the future but it falls down today," says Karla Pincott.The COTY crew is doing lots of laps on day one, cycling through the cars and usually going back-to-back with direct rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. This is one mini-contest that produces a surprising bias towards the Honda, as the Mazda is beaten on boot space with a lower loading lip, value and the little things that make a difference to families.At the end of the day, as push comes to shove and the preliminary scores are tallied, the four finalists become clear -- although The Twins make it five if you're getting picky. Leading the near misses is the Corolla, which is narrowly trumped by the i30. The CX-5 also falls, and we lose the fun little Volkswagen Up."The Up is a great city car. But there is no auto and you really can't drive it with any comfort beyond the city,'' says Pottinger. Day two begins early but the focus has shifted, even if some of the judges cannot resist more driving time in cars like the Falcon and the CX-5, and even the Up and Ranger."This is a great chance to cover some miles," says James Stanford. By Day two the judges are separating into two camps, as the shortcomings of the Sorento and CR-V take them out of the final fight. The Honda is not strong enough in the engine room for most. Despite the classy Australian suspension settings, the Sorento is not good enough to claim a COTY crown.The i30 scores for its classy cabin, its affordable starting price, and an overall package which edges the Corolla despite the Toyota's impressive $19,990 starting point. The result comes down to the final voting, with each of the cars scored 4-3-2-1 by each of the nine judges. The Twins win. "This car is brilliant, and it's such a great drive," says Stanford. The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ are also real cars, on real roads, for real people.PAUL POTTINGER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VPAUL GOVER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VKARLA PINCOTT1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCRAIG DUFF1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VSTUART MARTIN1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJAMES STANFORD1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCHRIS RILEY1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VNEIL DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJOSHUA DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) Honda CR-V3) Kia Sorento4) BRZ/86 

The most significant sports cars since the original Mazda MX-5 in 1989 and by far the most affordable. "There too many grey cars in the world. The Twins are technicolour and 3D'' says Paul Gover. Marketing puffery is often ludicrous -- especially when it’s Toyota promising passion. But for the 86 just about every box has been ticked and promise delivered – many more than we expected. The 86 is alive and kick-arse. The most significant sports cars since the original Mazda MX-5 in 1989 and by far the most affordable. "There too many grey cars in the world. The Twins are technicolour and 3D'' says Paul Gover. Steering feel is excellent, with good weighting and feedback. The car feels taut and agile, turning in nimbly and gripping the road aggressively. The six-speed manual is one of the best around: short, sweet and snickety. Even hardened stick-shunners could be won over by this one. It gets off the line smartly, and delivers decent in-gear acceleration, despite there not being any sense of huge torque on tap. The in-car soundtrack improves once you push it up above 3500rpm, but apart from that the engine noise is subdued and it’s the tyres you hear. That aside, the Toyota 86 is nearly everything most people could want in terms of bang for the buck. The BRZ is brilliant, addictive and deeply depressing. You need to drop six figures to find something comparable or better - Mazda's able but aging MX-5 is finally surpassed, but then so for sheer driving pleasure are cars with badges like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Embracing an old formula - light weight, small and willing atmo engine, manual trans and rear wheel drive - it feels fresh and invigorating against a field of ever more sophisticated and heinously expensive sports cars, devices  that are technical tours de force but which can be emotionally bereft. No track day intro for the BRZ, so no lurid power sliding. But during a nocturnal fang on one of the nation's best bits of sinuous blacktop, the Soob more than fulfills its part of the two-brand partnership. Swarm into a tight bend, the note of that chuntering four rises to a wail, the merest throttle input shifts to impetus from nose the tail.  Yet there are acres of space and ample signals between control and untidiness. The BRZ is highly sensitive and entirely intuitive. Toyota 86 GT manual four-seater/Subaru BRZ Price: from $29,990 (BRZ - $37,150) Engine: two-litre variable-valve direct-injection DOHC flat-four-cylinder Transmission: six-speed manual, rear wheel drive Power: 147kW @ 7000rpm Torque: 205Nm @ 6600rpm Fuel use/emissions: 7.8 l/100km, tank 50 litres 95-98 PULP; 181g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side airbags, curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear parking sensors Dimensions: Length 4240mm, width 1775mm, height 1285mm (BRZ -1245mm), wheelbase 2570mm, cargo volume 217 litres, weight 1222kg (BRZ 1216kg) Wheels/tyres: 16in alloy wheels (BRZ 17in alloys) Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

More than 1500 extra cars will flood Australia from December, cutting through waiting lists that had grown to more than four months for some 86 models. The extra cars will come after a high-level mission to Japan this week to free extra supplies of high-demand cars in Australia, headed by the 86 but also including the HiLux ute and FJ Cruiser. But the news is not as good for anyone waiting for a Subaru BRZ, the near-identical twin of the 86, as the waiting list in local dealerships now stretches to November 2013 and Subaru Australia has failed in its efforts to get any extra cars. "We're getting over a year's allocation for three months. The extra cars start to arrive in December and will continue through to March," a jubilant Matt Callachor, sales and marketing chief of Toyota Australia, reveals exclusively to Carsguide. "Our original allocation this year was 250 cars a month, or 1500 for the year. We're now looking at an extra 1800 in those three months." Fans of the 86 are likely to renew their pressure in Australia with news of the extra cars and Callachor is not promising any major reduction in waiting times. "I don't know that the waiting time will go down dramatically. But there have been people who didn't want to wait," he says. "It really depends on the model. The high-level GTS is currently out to more than four months but for the GT it could be as little as six weeks." Waiting lists have been common for Toyota buyers in Australia over the past year, particularly after the natural disaster in Japan and flooding in Thailand that cut supplies of the HiLux. The popular ute has just had a five-month run as Australia's best selling vehicle once supplies were restored to normal, although it lost number one in September to the Mazda3 that was the country's favourite car in 2011. "There was a long delay on HiLux but it's under control now. The FJ Cruiser was also in short supply but we're now delivering between 270 and 300 cars a month," says Callachor. The appeal to Japan came as Toyota Australia pushes for an all-time showroom record in a year when overall sales are now tipped to top 1,000,080, more than enough to trump the previous record result. "We said we want to top 200,000, well and truly. So we negotiated heavily for more cars," Callachor says. The plea for extra 86s was helped by certification delays in several Asian markets, which means some Australians will be driving cars originally allocated to other countries. And Callachor says the extra local deliveries should also help the ongoing supply of the 86, which has already become a cult car and is the early favourite for this year's Carsguide Car of the Year award. "It gives us an additional benefit because our monthly sales rate will be higher in the first quarter next year and we'll have a better negotiating position. So we should get more than 250 cars a month after this, through the remainder of 2013," he says.  

...of precision driving and drifting for Toyota Philippines.

A combination of high demand and low supply has already made the Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ rare with a 18-month waiting list for customers.

But track work at the Nurburgring points to extra tweaking of the Japanese hero car. Toyota is already considering motorsport plans for the Bathurst 12-Hour race and Targa Tasmania in Australia.

The Toyota GT86 is arguably the most anticipated car of the past decade, but enthusiasts began clamoring for more power almost as soon as the car hit the market. While Toyota views that as the job of the aftermarket, it’s happy to showcase the work of tuning partners like Gazoo Racing. Gazoo’s previously-announced Sport FR concept both turbocharging and supercharging, with outputs of 235kW of power and 421Nm of torque. The car also gets a revised suspension, a full body kit, bigger brakes and wider wheels. Inside, there are racing seats, a roll cage, four-point harnesses and additional instrumentation, yet the interior is trimmed in an upscale Alcantara-like fabric. Toyota will show off the GRMN FR Sports Car Concept at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will be on display alongside Gazoo Racing’s LFA and GT86 endurance racers, both class winners at this year’s Nürbrgring 24 Hour race. The automaker will also show off its TS030 Hybrid racer, which competed in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans but failed to see the checkered flag. There’s a Dynojet Racing Toyota Avensis on display, as well as Rod Millen’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb Tacoma and a Gazoo Racing supercharged Toyota iQ. If that doesn’t define “something for everyone,” we don’t know what does. Motor Authority