The new GR86 is Toyota’s third global GR model, creating a “power of three” range of pure-bred sports cars, alongside the GR Supra and GR Yaris. Like them, it benefits directly from Toyota’s multi-championship-winning involvement in top-level international motorsport with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Chassis development has focused on reducing weight and a further lowering of the car’s centre gravity to secure even sharper handling and responsiveness. There is wider use of aluminium and other light – but – strong materials and strategic strengthening of the car’s frame to achieve greater rigidity all-round. The suspension systems also benefit from detailed adjustments to optimise handling performance, while the designers received support from their motorsport colleagues in developing new aerodynamic features for the bodywork. The new coupe will provide a new entry point to Toyota’s GR range, bringing the rewards of sports-focused handling and performance to a wider audience. An evolution of the previous GT86, the model which signalled Toyota’s renewed commitment to sports car engineering, it retains the classic configuration of a front-mounted engine and rear wheel drive. The engine remains a high-revving, four-cylinder “boxer” unit, but with displacement increased to gain a significant increase in power and torque. Technical adjustments to the engine and transmissions ensure that this extra potential is realised with smooth, powerful acceleration across the rev band.
The Toyota GR86’s exterior design is an evolution of the taut, low-slung look of the GT86, expressing its classic front engine/rear-wheel drive set-up and adopting styling cues that reference some of Toyota’s great sports cars of the past, such as the 2000GT and AE86 Corolla. The new LED headlights have an internal L-shaped arrangement like those on the GR Supra, while the new grille has a GR-exclusive G-motif mesh pattern. The front bumper moulding has a new textured finish that is functional as well as sporty, helping to reduce drag. The overall dimensions are close to those of the GT86, but notably the height has been lowered by 10 mm (to 1,310 mm) and 5 mm have been added to the wheelbase (2,575 mm). The successful lowering of the centre of gravity is central to the car’s handling and the driving experience – supported by a 5 mm lowering of the driver’s hip-point. In side view, the powerful front wings and large rocker mouldings form side skirts, while the horizontally aligned underbody, running across the top of the wings and through the doorline, projects a strong front-to-rear posture. The rear wings are equally powerful in appearance, while the tapered rear cabin emphasises the car’s wide stance and low centre of gravity. The rear light clusters have a strong three-dimensional design and blend into a moulding that runs across the width of the car. A series of aerodynamic features has been introduced, including a front air dam and fully functioning air vents, created with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s motorsport expertise.
Superb handling was a defining hallmark of the GT86. With the GR86 Toyota wanted to deliver the thrill of a car that moves exactly how the driver wants it to. At the front, diagonal cross-members have been added to the joints between the suspension and car’s frame, improving load transmission from the front tyres and reducing lateral bending. High-strength fasteners have been introduced to connect the frame and the suspension mounts and the bonnet has a new internal diagonal frame, in place of the previous honeycomb design. With these measures, front body lateral rigidity has been increased by 60%. To ensure the engine’s extra power translates into rewarding handling and responsiveness, the chassis and body have been reworked with the use of light but high-strength materials to provide extra rigidity while reducing weight, and the addition of reinforcements in key areas. At the rear, a full ring structure connects the upper and lower chassis and, as at the front, new fasteners linking the frame and suspension mounts give better handling under the G-forces generated when cornering. With the inner panel now connected to the platform, a continuous frame structure has been created. Overall body twisting rigidity has been increased by 50%. The 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.
Just as with the Toyota GT86, the horizontally opposed “boxer” engine is a defining element of the new GR86, the heart of its performance and a key contributor to its low centre of gravity. The 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder unit uses the same cylinder block as before, but displacement has been increased from 1,998 to 2,387 cc. This has been achieved by increasing the bore diameter, from 86 to 94 mm. Torque has also been increased, with performance tuned so that the peak 250 Nm is delivered earlier – at 3,700 rpm compared to 205 Nm at 6,400 – 6,600 rpm in the GT86. This helps deliver smooth, powerful acceleration up to high engine speeds, giving rewarding performance, particularly when accelerating out of a bend. Torque output is the same with both manual and automatic transmission. Retaining the same high, 12.5:1 compression ratio, the engine delivers more power: maximum output has risen by around 17% from 200 DIN hp/147 kW to 234 DIN hp/172 kW at 7,000 rpm. As a result, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time has been cut by more than a second, to 6.3 seconds (6.9 seconds automatic). The GR86’s maximum speed is 226 km/h with manual transmission, 216 km/h for the automatic. Detailed changes have been made to reduce the engine’s weight and ensure performance appropriate for the engine’s higher output. These include thinner cylinder liners, optimisation of the water jacket and a switch from aluminium to a resin material for the rocker cover – which also reduces vibration. The connecting rods have been made stronger and the shape of the con-rod bearing and the combustion chamber have been optimised.
The D-4S fuel injection, which uses both direct and port injection, has been retuned for quicker response to the driver’s throttle inputs. The direct injection has a cooling effect in the cylinders, which supports using a high compression ratio; port injection operates under light and medium engine loads, maximising efficiency. The engine’s breathing has also been improved with changes to the diameter and length of the intake manifold port, contributing to more linear torque delivery and acceleration. The air intake has been redesigned to optimise air flow. Further benefits are gained from a new fuel pump design, to ensure consistent flow when cornering, and a smaller high-speed water pump designed for performance at high speeds, with a better flow rate and reliability. A new water-cooled oil cooler has been added, while a thicker radiator structure has air guides to increase the amount of cooling air taken in. In the exhaust system there is a new 5.6-litre centre pipe which generates a satisfying “growl” under acceleration, augmented by an Active Sound Control system that transmits the sound of the engine to the cabin. To combat noise and vibration, the Toyota GR86 has new aluminium, liquid-filled engine mounts and a revised, stiffer oil pan structure with a new cross-rib shape.
The Toyota GR86’s interior design goal was 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. Throughout, there is a sense of harmony in the design. The new 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. Around the driver, function controls are designed and located for intuitive recognition and operation, including an air conditioning panel in the centre console with large LED-illuminated dials and piano key switches, and door armrests with integrated release handles. The functionality of the centre armrest has been improved with cup/small bottle holders, two USB ports and an AUX socket. The interior colour-ways also reflect the driving focus – all black, with silver accents, or black with deep red upholstery details, stitching, carpets and door cards. The rear seats can be folded down using release catches in the cabin, or a release strap in the boot. When folded, there is load space big enough to take four wheels – ideal for those driving their GR86 to and from track days.
