2012 Toyota GT86
The GT86 is the production version of the Toyota FT-86, the highly anticipated sportscar developed jointly with Subaru.
The recipe for the Toyota GT86 is a good one. The car features a sports chassis with a limited-slip differential at the back, a proper manual gearbox in the middle and a flat-four 2.0 liter engine with Ds-4 injection system at front. The low center of gravity gives it, at least in theory, a very awesome handling.
The car looks the part too, with an aggressive style at front and proper aerodynamics and 17-inch wheels. The interior is particularly brilliant and gives the feel of a classic sports car. GT86 has 197 bhp which will give it a 0 to 100 km/h time of just under 6 seconds. That could be faster.
Toyota GT86 will go on sale in June 2012.
Toyota press release:
After a keenly monitored gestation period, Toyota’s eagerly awaited, compact 2+2 sports car, the GT 86, makes its world debut on November 30th at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. On sale throughout Europe in the summer of 2012, the GT 86 is an entirely driver-oriented vehicle. Conceived to focus specifically on the core attributes of the classic sports car experience, it gives form to the intrinsic joy of driving through precise, instantaneous response to even the smallest throttle or steering inputs, for those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.
With a low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the engineering hard points, the new GT 86 is based on an entirely new platform. Shunning a heavy, large displacement powertrain for its performance, the GT 86 returns to Toyota’s sporting roots with the world’s only combination of a compact, front-mounted, free-revving, horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ petrol engine and rear-wheel drive.
This unique powertrain format combines with the world’s most compact four-seat design, light weight, low inertia and a low centre of gravity for the best possible power-to-weight ratio. These attributes award the GT 86 lively, accessible performance, highly engaging, readily exploitable dynamic abilities with minimal electronic intrusion, and maximum driving pleasure.
Packaged to Deliver the Ultimate in Sports Driving Enjoyment
4,240 mm long, only 1,285 mm high and with a wheelbase of 2,570 mm, the new GT 86 is the world’s most compact four-seater sports car.
Both the powertrain and driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance, giving the GT 86 near-perfect, 53:47 weight distribution. The flat-four format of the front-mounted boxer engine combines with the lowest driver hip-point of any Toyota production vehicle to give the GT 86 an ultra-low centre of gravity of only 475 mm.
The GT 86 maximises the benefits of its minimal mass, supercar-rivalling lack of inertia and ultra-low centre of gravity with front MacPherson strut and rear double wishbone suspension, and large powerful ventilated disc brakes to both front and rear 17” wheels, allowing drivers to fully exploit the purity of the new Toyota sports car’s outstandingly nimble handling, dynamic agility and cornering poise.
World’s First Horizontally Opposed D-4S Engine
The GT 86’s 2.0 litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine is the result of a joint development between Subaru and Toyota, bringing together their technical know-how and mutual passion for sports cars. To Subaru’s newly developed, horizontally opposed, 1998cc, four-cylinder boxer engine, Toyota has added its D-4S technology. With separate twin injectors for both direct and port injection, and a high compression ratio of 12.5:1, D-4S increases power and torque over a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.
With a namesake 86 mm x 86 mm bore and stroke, the new engine develops 200 DIN hp at 7000 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6600 rpm, giving the GT 86 brisk, engaging performance.
The flat-four engine may be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission will offer quick, precise shifting via the highly engaging action of a tactile, short-throw lever, whilst the automatic transmission will be controlled by sporting, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts.
Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential, optimising traction and grip under all driving conditions. And the GT 86’s ABS and switchable VSC safety systems have been specifically tuned to combine dynamic stability at the limit of the vehicle’s performance envelope with minimal electronic intrusion on the purity of the driving experience.
Evocative Design Combining Iconic Styling with Functional Beauty
Designed under the ‘Neo Functionalism’ concept, the GT 86 combines the technical constraints of the most compact dimensions possible, a low centre of gravity and excellent, F1 technology-inspired aerodynamic performance with evocative, sweeping styling recalling the heritage of past Toyota sports cars.
The bold, simple yet iconic styling incorporates two key pillars of a new Toyota design language: Under Priority frontal design, which places the emphasis on an enlarged lower grille, focusing attention on the lower part of the car for a distinctive, more assertive appearance, and a Keen Look approach for clear, intelligent and expressive styling.
The new design language is enhanced by bold ‘Scorpion’ styling to the lower grille, giving the GT 86 an even more aggressive, sporting appearance. Further sporting details include purpose made 17” alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, twin rear exhausts and the ‘86’ piston logo, which highlights the car’s unique, front boxer engine rear-wheel drive powertrain format.
On board, the entirely driver-focused cockpit re-evaluates the essence of sports car driving through the detailed examination of the ergonomics and functionality of every element with which the driver interacts, allowing the GT 86 to be driven as if it were a natural extension of the driver’s body.
The seatbacks and cushion surfaces are designed to provide optimum support under acceleration g-forces from the front, back and sides. In addition, the shape of the front seat is designed not only for comfort, but also to prevent elbows from interfering with gearshift operation.
The steering wheel has a diameter of just 365 mm, the smallest yet fitted to a Toyota, and its buckskin finish has been developed through exhaustive feedback from test drivers to offer enhanced steering performance and maximum grip under all cockpit conditions.
