5 minute read
Toyota GR86
FORECOURT TOYOTA GR86
The first GT86 went down as one of the all-time greats. Jack Evans went to Seville to find out if the GR86 replacement is just as good.
Under the bonnet
The 2.4-litre ‘Boxer’ engine pumps out 231bhp and 250Nm of torque.
WHAT IS IT?
The original GT86 proved to be something of a hit for Toyota. So how do you deliver the tricky second album? Well, for the newly named GR86 – enabling it to fall under Toyota’s Gazoo Racing range of vehicles – that means more power, more grip and much broader use of lightweight materials.
WHAT’S NEW?
It’ll only be on sale in the UK for two years because of more stringent safety tests coming into force, but the engine is more powerful, while grippier Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres replace the Primacy rubber fitted to the GT86. Inside, there’s a little more tech than before, while the steering, suspension and braking have been revised to make the GR86 even more capable than the GT86. Even the rigidity has been boosted – up 50 per cent on the GT86.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
The naturally aspirated engine uses the same basic block, but capacity has been increased from 2.0 litres to 2.4, with power rising to 231bhp from 197bhp as a result. Torque has gone up too, from 205Nm to 250Nm, and it’s delivered earlier. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, although an automatic version is available too.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
That boost in power only emphasises the car’s balance, with its nimble steering and wellmanaged body control working in tandem to make it very good fun to drive.
The engine note is a little muted but it doesn’t stop you from stretching the engine out whenever the opportunity strikes. The six-speed manual is accurate and easy to use too, but it’s the GR86’s balance that really makes its presence known in the whole experience.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Toyota hasn’t gone to town with the redesign for the GR86, but the tweaks definitely work to make this car even better to look at on the road. The front headlights appear sharper, while new air intakes by the front wheels are fully operational.
It’s much the same around the back, where thinner rear lights are connected by a full-width trim section. The GR86 is also 10mm lower than its predecessor, while having an extra 5mm on its wheelbase. This helps to give this new version a more
THE KNOWLEDGE
Toyota GR86
Price as tested: £29,995 Engine: 2.4-litre ‘Boxer’ petrol
Power: 231bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Max speed:
140mph
O-60mph: 6.1 seconds
MPG (combined):
32.1-32.5
Emissions:
198-200g/km CO2
Style
The redesign of the GR86 has brought sharper-looking headlights and a new rear light design. It’s also 10mm lower than its predecessor.
Inside is still driver-centric with a good seating position. Material quality is a bit low-rent though, with cheap-feeling plastics.
Cabin TARGET BUYERS:
Those who love fun and lightweight motoring.
THE RIVALS:
Mazda MX-5 Ford Mustang BMW 2 Series Coupe
KEY SELLING POINTS:
1. Great performance 2. Reasonably spacious 3. Nimble handling
DEAL CLINCHER:
The GR86 is yet another smash hit from Toyota – and it’s worth celebrating.
aggressive, sporty stance on the road. There’s also a new colour – called Ignition Red – which looked particularly good underneath the Spanish sun.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?
Toyota hasn’t messed around with the driver-centric approach that you got in the GT86 and that’s no bad thing. The seating position is good, although the material quality is still quite low-rent, with cheaper-feeling plastics used across the lower sections of the dashboard.
Rear-seat space will be tight even for children, so it’s best to regard the GT86 as a 2+2, rather than a fully fledged four-seater. There are 226 litres of boot space, too, while the rear seats can be folded down to expand this further.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
The big upgrade to the GR86 is its infotainment. It’s based around a new eight-inch screen and has been made quicker and more responsive. The native menu is quite plain and can be a little tricky to navigate, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, so you can use these to easily mirror your smartphone on the screen. There’s also a small driver display ahead of the steering wheel that relays some key information and changes to a racier design when Track mode is selected, and it’s clear and easy to read.
WHAT DO THE PRESS SAY?
Top Gear said: ‘The GR86 is one of 2022’s very best cars. The antidote to overpowered, overweight, overcomplicated so-called sports cars.’ Auto Express said: ‘Compared to the average modern turbocharged sports car, the GR86 may lack outright muscle, but in reality it offers up all the performance you could ever need.’
WHAT DO WE THINK?
The GR86 feels like an extension of the original. This is no complete rewrite, more a cleverly revised second edition. The extra power hasn’t made it feel too ‘grown up’, but instead allows you to fully exploit the balance and poise that the chassis has to offer. It was a bit of a concern to learn that the GR86 would be wearing more performance-orientated tyres, as there was the potential to take away some of the ‘fun’ of the original GT86, but these worries were put to bed with this test. It’s just a shame the GR86 will only be on sale for a short time. This is the kind of car that needs to be enjoyed while it’s still here.
