- Toyota 86 GTS, 2012
Toyota Australia has dramatically redefined the concept of an affordable sports car with the arrival of its eagerly awaited Toyota 86 coupe.
Designed to delight driving enthusiasts, the compact and aerodynamic four-seater sports car is priced from an amazingly low $29,990.
The 86 marks a return to Toyota's sporting roots with the world's only combination of a front-mounted, free-revving, horizontally opposed "boxer" petrol engine and rear-wheel drive.
The unique powertrain format, combined with a compact design, light weight and a low centre of gravity, produces the best possible power-to-weight ratio.
These attributes will reward 86 owners with maximum driving pleasure - lively, accessible performance and highly engaging dynamic abilities with minimal electronic intrusion.
Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said Toyota was determined to ensure the great handling and performance of the 86 would not come with a hefty price tag.
The 86 is the result of a joint development between Toyota and Subaru, bringing together the best of each company's technical know-how and their mutual passion for sports cars.
The stylish four-seater draws on Toyota's sports-car heritage - including the Supra, MR2, Celica GT-Four and the legendary 2000GT - to create a strong emotional connection between driver and car.
Toyota is offering the 86 in two grades - GT and GTS - both powered by a newly developed 2.0-litre flat-four engine that revs freely to 7,450rpm and has a high compression ratio of 12.5:1.
Toyota's D-4S direct-injection technology increases throttle response, power and torque over a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.
Maximum power of 147kW - equivalent to 100hp per litre - and peak torque of 205Nm ensure brisk and engaging performance.
The flat-four engine combines with the lowest driver hip-point of any Toyota production vehicle, 400mm, to give the 86 an ultra-low centre of gravity of just 460mm - in the league of cars such as the Porsche Cayman.
Both the powertrain and driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance, giving the car a near-perfect 53:47 weight distribution.
Fuel economy is remarkable for a sports car - 7.8 litres/100km for manual variants - and even better for automatic versions at just 7.1 litres/100km.
CO2 emissions are 164 grams/km (auto) and 181 grams/km (manual).
Comprehensive weight-saving measures, resulting in a kerb weight of just 1,222kg, have contributed to handling and economy as well as a power-to-weight ratio of 120kW/tonne.
The Toyota-designed six-speed manual gearbox offers quick, precise shifting through closely stacked ratios and a tactile "flick-of-the-wrist" short-throw lever.
A new Lexus IS-F-inspired six-speed automatic transmission, with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel, combines direct response with an extremely fast shifting speed of only 0.2 seconds.
A blipping downshift control automatically revs the engine for extremely smooth and rapid changes down through the gears.
For added driver enjoyment, the smooth-revving engine sound is channelled directly into the cabin via a sound generator - the first system of this type to be used in a Toyota.
Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential (except in auto GT), optimising traction and grip under all driving conditions.
The 86 features an aerodynamic and stylish body design built around a low, highly compact chassis for optimum handling and performance.
It has a well-planted, sporting stance: it is wider than a Toyota Rukus, its overall length and wheelbase are shorter than a Corolla hatch, and its roof height is lower than a three-door Yaris.
Standard equipment includes seven airbags, a five-mode stability control system, traction control, anti-skid brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning, CD sound system, daytime running lamps (DRLs) and a multi-information display.
The Toyota 86 GTS has 17-inch alloy wheels, a 6.1-inch display screen, satellite navigation with live traffic updates, auto-levelling HID headlamps, leather-accented front seats, dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, aluminium pedals, LED DRLs and red stitching highlights.
The GTS is priced from $35,490. Automatic transmission costs an extra $2,500 on both grades.
Toyota has enhanced the unique identity of its new sports car by creating a subtle yet distinct T-mesh pattern in the front grille, door-switch base, instrument panel, meters, triangular rear-centre foglamp and spare-wheel cover.
The 86 also incorporates numerous exclusive sporting details through both the exterior and interior, including a conrod motif to the HID headlamps, twin exhausts, instrument dials, air vents and gear-lever base.
Mounted on the car's front wing is the 86 piston logo, based on the car's unique front boxer engine, rear-wheel drive powertrain format.
It also represents the vehicle's tyres sliding in a four-wheel drift, highlighting the perfect on-the-limit balance of the 86.
Toyota 86 inspired by 50-year sports car heritage
Toyota has a 50-year history of creating exciting driver-focused sports cars that have proven popular with the public and successful in competition.
The new Toyota 86 captures the best elements of three key models from that rich heritage: the Sports 800, 2000GT and AE86.
It also revives Toyota's passion for sports cars: not just on racetracks but on the road as well, with models such as the Supra, MR2 and Celica GT-Four.
Like all these classic Toyota sports cars, the 86 delivers pure driving pleasure and creates a strong emotional connection between driver and car.
While the 86 is being launched as the world's only car with a front-mounted horizontally opposed engine and rear-wheel drive package, it is not the first.
That honour goes to the Sports 800, an inexpensive and easy-to-drive sports car that Toyota began developing in 1962 with a 790cc two-cylinder horizontally opposed (boxer) engine.
The combination of its boxer engine, lower centre of gravity, front-engine and rear-drive (FR) layout provided the Sports 800 with great handling and excellent fuel efficiency, enabling it to achieve success in endurance races.
The 86 has adopted this classic architecture to provide maximum driving enjoyment.
The beautiful 2000GT, a 2.0-litre straight-six coupe first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, helped establish the company's global reputation.
During development of the 86, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada placed a 2000GT in the studio next to the designers' clay model.
The result is that the 86 is infused with the character of the 2000GT - especially the graceful side-window shape, long bonnet and rear fender line.
Similar to the collaboration with Subaru on the 86 project, the 2000GT was jointly developed with Yamaha Motor Co., which tuned the engine and assembled parts.
The Corolla Levin AE86's FR powertrain, responsive and high-revving engine, compact dimensions, light weight, good balance and power-to-weight ratio made it a popular choice for rallying and circuit driving - and more recently in drifting.
The new 86 recaptures the spirit of the AE86 by delivering exhilarating driver involvement in an affordable compact car that evolves with its owner.
The 86 also remains faithful to Toyota's long sports-engine history with the boxer engine having a square bore and stroke set-up of 86mm x 86mm.
The legendary 3M engine of the 2000GT and the 1G engine of the Supra were both in-line six-cylinder configurations with a square bore and stroke of 75mm.
The in-line, four-cylinder unit in the Celica and MR2 had a square bore and stroke of 86mm.
The passion of two companies
The development of the 86 brought together the technical know-how and shared passion for sports cars of two great companies, Toyota and Subaru.
The "dream" project was initiated by Toyota to revive its sports car heritage and, once again, deliver the fun of driving to as many people as possible.
Toyota invested in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, in 2005 and lifted its shareholding in 2008 to more than 16 per cent.
Around this time, Toyota's product planning and product management divisions aggressively promoted the concept of a sports car with a horizontally opposed engine with a front-engine, rear-drive (FR) layout.
Mr Futoshi Ito, general manager of Toyota's strategic product management, said: "In 2006, we began considering how we could create a symbol of the two companies' alliance.
"In the end, if we were going to get involved in a joint development project with Subaru, people asked what could be more natural than to create an FR layout with a horizontally opposed engine.
Toyota designers went beyond their normal domain and became involved with design engineering as well, according to Mr Takayasu Furukawa, who directed the exterior design effort.
Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada stunned Subaru when he announced targets that included a naturally aspirated, high-revving sporty engine capable of developing 100hp per litre while also achieving good fuel economy.
Mr Tada sought advice from Mr Takamitsu Okamoto, who led engine development for the Lexus LFA, and he advised a redline around 7,600rpm and a bigger bore than the 84mm proposed by Subaru.
After some animated discussions within Toyota, it was decided to combine Toyota's D-4S direct-injection know-how with Subaru's engine, and to reconfigure the engine from the bore and stroke proposed by Subaru.
The decision was extraordinary because it would require disclosing to Subaru all Toyota's technical information related to the next-generation D-4S, which was still under development.
The resulting joint development involved Subaru engineers setting up shop at Toyota at one point, and Toyota engineers setting up shop at Subaru at another.
The prototype engine with the next-generation D-4S achieved the 100hp per litre output goal on its first bench test, revving smoothly beyond 7,000rpm.
The project was also characterised by a meticulous focus on the transmissions.
Subaru had not developed a suitable unit for an FR-layout vehicle, so Toyota redesigned an existing six-speed manual transmission.
Development work was performed by both Subaru and Aisin, but the process ran into unexpected difficulties.
With just one year to go before production was due to begin, the team had still not achieved the ideal six-speed manual transmission feel.
The team virtually poured in engineers from Toyota, Subaru and Aisin, creating five different prototypes and making major design changes to shorten the shift stroke without creating an unacceptably heavy feel.
Another team developed a six-speed sport automatic transmission based on Toyota technology, achieving an extremely fast shift speed of two-tenths of a second.
Toyota provided the hardware and the basics in terms of expertise, technology and control while Subaru added the right "flavour" - control that was specialised for the driving experience.
In striving to deliver the ideal FR sports car, a single prototype was built by hand - shortening the wheelbase of an existing sedan and combining a horizontally opposed engine with an FR layout.
It demonstrated the car's potential and convinced executives from both companies that the project could be successful.
To promote a shared understanding of the team's goals, Toyota members were forbidden from driving the car alone.
They had to bring Subaru people with them so they could convey their thoughts about the vehicle. Even at the Nurburgring, they had to ride in the car together.
Engineers, as with any car, established objectives for individual aspects of the vehicle's performance, such as driving stability and ride comfort.
However, the emphasis was on harmony - if one aspect of performance stood out from the rest, the two companies worked to raise the others.
As a result, Toyota and Subaru succeeded in contributing all of their resources to the 86 development project.
The benefit of this synergy is described as: 1+1=3.
Toyota 86 is well specified
Toyota's new 86 sports car is offered in two model grades - 86 GT and 86 GTS - with the choice of six-speed manual or six-speed direct-shift automatic transmissions.
All four models have the 2.0-litre D4-S "boxer" type engine and are well specified.
Both grades have a comprehensive safety package, including seven SRS airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, traction control, vehicle stability control with sports mode and a lever-type parking brake.
Standard equipment also includes air conditioning, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, cruise control, CD tuner with Bluetooth™, voice recognition and AUX and USB inputs, multi-information display, walk-in passenger's seat, united folding rear seat-back and power windows with auto up/down.
The 86 GT also has an analogue speedometer, premium three-spoke steering wheel, shift lever and shift knob, and urethane-covered parking brake lever.
The 86 GT exterior includes 16-inch alloy wheels (with full-size steel spare wheel), daytime running lamps, halogen headlamps, UV-cut glass, power-folding mirrors and rear foglamp.
The manual transmission GT 86 has a limited-slip differential.
The Toyota 86 GTS has 17-inch alloy wheels with full-sized alloy spare wheel, and a limited-slip differential on manual and automatic models.
Additional equipment on the high-grade model includes auto-levelling HID headlamps with integrated daytime running lamps, windscreen top shade, front foglamps and smart entry/smart start.
Inside, Toyota 86 GTS has the additional features of leather-accented front seats with Alcantara® fabric inserts, front-seat heaters, dual-zone auto climate-control air conditioning, aluminium pedals and door scuff plates.
It also has a premium three-spoke steering wheel and parking brake lever, premium (carbon-look) instrument panel finish, frameless interior rear-view mirror and red stitching interior highlights.
The Toyota 86 GTS audio head unit includes 6.1-inch LCD touch screen, satellite navigation with 3D map display, RDS-TMC (SUNA) traffic information and safety camera warning, SMS and email text to voice, FM radio text and SD card slot.
The steering wheel in GTS 86 automatic has paddle shifters.
The speedometer in GTS 86 is digital, with premium T-mesh finish.
Toyota 86 engine is all new
The Toyota 86 sports car engine is all new and combines the leading-edge technologies of Toyota and Subaru.
The two-litre engine is Toyota's first volume-production four-cylinder horizontally opposed engine, helping to give 86 its low centre of gravity.
It has the highest specific power output and the highest operating revolutions in the Toyota range.
It delivers 147kW of power at 7,000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 6,400 to 6,600rpm on 98-RON fuel, with a maximum engine speed of 7,450rpm.
Toyota chose natural aspiration for 86 to optimise acceleration response - the 'connection' between throttle application and power to the rear wheels.
The engine follows the tradition of successive Toyota sports car engines of 'linear power delivery up to redline speeds' coupled with environmental friendliness.
It has a 'square' bore and stroke relationship of 86mm by 86mm for a combination of optimum balance, high power and torque, high revolutions and optimum fuel economy.
The compression ratio is 12.5:1 for maximum performance across the revolution range.
Special features include a system to optimise the engine induction sound heard in the cabin, creating a linear intake sound in response to throttle application.
The intake system includes a sound creator and a damper, with a thin rubber tube to carry intake pulsations to the cabin.
When the intake pulsations reach the sound creator, the damper resonates at certain frequencies to optimise the intake sound heard within the cabin.
Various sound levels are produced, based on the driver's throttle inputs.
City driving produces a pleasant, stress-free sound, while wide-open throttle acceleration produces a true sports-car sound.
The engine has a 'boxer' type crank pin arrangement in which the opposing pistons move in and out together.
The crank pins are 50mm in diameter for optimum rigidity at high engine speeds.
Specifications such as the big-end bearing bolt size were reviewed according to the newly designed crank pin to ensure reliability at high revolutions.
To raise the revolution limit the connecting rod shape and piston length have been optimised and the piston weight has been minimised.
Toyota 86 is first with dual injection
The two-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine in 86 is the first in the world to combine Subaru's traditional 'boxer' layout and Toyota's unique D-4S dual injection system.
The new 86 is the first Toyota in Australia with the D-4S system (Direct-injection 4-stroke gasoline engine Superior version), for optimum performance and fuel economy.
The Toyota D-4S system combines high-pressure direct injection into the combustion chamber and port injection into the intake port.
It mixes and matches fuel delivery from the two sets of injectors to provide the ideal fuel/air mixture for all engine-load conditions.
The D-4S system boosts performance across the revolution range compared with a port-injection engine, boosting power by up to 10kW and torque by up to 20Nm.
The two injection systems have their own fuel supply systems: low pressure for the port injectors and high pressure for the direct injectors.
Both systems are used when the engine is running under medium-to-high load at lower engine revolutions.
This creates a homogeneous air-fuel mixture to stabilise combustion, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
In high-load situations the engine uses the direct injection system only, taking advantage of the cooling effect of injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber, and as a result improving the efficiency of each charge.
The precise injection control also allows for a high compression ratio (12.5:1 in Toyota 86) by reducing the chance of pre-ignition or detonation.
When the engine is cold, the injection system uses both sets of injectors to ensure quick warm-up of the catalyst and therefore achieve optimum purification of exhaust emissions.
Two transmissions for Toyota 86
Toyota 86 has the choice of two new transmissions developed by Aisin, part of the Toyota group of companies.
The two transmissions are a six-speed manual and a six-speed sequential automatic with Lexus IS F technology, including highly responsive direct shift and automated throttle blips for down changes when in Sport mode.
Both are matched to a performance 4.100:1 final drive ratio.
Toyota 86 GT manual and both 86 GTS models have a Toyota-produced Torsen limited-slip differential.
The Toyota 86 GTS automatic has the added feature of steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.
The six-speed manual transmission is all new and designed for crisp movement and a precise, exhilarating shift feel.
It has a short-throw shift lever and triple-cone synchromesh on the first three gears, for smooth shifting and increased durability.
The manual transmission has a lightweight alloy bell housing and a smooth yet firm operation feel without unpleasant stiffness when gears engage.
The gear-ratio spread combines driving and environmental performance, with ratios of: first, 3.626; second, 2.188; third, 1.541; fourth, 1.213; fifth, 1.000; sixth, 0.767; and reverse, 3.437.
The Toyota 86 automatic transmission provides direct, agile shifting - including IS F-style direct shift.
Advanced transmission electronics provide for manual (M mode) shifting, auto-blipping on down changes and flex lock-up to save fuel.
Flex lock-up is enabled from low speeds to provide a direct shift feeling with agile driving, while also minimising friction losses for improved fuel economy.
Off-throttle flex lock-up has been adopted to expand the fuel-cut range to include lower vehicle speeds, further increasing fuel economy.
Toyota 86 drivers can use the downshift paddle shift in D-mode to increase engine braking.
The 86 automatic transmission has Sport and Snow modes.
It is water-cooled for increased reliability and durability.
The ratios were chosen to combine strong acceleration from low speeds with excellent fuel economy when cruising.
The ratios are: first, 3.538; second, 2.060; third, 1.404; fourth, 1.000; fifth, 0.713, sixth, 0.582; and reverse, 3.168.
Sport/Snow modes
Sport mode enables torque-converter lock-up from lower speeds, for more direct acceleration and shift feeling.
It also heightens gear-change responsiveness and maximises acceleration in each gear.
When combined with D-range, it prioritises vehicle response to driver throttle input.
In M-range, it provides an even higher level of sporty driving.
Snow mode adjusts throttle-valve opening to control acceleration characteristics on low-grip surfaces.
Toyota 86 instruments put emphasis on tacho
The instruments in Toyota's new 86 were designed with the tachometer in the centre, for sports-oriented driving.
There are grade-specific analogue instrument clusters for new 86 GT and 86 GTS.
Both feature a three-ring design, with a central tachometer and multi-information display in the tachometer dial.
The Toyota 86 GT instruments include shift position display for both manual and automatic transmissions, as well as VSC Sport indicator.
The manual shift position has been included as an aid to environmentally friendly driving; it flashes three times at the optimum up-shift point to help save fuel.
The Toyota 86 GTS cluster has the added feature of a digital speedometer in the tachometer dial, so the driver can see both engine revolutions and road speed at a glance.
In addition, Toyota 86 GTS has the unique feature of rev/red zone indicator, which can be linked to a warning buzzer set by the driver.
The multi-information display includes odometer, two trip meters, outside temperature, instantaneous fuel economy, average fuel economy, and (on 86 GTS) rev indicator setting.
Chassis tuned on Prius tyres
The Toyota 86 chassis and suspension geometry have been tuned on Prius tyres so that enthusiasts will be able to appreciate the benefits of fitting their own high-performance tyres.
Lightweight wheels for 86
Toyota's 86 is fitted with the lightest production 16-inch and 17-inch cast aluminium wheels Toyota has ever produced.
The new 16 x 6.5J and 17 x 7J wheels have sharp spoke designs with bright machine-finished highlights that create a mechanical, sports-inspired image.
By machine-cutting a section of the painted face, the wheels display the natural bright finish of aluminium.
The 16-inch wheels on the 86 GT are the lightest at just 7.21kg and feature a simple 10-spoke design.
The high-grade Toyota 86 GTS has 17-inch wheels with five machine-finished twin spokes, offset by five single dark-accented spokes to provide fine detail.
All wheels feature a small centre ornament to emphasise the spoke length.
They are designed for optimum rigidity and functional appeal while minimising unsprung weight to ensure the vehicle maintains optimum contact with the road at all times.
A full-size spare tyre is standard - steel for the GT and alloy for the GTS.
Toyota 86 has two brake packages
New Toyota 86 has two grade-specific brake packages to suit the 16-inch wheels on 86 GT and 17-inch wheels on 86 GTS.
86 GT has 277mm diameter ventilated front discs and 286mm diameter solid rear discs.
High-grade Toyota 86 GTS has 294mm diameter ventilated front discs and 290mm ventilated rear discs.
Both have aluminium callipers and a lever-type parking brake.
The brake response and vacuum booster have been fine-tuned to provide precise brake modulation.
Toyota 86 suspension provides excellent response
Toyota 86 was designed for high levels of handling, stability and steering response.
It was benchmarked against Porsche Cayman during development with a view to providing quicker lateral-force response and stability, a smaller roll angle and smaller steering angle.
Toyota 86 has a direct steering feeling on country roads and highways, with sharp steering, low body roll and high levels of grip.
Toyota 86 has MacPherson-strut front suspension with an all-new L-shaped lower-arm design and double-wishbone rear suspension.
It has electric power-assisted steering with a 13.12:1 steering ratio.
The foundations for Toyota 86's impressive steering and handling are its low centre of gravity (460mm above the road), centralised mass/low polar moment of inertia, and the strong yet lightweight body structure which provides a stable platform for the suspension.
In addition, 86 has a large footprint on the road for its overall dimensions, with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, front track of 1,520mm and rear track of 1,540mm.
Body rigidity has been optimised while meeting strict weight targets through extensive use of high-tensile and ultra-high tensile strength steel, and optimal use of strengthening brackets and gussets.
Reinforcements have been added to key points where load is transmitted from the suspension to the body, including the front side members and rear floor members.
A front-strut tower bar has been adopted as well as an aluminium engine under-cover to efficiently increase rigidity.
The 86 chassis-frame also has a rear top-mount reinforcement, rear-frame gusset between the rear frame and rocker panel, and a front lower member to reinforce the suspension.
The body rigidity structure around the front suspension also includes a top-mount reinforcement and a reinforced apron.
