It is marketing, not “bad,” The price difference between the two models in this instance is around $6000. Toyota can increase sales of the GTS by adding more features. The base model doesn’t have paddle-shift, but the GTS does, sir. You pay the extra money if the paddles are a deal-breaker but you still want the car.
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In This Article...
What about the Toyota 86’s stick shift?
228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque are produced by a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. This is an increase of 23 horsepower and 28 pound-feet over the prior 2.0-liter engine. Instead of 6,400 rpm, peak torque now occurs at 3,700 rpm, and you can hear it in the engine. quite unusual. I always kept it in third and never came close to punking. There is no turbo with a normally aspirated boxer engine, so you won’t notice its absence. It was simply enjoyable, as it should be.
A six-speed manual or automatic transmission is available to customers. A carbon synchronizer is added to the stick shift, which improves fourth-gear engagement. The power, sound, and feel of the road were all exhilarating. Despite having a bigger capacity torque converter designed to hangle the engine’s extra cojones and more clutch discs for better power delivery characteristics, the automatic didn’t satisfy anywhere near as much. I didn’t drive the automatic around the track more than once since I found it so unpleasant.
After a few laps on the track, I gradually had enough confidence in the car to start steering it through curves while attentively listening for screaming tires. However, all I heard was the sound of the tires rolling over the pavement, which was exactly what I wanted.
If you choose the Base trim, your wheels are 17-inch V-spokes with 215/45 Michelin Primacy HP tires, while those who choose the Premium trim get 18-inch matte black rims with 215/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The improved road traction is the result of a new electronic power steering system that allows for more direct action in the fingers while turning.
Strangely, the brakes are a carryover, with single-piston calipers holding down 11.6-inch front and 11.4-inch rear discs. But it’s a terrific combination that gives you confidence while driving. That’s advantageous.
On starter cars, a roomy 8-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a six-speaker audio setup is present; the Premium has an eight-speaker setup. Everything functions quickly, is easily accessible, and is self-explanatory. You’d be shocked at how frequently that isn’t the case.
Even when there is a lot more, 15 minutes is still 15 minutes. I want to drive it for a week, winding it out on straightaways, driving it up mountain roads, and putting a passenger next to me to see whether we can talk while running at high revs.
But the GR 86 is a contender, going up against tried-and-true little boys like the MX-5 and WRX, at roughly $30K starting price come November, and is well worth the enthusiasm it’s producing. Later, we’ll give you a thorough review.
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Is there a push button start on the Toyota 86?
A 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, push-button start, Smart Stop Technology (SST), and an enhanced Star Safety System are just a few of the technological innovations available on the 2017 Toyota 86.
The Toyota 86 has rev matching, right?
When you downshift, the Toyota 86’s Dynamic Rev Management automatically rev-matches. Why does that matter? Typically, you would need to rev (increase, alter) the engine speed to correspond with the lower speed of the gear you are downshifting into.
How does a Toyota 86’s paddle shifter work?
Simply pull the left paddle once to move forward more quickly. Pull the left paddle twice if you want to move incredibly quickly. Pull the right paddle once the tachometer (the large round gauge in the centre) reaches the redline. Enjoy!
Liter Direct and Port Injection SUBARU BOXER Engine
The 2.4-liter direct-injection Subaru BOXER engine powering the 2023 BRZ generates 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The legendary SUBARU BOXER engine has pistons that move side to side, balancing out each other’s vibrations so it can run smoothly over the whole rpm range. It was developed over decades of street and motorsport experience. Additionally, due to the engine’s ability to be positioned lower and farther to the rear, the balance, center of gravity, and dynamic response are all improved.
Track-Tuned Suspension
For incredibly precise and responsive handling, Subaru engineers tweaked the MacPherson struts up front and the multi-link rear suspension. Additionally, the 2023 BRZ has stronger suspension mounting points for enhanced rigidity and a wide rear track for added stability.
Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters
The 2023 BRZ offers a quick-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and downshift rev-matching as an option, allowing you to choose between daily driving comfort and high-performance control without ever taking your hands off the wheel.
Lightweight Chassis for Outstanding Response and Road Feel
The body and chassis of the BRZ are designed for a lightweight rigid driving platform with a low center of gravity. The 2023 BRZ delivers drivers a smooth, direct feel for the road and nearly rapid response to it thanks to its quick 13.5:1 steering ratio.
Iconic Rear-Wheel-Drive Sports Car Layout
With a front engine, rear-wheel drive, and all the contemporary technology established over decades of Subaru motorsport innovation, the 2023 BRZ boasts an iconic sports car configuration. It all comes together to create a calm, nimble sports vehicle designed for serious driving, with nearly ideal weight distribution from front to back and low curb weight.
High-Performance Wheels, Tires, and Brakes
The 2023 BRZ will give you precise control and a sure grip on the road or the track thanks to its 18-inch alloy wheels and optional Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The braking system on the BRZ is designed to provide excellent stopping power that you can rely on lap after lap.
Speed Manual Transmission
With a traditional short-throw shifter and a true 3-pedal, 6-speed manual transmission with close ratios, the 2023 BRZ offers all the nostalgic fun and precise control.
SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia
The 2023 BRZ comes with STARLINK Multimedia, an 8-inch touchscreen, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM integration. It is possible to connect to your favorite apps and content securely and conveniently with wireless Bluetooth pairing and hands-free smartphone control.
Digital Instrument Cluster
The 2023 BRZ has a completely digital, fully-customizable instrument cluster that includes a central tachometer, an integrated G-force meter, adaptive Sport and Track modes, and quick access to performance data.
SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security
Whether you’re in your car, at your computer, or on your smartphone, STARLINK Safety and Security offers a variety of connected services to help keep you and your BRZ secure. If there is an accident, Advanced Automatic Collision Notification will notify the operator, and SOS Emergency Assistance will send you roadside assistance at the touch of a button. Remote motor Start with Climate Control, which can be accessed via your smartphone and keeps your BRZ ready and comfortable at all times. Additionally, STARLINK Concierge services are available for private assistance with chores like navigation, dining reservations, and appointment scheduling.
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
On BRZ models with automatic transmissions, EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is a standard feature that analyzes traffic flow, enhances cruise control, and alerts you when you’re drifting outside of your lane. In emergency scenarios, the automated Pre-Collision Braking system may potentially use all of its braking power to bring you to a complete stop.
Elevating the Driving Experience
Nothing in the BRZ cockpit is intended to obstruct your ability to drive. Sport seating with bolsters keeps you steady and in the right posture for the best control. For confident braking, the brake pedal offers a solid, progressive sensation. Additionally, it has a sport-style drilled design and an aluminum cover like all the other pedals on the BRZ.
Fold-Down Rear Seat
Because it’s packed with useful features like a rear seatback that can fold down when you need the flexibility to tow extra goods, the 2023 BRZ is a sports vehicle you’ll love to drive every day.
Turn Heads Fast
The 2023 BRZ is a contemporary reinterpretation of vintage sports car design with its sleek low-profile body, huge 18-inch alloy wheels, and clean, sculpted lines.
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The Toyota 86 is swift.
The Toyota 86 coupe for 2020 is swift. Off the assembly line, it can reach a top speed of 140 mph. When fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is quicker than the Honda Civic Coupe and on par with the Subaru BRZ. The 2.0L flat-four engine beneath the hood is to blame for this. It produces 151 lb-ft of torque and 200 horsepower. Additionally, the flat-four engine helps the 86 achieve exceptional fuel efficiency. The EPA’s official estimates are 24/32/27 mpg. The limited-slip differential for the 86 is a noteworthy standard feature.
Performance Package
The Toyota 86’s primary goal is to deliver an enjoyable driving experience. The Toyota 86 TRD Handling package, which attempts to turn an already incredibly well-handling coupe into something that was born for a racetrack and twisting roads, will be appreciated by those who cherish a fun-to-drive vehicle. Aside from performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for unmatched traction and road feel, the TRD Handling package also includes sport-tuned Sachs performance shocks for precise balance and handling, performance Brembo brakes for responsive, confident control, and performance Brembo brakes.
Standard Features
The 86 performs equally well on the track and as an everyday car. A 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, and other communication capabilities are included as standard. LED headlights, sports seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a rearview camera are further standard amenities.
The Toyota 86: a dependable vehicle?
In four of the five crash tests, the 2020 Toyota 86 received the highest score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The driver-side small overlap front crash test gave the 86 the second-highest score, Acceptable.
Better: The BRZ or the 86?
Since the Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are categorized as sports vehicles, it becomes sense to believe that they move quickly and very quickly. Both vehicles have comparable engine performance ratings, but the BRZ outperforms the 86 somewhat in terms of suspension performance.
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine often found in Porsches powers both vehicles. With a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, this engine can provide 200 or 205 horsepower. The stiff sports suspension provides a well-balanced direct drive to the rear wheels.
Customers have the option of choosing the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) package, which improves the 86’s handling. Conversely, Subaru has superior control right out of the gate. Additionally, Brembo brakes are installed to support sudden vehicle stopping during emergencies.
Does the Toyota 86 have a turbocharger?
- The Toyota GR86, which has a GR badge and is available with both automatic and manual gearboxes, will debut in 2022.
- The increase in engine size from 2.0L to 2.4L produces 228hp and 184lb-ft of torque (formerly 205hp and 156 lb-ft).
- The anticipated launch date is November 2021, with an MSRP that begins under $30K.
- More useful torque is produced by an improved engine, which also offers linear acceleration without the need for boost.
THE BACKSTORY
Since more than a decade ago, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be invited to a lot of media-only test drives when I frequently feel like the smallest fish in the pond. You can imagine how frightening it can become when journalists from publications like Road & Track, Car & Driver, and Motor Trend are there. At times, I even feel like I’m out of my league. Some seasoned journalists have been evaluating automobiles for longer than I have lived, in addition to putting in hundreds more of laps at the racetrack. However, there are some new car launches where I believe I can add value, particularly when discussing a vehicle’s aftermarket potential and enthusiast appeal. That was the situation when I went to Monticello Motor Club to check out the brand-new Toyota GR 86 for 2022.
MORE ACCEPTABLE ENGINE
The new GR 86’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine is the main talking point. My initial response was that I seriously doubted it. I pleaded for a turbo, just like many of you. In fact, months earlier, there had been whispers that the rear-wheel-drive coupe may be powered by a similarly enhanced 2.4-liter engine from the Subaru Ascent. I was surprised that the increase in displacement would only be.4 liters (+8mm bore), resulting in a 23hp boost and a 28 lb-ft increase in torque. Before I ever got behind the wheel of one, I was already looking into who would be creating supercharger or turbo solutions for the GR 86 because it didn’t seem like enough. But let’s just say that when I did finally go to Monticello Motor Club, I was pleasantly delighted.
The current-generation 86’s gutless 2.0-liter engine, which produced only about 200 horsepower and was insufficient to overtake a Sienna minivan off the mark, cried out for improvement. With a bit more oomph to its step228hp and 184lb-ft of torque, the new GR 86 corrects that. The GR’s 2.4-liter engine therefore gives useable torque that starts lower in the powerband and peaks at 3,700RPM, which means that I don’t have to stomp my foot on the gas pedal and pound my fist on the steering wheel to get more power (eliminating the dreaded “torque dip). This engine generally revs and breathes much more freely. The new GR 86 accelerates to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds as opposed to the earlier model’s flat-out 7 seconds (MT only). The stats don’t lie, even though the 86 was never intended to be a straight-line car. Significantly better acceleration results in a more forgiving and enjoyable car to operate when turning.
I spent four hours on the track, and despite that, I never felt the need for turbo. The Michelin Pilot Sport tires and factory brakes were getting all the work they could handle as I pushed the envelope of my poor driving abilities. I continued to beam after each workout despite the lack of boost. Unlike the previous generation, which made me want more.
STILL HANDLES WELL
While lack of power was always the FA20’s major gripe, both the first and second generation Toyota vehicles excelled in handling and had a low center of gravity. The GR has significantly improved in each of the aforementioned areas. Although they have been somewhat modified, the chassis and suspension parts are essentially the same (in fact, I heard many aftermarket parts should swap right over from the previous gen). The GR 86 still has MacPherson-type front struts, double-wishbone multi-link rear suspension, and 11.6/11.4-inch vented brakes in addition to having a Torsen slip rear differential. The main improvements, which include 50% more torsional rigidity (more adhesive and stronger steel), retuned springs and shocks, lower strut connections, and more rigid steering box, as well as aluminum hood, roof, and front fenders for better weight control, are made in the fine-tuning of all these components. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires that come standard on the Premium GR 86 are excellent, as I can verify.
DREADFUL AUTOMATIC TRUTH
Despite the new GR 86 six-speed automatic’s improved shift mapping and paddle shifters, I really didn’t enjoy it on the track. I would frequently hit the paddles repeatedly while waiting for the right gear to engage, yelling for it to downshift or upshift when I wanted it to. It was annoying and diminished the overall experience.
Unfortunately, the current-generation 86 has a 70% take rate for automatics vs six-speed transmissions. The Toyota team anticipates a take rate of up to 80% with the new GR 86. Regular car customers and the younger generation are a disappearing breed when it comes to manual transmissions. Soon, only seasoned enthusiasts will value and appreciate it. The GR 86 might eventually become like the GR Supra, with no manual option in sight, therefore my suggestion is to not take a six-speed manual for granted!
MORE MODERN AND PREMIUM
Everyone can agree that Toyota updated the GR 86’s dated cockpit and design with something deserving of a hip sports coupe for the modern day. The 8-inch touchscreen, 7-inch digital dash (tachometer changes while in track mode), Apple CarPlay, pronounced rear arches, functioning air vents (unlike the GR Supra), standard LED lights all-around, and a cute duckbill spoiler are some of my favorite features (Premium model only). Seven other colors will be available for the new GR 86, of which I’m instantly drawn to Trueno Blue (such a name!).
WORTHY OF THE GR BADGE
Although Gazoo Racing (GR) is a brand that is still unfamiliar to us in the United States, it has long been linked to Toyota’s highest-performing goods, whether it be prototype racing cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, flying across the Sahara in the Dakar Rally, or the coveted GR Supra or GR Yaris. The GR brand is the brainchild of Toyota president Akio Toyoda, Toyota responded emphatically when I inquired if the GR 86 will live up to all that grandeur. Akio is a test driver and a strong supporter of on-track performance. To create the best possible circuit-ready sports vehicle, Gazoo Racing drivers and engineers worked diligently on the most recent GR 86 in Japan. After spending the day at Monticello, I can attest that the GR team enhanced the original 86 without the use of a turbocharger.
In addition, the GR 86 will be the first Toyota marketed in America with the GR accessory line, which consists of forged wheels, stabilizer bars, a short shifter, a sport exhaust, a cold-air intake, and sport exhaust.
BOLD PREDICTION
When writing this, I had high hopes of having a brand-new GR 86 waiting in my driveway. Unfortunately, the anticipated on-sale date has been delayed to November 2021, thus there won’t likely be any GR 86 builds at the SEMA Show this year. If you can recall, the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ were the talk of SEMA 2012 at the time. Because of the timing issue and the fact that the GR 86 is a second-generation vehicle, I can say with confidence that this car won’t sound quite as loud as it did ten years ago. Though it might not be the “vehicle of SEMA 2021,” I’ll go so far as to say it might be the “track car of 2022!” Nevertheless, I will say that this car feels substantially more refined and is a significantly better car than the previous-gen. It’s ideal for newcomers and learners in stock form (something I could see SoCal residents take out to an event like Starting Grid right off the bat). The GR 86 may be modified by intermediate/expert drivers to achieve faster lap times without the use of forced induction. There’s no need to rush out and purchase a GReddy turbo kit or worry about the dependability or added expenses associated with having boost. The new GR 86 is beautiful because it has a strong foundation, more useful torque, and a more stable sports vehicle. I can only think what the aftermarket can achieve after they maximize the 2.4-liter’s potential for power, add additional traction, reduce weight where practical, and adjust the suspension. Compared to the previous model, this coupe will be more enjoyable to drive and more rewarding to own. And best of all, the GR 86 carries the torch of Toyota’s newest track-bred GR moniker while living up to the spirit of the inexpensive, rear-wheel-drive, lightweight AE86 Corolla. What more could you ask for for less than $30,000?