The Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno are tiny, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars that were marketed by Toyota from 1983 to 1987 in coup and liftback body styles. They are part of the front-engine, front-wheel-drive fifth generation Corolla (E80) line.
The cars lent themselves to racing because they were light, inexpensive, easily modifiable, and equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, an optional limited slip differential, a MacPherson strut front suspension, a high-revving (7800 rpm), twin-cam engine with an oil cooler (for example, in the US), nearly 50/50 front/rear weight balance, and crucially, a front-engine/rear-drive layout at a time when this design was
The AE86 gained an early and ongoing international reputation in the motorsport discipline of drifting thanks to the cars’ intrinsic attributes, which made them widely popular for Showroom Stock, Group A, and Group N, Rally and Club racing. The AE86 served as the main character’s drift and tofu delivery vehicle in the well-known, long-running Japanese manga and anime series Initial D (19952013). The AE86 was dubbed “a cult classic, indelibly entwined with the early days of drifting” by Road & Track in 2015. [12]
The Toyota 86 (2012-present),[13] a 2+2 sports car co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, produced by Subaru, and marketed also as the Toyota GT86, Toyota FT86, Scion FR-S, and Subaru BRZ, would later draw inspiration from the AE86.
Dealers started taking orders for new steering knuckle arms and rear brake calipers in November 2021, when Toyota temporarily restarted production of a small number of AE86 parts. A new production run of rear axle half shafts has also been planned. Toyota also stated that this reboot is temporary and that parts will only be offered while supplies last. [14][15]
In This Article...
What makes the AE86 unique?
The AE86, with its typical RWD balance and graceful, mechanical simplicity that has drawn drifters to it, is a great vehicle to learn about the characteristics of rear-wheel drive. It’s almost 30 years old and feels it in some ways, yet it still has some handling lessons to impart to some more contemporary sports cars.
It really is amazing how the engineers were able to capture the spirit of the old car in the mannerisms of the new when compared to the AE86’s younger sibling, the GT86. The GT86 performs well in many of the same crucial areas, especially excitement, feedback, and balance, but being easier to drive much, much faster. But if it had power steering, air conditioning, or even a sat-nav, we’d be more than happy to use it every day.
Is the Toyota AE86 unique?
The Corolla is still available today, even though Toyota discontinued making the AE86 in 1987. The Toyota AE86, on the other hand, is a rare and hardly seen vehicle. Some AE86 vehicles are occasionally offered for sale on auto websites.
Since models sold in Japan and the US have slightly different styling, you might even decide to import the AE86 from Japan. The cost of the Toyota AE86 Corolla on secondhand automobile marketplaces fluctuates from $15,000 to more than $40,000.
What is AE86 known as in the USA?
According to Petrolicious, “AE86” relates to the car’s generation code, same like “ND” and “NB” do for the Mazda Miata. But it goes by a few other names in different parts of the world. According to Autoblog, Toyota marketed it as the Corolla Sport GT-S in the US. The Corolla Levin, Sprinter Trueno, or simply “Hachi-Roku” (Japanese for “8-6) are its official names in Japan.
The Toyota AE86 Corolla doesn’t appear very unique at first glance. However, the Corolla wasn’t nearly how it is now when the Toyota AE86 was introduced in 1985, according to Automobile. True, the fifth-generation Corolla had a sedan and a hatchback option, much like the current model. Like today, you could get a fifth-generation front-wheel-drive Corolla.
However, Toyota provided the Corolla with two separate platforms at the time. The Toyota AE86 is a RWD vehicle, in contrast to contemporary Corollas and hot hatchbacks like the Volkswagen GTI.
According to Road & Track, the vehicle is a rather sophisticated sports car behind its hatchback exterior. It includes independent front suspension, vented 4-wheel disc brakes, and a limited-slip differential as an option.
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder 4A-GE engine is also exclusive to the Toyota AE86 Corolla Levin/Sport GT-S/Sprinter Trueno. It has a 5-speed manual transmission, reaches 7600 RPM, and produces 112 horsepower. According to Top Gear, the car only weights roughly 2140 pounds, which isn’t a lot. And tuning the engine is not too difficult.
Straight-line speed wasn’t important to those who would make the Toyota AE86 a legend, though.
Toyota 86 and AE86 interchangeably?
The GT86 was advertised as being “Officially the real deal” when it was introduced in 2012. However, as seen by the accolades the car has received thereafter, this phrase wasn’t without weight. According to Autocar, the vehicle is “The sports car genre has changed thanks to the GT86. It is the new supercar that has revived the relevance of the performance car. Jeremy Clarkson exclaimed: “The GT86 is immediate and fantastic in every way. Every motoring lover in the world will be pleased with it.
What then is the key to the car’s genius? First off, the 2.0-liter 197-bhp boxer engine is positioned as low and far back as possible to improve handling and lower the center of gravity of the GT86. It is quick and superbly balanced, with exceptional grip levels from its limited-slip differential, without obtrusive electronic driving aids, thanks to specially engineered suspension that has been adjusted to offer instant response to the driver’s inputs. Having saying that, there are comforts like cruise control and the Toyota Touch & Go sat nav system.
Although the rack and pinion steering of the GT86 is power-assisted, it feels just as direct and nearly as hefty as the AE86 and reacts quickly to driver input. In terms of steering, the biggest distinction between the two is the relative thickness of the wheels; the AE86 has a large, thin wheel while the GT86 has a thick-rimmed, small-diameter wheel.
The GT86 responds to full power with a throaty but quiet roar. Although the AE86 is clearly a sound influence, it calms down while cruising down a highway. The small tires on both vehicles make cornering difficult, but the sturdy chassis ensures that body lean is neither frightening nor totally absent. In the end, the GT86 incorporates all of the best features of its forebear, but with a touch more comfort and up to 40 mpg.
Want more fantastic AE86 vs. GT86 content? See below for Paul Cowland’s analysis of the two vehicles in the picture:
In 2020, how much will an AE86 cost?
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the base 2020 86 is $26,985. That amounts to $27,940 when the $955 destination fee is added. The 2020 Hakone Edition is priced from $30,825, while the GT starts at $30,790 before options. In all variations, the automatic transmission costs $720 more.
Why does the AE86 cost so much?
The popularity of Initial D increased the Toyota AE86’s pricing. This price increase is ironically referred to as the Takumi Tax, after the protagonist of “Initial D. The AE86 has cemented its position in the annals of automobile design because to its renown in motorsports and popular culture.
Initial D: True or False?
The 56-year-old Keiichi Tsuchiya simply describes himself as “a racing driver, from Japan.” But if you look a little closer, you’ll discover a career that has seen him compete at Le Mans with Toyota Team Europe and the ferocious Toyota GT-One, in addition to driving duties and cameo appearances in blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious.
Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the “Drift King,” earned a reputation as a tough racer with a distinctive set of abilities. He is credited with helping to create the idea of driftingthe art of sliding a car sidewaysas a sport.
And because of such abilities, he is now much better known, especially in Japan, where he was born.
The popular manga TV series Initial D, which aired during the 1990s, is thought to be partially based on the life of Keiichi Tsuchiya. It tells the tale of a Japanese delivery man who delivers tofu by day and races across mountain passes by night.
Tsuchiya, who has a quick grin and chuckle, is modest about this and his real-life accomplishments, although he does give brief hints about the type of person he is when discussing his racing career.
“I swerve to pass. He explained to us that this is not the fastest way around a bend, but rather the most entertaining way.
He balances racing, TV appearances, and Formula One commentary for Japanese TV these days.
He just visited us here at Toyota GB after taking a few days off from filming Toyota commercials in Australia and a Japanese GT race. In the five minutes we had with him, we asked him the five questions you can read about below.
Seven seconds of a very special film we made of his visit to this location are available as a teaser at the bottom of this page. Keep checking back because the movie will be ready soon.
Takumi is an engine.
Rebirth. A buddy of Bunta’s technician, Masashi Suzuki, installed a new engine in the Trueno. The fourth generation of the 4A-GE, which was used in Toyota AE101s, served as the basis for this new engine, a TRD Group A racing engine.
How can I acquire an AE86?
Despite being one of the game’s more elusive automobiles, there are several ways to obtain it.
- Getting the AE86 by spinning your wheels.
- Acquiring the AE86 via the auction house.
- Through the Series 1 Challenge, obtaining the AE86
- Gaining access to the AE86 via a gift drop.
The Toyota AE86 is quick.
Superfast, high-horsepower vehicles have recently taken over the drift roads, but this wasn’t always the case. Even though the RWD AE86 wasn’t particularly quick by today’s standards, it was nevertheless adequate for drifting and the ideal vehicle for someone with those skills.
Not just Japanese drifting enthusiasts found the RWD Corolla from Toyota to be admirable. Additionally popular in rallying, sprint, and hill climb competitions was the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration.
What is written on the Initial D car?
The GT86 Initial D concept car, developed by Toyota’s UK special projects division, is an exact recreation of the fictitious AE86. The coupe features updated versions of the same Japanese market components that were featured so effectively on the original manga car in addition to copying its characteristic panda-style monochrome paintwork.
RS Watanabe alloy wheels manufactured to order, TRD suspension, a Fujitsubo exhaust system, a Cusco strut brace, and a carbon fiber hood are a few of these. The yellow-tinted fog lights, which allude to the Cibi spotlights placed to aid Takumi’s night vision, and the silver-painted engine cover, which refers to the high-revving 20-valve “Silver Top” 4A-GE engine used in the series, are less obvious hints.
The addition of carbon fiber mirror covers and door handle guards, which provide an appearance reminiscent of the black plastic material used on the AE86, is more proof of the extensive renovation. The boot lid spoiler has also been taken off, the rear lenses have been darkened, and mud flaps have been added because they were on the original Initial D vehicle.
Fujiwara Tofu Ten, which translates to “Fujiwara Tofu Shop,” is written on the driver’s door. The word jikayou, which translates to “private” and denotes the car’s categorization in the Japanese tax code, is used in parentheses.
Joe Clifford from the team working on special projects said: “The Toyota GT86 was designed from the beginning to appeal to enthusiasts, whether in stock form or as a platform for additional modifications.
“With our Initial D design, we not only honor the role the AE86 played in inspiring Toyota’s current sports car philosophy, but we also show how the GT86 can be made to look better and perform better with very inexpensive aftermarket extras. However, what matters most is that we simply felt it was a brilliant idea.