In 2009, the Toyota Motor Corporation appointed 51-year-old Akio Toyoda as its new President. Toyoda, with Nurburgring experience under his belt, coupled with a refreshingly youthful approach to engineering, made plans to reinject some soul into Toyota, who had gone years without a sports car after the retirement of the MR-2.
The 86 is the result of Toyoda’s vision and a hushed collaboration with fellow automaker Subaru, who supply the 2.0-litre Boxer four that is the sole powerplant. This coupe is a classic 2+2 two-door sports car, recalling the tradition of the AE86-generation Corolla and Sprinter Trueno fastbacks created by Toyota’s renegade engineers in the 1980s.
What we are presented with is a $30k legend: a sleek and shapely body, a rorty two-litre engine, rear wheel drive, a great manual, and a limited slip differential. So far, this isn’t sounding like a Toyota.
ChasingCars.com.au borrowed this vehicle for our Toyota 86 review:
- 2013 Toyota 86 GTS (top trim), with the 2.0-litre aspirated four-cylinder and six-speed manual, in Mount Fuji Red with black alcantara, priced at $35,990 before on-road costs.