2022 Toyota GR 86 Revealed
In a surprise drop, the 2022 Toyota GR 86 was revealed last night just as Easter Sunday was coming to a close. Now that we finally get to see the new 86 in all its glory, we can get to the fun part of analyzing the details we have and speculating about the details we didn’t get!
Though, first we should note that there are some major elements that remain the same. First, once again the GR 86 is part of the joint development partnership between Toyota and Subaru. This means the 2022 Toyota GR 86 and the 2022 Subaru BRZ are sharing the same platform and engine underneath their body panels.
One small change we can talk about right away is the name of Toyota’s coupe. It started as the Scion FR-S in America and the GT 86 in Japan then, when Toyota folded the Scion brand in America the car was renamed to just the “86”. Now the name has changed once more to the GR 86 as a reference to Toyota’s Gazoo Racing motorsport arm and also to seemingly align the car with the Toyota GR Supra.
We would be willing to bet that from this point forward any performance car from the Toyota brand will have the “GR” designation. Though that is just some early speculation on our part.
Alright, let’s dig deeper into what was revealed.
Exterior
While the GR 86 technically counts as a complete “redesign”, if we’re being honest it is more like a subtle evolution of the previous design language. Many of the marquee exterior features remain the same. This includes the distinctive fender arches and the wide front air dam. However, those elements have been subtlety reshaped.
Some new elements include brake cooling vents on the front fenders (also found on the new BRZ), completely reshaped and more rounded headlights (again, found on the new BRZ), and reshaped front vents flanking the larger front air dam.
The rear has been completely changed from the previous 86 model with simplified taillights, a shorter truck with a more pronounced integrated “ducktail” spoiler, and a reworked rear diffuser that takes up less real estate on the rear bumper.
It should be noted that from the rear, the Toyota GR 86 and the 2022 Subaru BRZ are identical. Their exterior distinctions rely solely on their front facias and wheels.
As far as our opinion on the exterior styling of the Toyota GR 86, we think the design plays it “safe” but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While we would have preferred a more aggressive styling approach, at the same time the previous 86 wasn’t a bad looking car so we understand Toyota and Subaru not wanting to deviate too far from something that worked.
Interior
As one might expect, the interior on the Toyota GR 86 is sparse and “motorsport-inspired”. Everything that’s of any importance on the dashboard is all orientated towards the driver. Not quite in the way it was in the old mark IV Supra but geographically, the interior is driver-focused.
Just as in the previous 86, the interior of the new Toyota GR 86 features a 7-inch TFT touch screen which acts as the central hub of all the infotainment. Though Toyota notes that on start up the screen features a new opening animation “inspired by the piston movements of the GR 86’s horizontally opposed engine.”
Toyota hasn’t provided any great images of the seats but we’re inclined to believe that they are likely wholly unchanged from the previous model.
Toyota GR 86 Engine
The Toyota GR 86 returns with the Subaru-developed D-45 boxer engine but with some upgrades that could see increases to power and torque. Most notably, the displacement has been increased from 2.0 liters to 2.4.
Toyota promises that this larger engine improves the 0-60 time by roughly one second. Though, no actual horsepower or torque figures were revealed.
Considering that the current Toyota 86 is rated for 205 horsepower, this new stroked out D-45 engine probably sits some where between 215 to 220 horsepower.
Toyota’s goal with the 86 was never to give it gobs of power but to keep the overall package balanced in all areas to preserve the driving experience. The aftermarket will take care of anyone who is looking for more performance. As long as the EPA doesn’t get in the way.
Toyota GR 86 Chassis
There isn’t a whole lot to report here. In fact, the Toyota GR 86 has “almost identical” dimensions of the previous model. Once again Toyota is taking a “if it’s not broke” approach with the new GR 86.
Again we’re left feeling that while it isn’t exactly a bad thing that they decided to leave the chassis basically unchanged, at the same time there is always room for improvement.
It is somewhat disappointing that instead of pushing harder to find those improvements Toyota chose to stay the course. We suspect that it was probably a cost saving measure.
Release date
The Toyota GR 86 is slated to go on sale in Japan in “autumn 2021” which means it will be a 2022 model once the sports car is released in the states. No hard release date or MSRP information has been provided yet.
Considering that the starting MSRP of the current 86 is $27,060, the new price tag will probably be the same if not a bit more. It is hard for us to believe that Toyota would let the GR 86’s starting MSRP reach $30k.
What do you think of the new Toyota GR 86? Do you wish they didn’t play it so safe? Or do you like the fact that they didn’t try to mess up a good thing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or tweet to us at @MotorworldHype.
To see more of the Toyota GR 86, check out the gallery below
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