TOYOTA'S GR 86 HAS ARRIVED ON SOUTH AFRICAN SHORES - RWD FANS REJOICE.
New GR86 coupe was first revealed in April of 2021 and was released in international markets towards the end of the year. With the popularity of the outgoing model we were sure the all-new model under the GR 86 nameplate would make it to SA, we just weren’t sure when. Well it has arrived and the local media got to sample the car at Aldo Scribante racetrack, a perfect setting to test what’s been described as a brilliant driver’s car with power headed to the rear wheels, especially with the optional 6-speed manual transmission. The new looks are great, the car turns heads in standard form, and knowing the market that buys these cars, the aftermarket styling options will mean plenty of these will end up as show cars or even racecars in the tuner scene.
Everything is different besides the original recipe of a normally aspirated boxer engine, a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. Power has risen from 147 kW to 174 kW and the torque climbed from 205 Nm to 250 Nm and now the car can hit 100 km/h in 6.4-seconds and tops out at 226 km/h. The 6-speed manual is the one to have if you love to drive, but the automatic transmission is also a cracker being an electronically controlled 6-speed that also has paddles for manual shifting and a range of drive modes that see things optimally set up for different conditions: Normal, Sport, Snow and Track. Weight is on par with the outgoing model and the weight distribution is at a 53:47 front/rear, near perfect.
There are three GR-specific paint finishes inspired by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s famous white, red (Phoenix Red) and black (Night Shadow) competition livery, but it can also be had in Storm Blue, Magnetite Grey and Bright Blue. There’s loads more to the car of course, the cabin is updated and the tech spec is expansive and what you’d expect in a new sports car. The manual version is listed at R698,100 and the auto at R733,700 and they come with a 6-services/90 000 km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty. We’d love to have given you driving impressions but cracking an invite to these media launches escapes us these days.
Take a look at the YouTube video that reminds us just why rear-wheel drive sportscars available with a manual transmission are cool and fun and rewarding to drive at 10/10ths: The all-new, more powerful #GR86 | Toyota South Africa
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