If you love performance cars – this Toyota has it all
It offers a sporty and stylish design with performance to boost.
And if ever there was a car that personifies an affordable fun-to-drive experience, it must be the Toyota GR86.
This front-wheel drive with its 2.4-litre Boxer engine delivering 174kW, sits like tack on a tar road. Its cornering dynamics, in combination with a low seating position, are designed to create an over stimulation of the itch that all motoring enthusiasts are so familiar with.
The exterior design of this new derivative is edgy and functional and fits its sportscar looks like a glove with design details that reference cars like the 2000GT and the AE86 Corolla.
On this model, Toyota introduced a number of aerodynamic features like a front air dam and fully functioning air vents combined with aero fins stability. The front bumper design now also enhances cooling efficiency.
Inside the GR has always offered a driver-focused cockpit and this latest version, although offering a wide field of vision, is such that it still focusses the driver’s attention on the elements which assist and enhance the driving experience.
The front seats sport a new design with improved body holding, as Toyota describes it. This is important as it renders stability for the driver if you push this car, at pace, through the corners.
The luggage compartment door has been engineered to open higher and the rear seats can fold down.
“The two rear seats can be folded down using release catches in the cabin, or a release strap in the boot. When folded, there is load space big enough to take four wheels – ideal for those driving their GR86 to and from track days,” says Toyota.
New 2.4-litre engine
The engine is naturally aspirated. It develops 174kW and will get you from 0-100 km/h 6.4 seconds. Maximum speed is 226km/h when mated to the manual box and 216km/h for the auto.
Important to know is that the GR86s 250Nm is delivered earlier – at 3 700r/min. This is particularly exciting when you want to accelerate out of a bend.
Power is driven through a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed auto is also available.
Braking control systems include ABS, brake assist (BA), traction control (TRC), vehicle stability control (VSC), hill-start assist control (HAC), and are provided as standard, together with an emergency brake signal system.
Safety
Seven airbags are provided as standard in the cabin: front side and curtain shield airbags, plus a driver’s knee airbag. Pre-crash system, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam assist and collision damage mitigation braking are standard on range topping auto model.
Here’s a quick rundown of the specifications of the new GR86:
Pricing on the GR86 6MT is R698 100 and the GR86 6AT is R733 700. This includes a 6-services/90 000km service plan (intervals set at 15 000km) and carry a 3-year/100 000km warranty. Service and warranty plan extensions can also be purchased from any Toyota dealer (220 outlets).
Source: MotorPress
