The South Africa-bound Toyota GR 86 has gone on sale in Japan at a price of ¥2,799,000 (R375,000) to ¥3,512,000 (R471,000).
However, considering the previous generation Toyota GT 86 selling for R358,000 in Japan in August 2020, while the South African version sold for R657,700 in January 2021, these converted prices will likely not be equal to what local consumers will pay.
Toyota GR 86 Specifications
The new Toyota GR 86 now forms part of the Gazoo Racing family, and it underwent a complete redesign for this second generation.
The two-door still has the distinctive 86 look with a long nose and short overhangs, although its design features fewer angles and softer lines.
The GR 86 measures nearly the same dimensions as the previous GT 86 – lowering only the overall height and hip-point to attain a lower centre of gravity.
Powering this enthusiasts’ machine is a 2.4-litre, naturally-aspirated Boxer engine generating 173kW and 250Nm in Japan.
The engine also incorporates D-4S, a dedicated twin injector that optimally controls the direct and port injection systems according to driving conditions.
The motor then pairs to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, achieving a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.3 seconds in the manual version.
This is down from 7.4 seconds in the previous generation GT 86.
Top speed for the GR 86 in international markets is reported to be 140mph (225km/h), although this is not yet confirmed for the models coming to South Africa.
Handling across all speed ranges is said to be improved over the previous generation, thanks to increased body rigidity.
Lateral bending has been improved by roughly 60%, whereas torsional rigidity is up by 50%, said Toyota.
Furthermore, the GR 86 has been lightened through more use of high-tensile steel plates, as well as the adoption of an aluminium hood, engine underbody, roof, and front fenders.
Functional aerodynamic components were fitted, too, including front air outlets, side rocker panels, and a ducktail rear spoiler – which combines to offer “superb front-end road-holding and rear-end stability”.
The GR 86 then sees a new Matrix grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, and exclusive GR badging to make it stand out even further.
Inside, the GR 86 in South Africa will have a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and lightweight seats covered in “extremely grippy material”, while the automatic transmission variants also get a Sport mode and the Eyesight Driver Assist system.
GR 86 in South Africa
The local pricing for the Toyota GR 86 will be released closer to its South African launch in the first quarter of 2022.
Toyota GR 86
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