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The Toyota 86, the other twin from the Toyobaru collaboration, is a compact 2+2 sports coupe, and one of the most anticipated cars of the year. Built to thrill, the Toyota 86, is a driver-centric machine, designed to infuse fun back in the Toyota brand.
 
 
The most anticipated Toyota model in recent history is also the first sports car in six years. Spending almost an eternity in pre-production and concept guise, the moment the final production model was revealed - no doubt it stirred the emotions of many sports car aficionados and Toyota fans alike.

It was only in October 2009 when the concept car - the FT-86 was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show with the promise to deliver a pure sports car that is driven by feel and intuition rather than lap records and hair splitting G forces.

The Subaru linked collaboration doubled the joy and excitement, where Subaru worked on the engine, Toyota took the lead in the car's design. It couldn't have been a better time to have this model inserted into Toyota's current line-up. Aiming to lure young, fun-loving drivers back to its brand, the 86 will have no qualms drawing eyeballs and turning heads. The impossibly low and sleek profile of the car that sets it apart from its peers - a benefit of the low-set flat-four 'boxer' engine.

The 86 looks the business with swelled wheel arches, unashamed gaping grille and the 'scientific' 86 badge. The swooping roofline extends to the muscular hindquarters where chromed twin tailpipes poke out from under a sculptured rear bumper.

In many ways, the 86 is still a Toyota. Despite the low seating position and bucket seats, you feel reliability and security all around. You can sense the roots of the Celica in here even though Subaru claims the 86 is built upon a new platform.

Despite its compact dimensions, you don't feel claustrophobic when there is plenty of shoulder and headroom. While sounding modest at most times, the car provides an aurally pleasing growl when you take it up to the redline.

Mustering 200bhp and 205Nm of torque from the 2.0-litre powerplant the statistics doesn't deny the fact that the car isn't a sprint champion, yet the manually-controlled 86 still manages to finish the century sprint in a respectable 7.6 seconds, with a top speed of 226km/h. It's no rocket ship but it's a lively machine, especially when this rear-driven car is all about the corners.