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A low-slung body, compact flat-four engine, and low weight means the Toyota GR 86 has all the right ingredients for firmly planted sports car handling.
18 Aug 2021 | International News : U.S.A
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Toyota has unveiled its all new GR 86.
The sports coupe is said to be shaped by the same fanatics behind Toyota Gazoo Racing's championship racecars, who have looked to engineer even greater curve-hugging precision, with a focus on added stability, power and improved aerodynamics for the new GR 86.
Black side mirrors here also serve to add contrast and are slightly larger than the previous generation, with a curved shape to maximise airflow.
At the front, the Toyota GR 86 gets parabola-shaped transparent lens components in its LED head lights, sporting the same sweeping, internal L-shape as the GR Supra. The Toyota GR 86 also gets a GR sports car exclusive G-mesh-shaped matrix grille. The functional molding on the front bumper has been finished in a textured shark skin-inspired design to reduce drag.
Those that opt for the Premium grade car will get a duckbill spoiler at the rear for increased downforce. The license plate holder has been dropped down to the rear bumper, simplifying the trunk opening and contributing to its low centre of gravity.
The engine has also been tuned so peak torque arrives far earlier in the powerband at 3,700rpm as opposed to 6,600rpm on the previous generation, making for a responsive and powerful driving experience.
And making use of that torque is a six-speed manual transmission, which uses new low-viscosity oil and new bearings for smooth shifting operability with the higher torque output of the new engine. A six-speed automatic is also available, and it gets new clutch discs and a new high-capacity torque converter for smooth delivery of the engine's added power. The zero to 96km/h sprint is accomplished in 6.1 seconds with the manual transmission and 6.6 seconds for the automatic.
Weight-saving aluminium roof and front fenders keep the weight and centre of gravity of the Toyota 86 low. The combination of a 53:47 front:rear weight balance, a low-slung 1,310mm overall height and a compact flat-four engine gives GR 86 all the right ingredients for firmly planted sports car handling.
To complement GR 86's increased torque, the rear axle offers additional reinforcement, and the strut stabiliser bar is now connected directly to the subframe for maximum stability. Sport-tuned rear shock absorbers feature stiffer springs to provide planted, predictable handling for the front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe.
On the inside, drivers will find a horizontally configured instrument panel for a clean field of view. A push-button start fires up a GR 86-logo animation on a 7.0-inch multi-information display. Base grade models will also come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with a six-speaker audio system, that increases to an eight-speaker system on the Premium grade.
Large LED dials and piano-key switches are arranged on the centre console for easy operation, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel has integrated controls for the audio system, hands-free calling, voice-recognition system, display meters and cruise control. Premium grade models will get aluminium sport pedals here, as well as six-way adjustable black and silver accented front seats with two-level heating and come upholstered in perforated Alcantara with leather side bolsters.
