Toyota's new "86" revealed
"86" is a nod to the AE86 Corolla from the 1980s, and is an effort by Toyota to recapture the sportscar market lost when they dropped the Celica and MR2 from their lineup.
Mr Toyoda said the new rear-wheel-drive sports car was all about "waku doki" - a car that creates excitement and gets your heart racing.
"I am very proud of this car," Mr Toyoda said at the unveiling on November 27.
"Thank you for the patience of car lovers. They are going to enjoy this car."
While the rear-wheel-drive layout is very conventional, what makes this Toyota different is the engine choice - the world's first horizontally opposed 'D-4S' engine, combining "boxer" engine technology with Toyota's cutting-edge D-4S direct injection technology. Being front-mounted, the engine creates an ultra-low centre of gravity and low inertia. It is billed as the world's only horizontally opposed engine and rear-wheel-drive package.
With separate twin injectors for both direct injection and port injection, the D-4S boasts a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. Toyota says this provides high output and high torque over a wide range of engine speeds, while improving environmental performance. The engine's redline is 7500rpm with maximum output of 147kW. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or a special sports-driving six-speed automatic.
The specs suggest better performance at higher revs, while the light weight and compact dimensions are hoped to overcome the 86's relatively slow acceleration time. Handling should be exceptional, though. Toyota claims the 86 is the world's smallest mass-production four-passenger sports car (by volume).
In appearance, the 86 has the lowest hip-point of any Toyota-brand production vehicle and creates a driving position suited for driving enjoyment. The exterior design features what Toyota call a "predatory look" at the front; the sides are a modern take on Toyota's sports-car heritage; and the rear view is wide and sturdy despite the compact cabin.
The interior design is very much in the sports car mould, with black the predominant colour, accented by red highlights, red stitching on some surfaces, and drilled alloy pedals. The rear seatbacks fold down to the front to create additional luggage space. The seatbacks and cushion surfaces are designed to provide support during acceleration g-forces from the front, the back and to the sides. In addition, Toyota says the shape of the front seats is designed to prevent elbows from interfering with gearshift operation.
The three-spoke steering wheel features alloy and red leather accents, and has a diameter of 365 mm, the smallest in a Toyota-brand vehicle. The wheel's surface was optimised with exhaustive feedback from test drivers to enhance steering performance and grip.
Being a sportscar, the tachometer is front & centre in the three-pod instrument layout. The design pays particular attention to placement, markings and typeface to enhance visibility and readability during sports driving.
Toyota claims the whole package offers "fun driving at a level unprecedented in earlier sports cars." If some of the 86's elements look familiar, it's because it's sharing a number of style and design components, like the boxer engine, with Subaru's BRZ Concept-STi, which was unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November. The production version of the BRZ will be unveiled at this week's Tokyo Motor Show.
Australian deliveries of the Toyota 86 are expected in mid-2012. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Toyota 86 - Main Specifications (Production Prototype)
Length 4,240 mm
Width 1,775 mm
Height 1,300 mm
Wheelbase 2,570 mm
Track Front 1,520 mm
Rear 1,540 mm
Seating capacity 4
Engine
Total displacement 1,998 cc
Type Horizontally opposed four-cylinder, direct-injection DOHC
Bore × stroke 86 × 86
Maximum output 147 kW / 7,000 rpm
Maximum torque 205 Nm / 6,600 rpm
Transmission
6-speed manual; six-speed automatic
Driveline Rear-wheel drive
Suspension Front Struts
Rear Double wishbone
Brakes Front V disk
Rear V disk
Tyres Front 215/40R18
Rear 225/40R18
Fuel tank 50 litres
