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Track-tested, pro-driver approved, the all-new 2022 GR 86 earns a Gazoo Racing badge
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Responsive, and light weight 2+2 sports coupe designed by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts
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Increased rigidity, more power and torque, aerodynamic body elements, and new interior
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2.4L flat-four boxer engine hits peak torque at lower RPMs, giving the feel of more linear acceleration
TORONTO, Ontario – June 2, 2021 – The car that marked the revival of Toyota’s sportscar lineage is now giving drivers even more of the agility, style, and responsiveness they desire. For this round, the detail-obsessed Toyota Gazoo Racing team brings enhanced handling and exterior aerodynamics, increased power, and an upgraded interior. These changes earn it a Gazoo Racing badge, joining Toyota’s ever-growing, global sportscar line as the all-new 2022 GR 86.
With its wide stance and low centre of gravity, the 2+2 rear-wheel drive coupe’s handling changes come in the form of front and rear frame reinforcements that increase rigidity. Functional exterior air vents were also added to further support steering stability. Weight shaving details like aluminum roof panels and fenders also kept it at a nimble curb weight of just over 1,270 kg.
The 2.4L naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxer engine, brings the power upgrade – increasing from 205 to 228hp and from 156 to 184 lb.-ft. of torque on the manual version. The power boost come from tweaks like increased bore size, changes to the intake and exhaust systems, and optimization of the Toyota D-4S dual injection technology. Drivers will have the choice of a 6-speed manual (MT) or automatic transmission (AT).
0 to 100 km/h times have dropped from 7.2 to 6.3 seconds for the MT and from 8.2 to 6.8 seconds for the AT.
Available in two grades, GR 86 and GR 86 Premium, it will come in seven exterior colour choices, including the aptly named Track bRed. The premium grade comes equipped with a rear duckbill spoiler, adding dynamic contours to the car’s sporty feel.
The cabin gets upgraded front seats with a deep bucket design and side bolsters that keep driver and passenger supported during serious cornering. GR 86 Premium grade seats are upholstered in Alcantara with leather accents. Leather-trimmed driver touchpoints and silver-coloured accents also add a race-inspired touch to the cabin.
Additional interior upgrades include a three-mode digital display, offering different information layouts for Normal, Sport, or Track driving modes. An 8-inch Multimedia Touchscreen with six speakers comes on the standard grade, while an eight-speaker system comes standard on the Premium grade, and available Connected Services, Apple CarPlay® Android Auto™ compatibility.
Iconic Sportscar Design…Tweaked in the GR Garage
When the 86/Scion FR-S was introduced in 2012, Akio Toyoda’s aim was to re-capture the spirit of Toyota’s famed sports car from the 1980s and ‘90s. With a name in tribute to the mid-1980s AE86 known in Japan as the “hachi-roku” (meaning 8-6) and known in North America as the Toyota Corolla GT-S, the 86/FR-S was developed to give sportscar purists an affordable, agile, rear-drive sports coupe.
The new generation GR 86 takes cues from its “hachi-roku” forefather. Its low overall height and hip point give it an athletic look. The fender tops extend horizontally to the beltline and give it a stance distinctive of front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sportscars. Its low, horizontal underbody and narrowed rear cabin combine to create a launch-ready appearance. Colour choices include Track bRed, Trueno Blue, Neptune Blue, Halo White, Steel Grey, Pavement Grey, and Raven Black
The move from a 2.0L to a 2.4L engine has increased displacement nearly 20%, from 1,998 cc to 2,387 cc. Thanks to that increase, GR 86 now has 228 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of peak torque, which it now hits at 3,700 rpm, the previous generation hit max torque at 6,600 rpm.
The result? The all-new GR 86 now delivers linear acceleration across a wider band of rpms, delivering a longer surge to drivers.
The front of the vehicle features a GR-specific Functional MATRIX “G Mesh” Grille, which fuses performance and expressiveness. Its angular LED headlights compliment the aerodynamic front aim dams and vents, with side sill spoilers to aid steering responsiveness and stability. And those vents? Well, we’ve place ducts in the front bumper and wheelhouse, so air that’s induced while driving is distributed to the wheelhouse and inside bumper, reducing air stagnation.
Additional “Hachi-roku” inspired elements take the form of its Torsen® limited-slip rear differential and RWD platform. With easy-to-control stability from a sport-tuned independent MacPherson® strut front and double wishbone rear suspension.
Mountain-road-ready stopping power is delivered by 295 and 290 mm vented front and rear brakes, and corner-chewing grip coming from Michelin Primacy HP® tires on 17-inch wheels on the GR 86, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4® tires aboard forged black 18-inch wheels on the Premium grade.
The Art Science of “86-ness”
The magic of the classic AE-86 was in its famously responsive handling and throttle.
For the new GR 86, the design of the Boxer-4 allows for balanced maneuverability. The horizontal cylinders contribute to overall vehicle weight control and allow for ultra-low placement in the engine bay, giving the car a well-grounded confidence at a curb weight of just over 1,270 kg.
The 2.4L engine’s bore and stroke dimensions have increased from 86 mm x 86 mm to 94 mm x 86 mm, and displacement is up from 1,998 cc to 2,387 cc. The engine retains the Toyota-innovated D-4S Dual Injection technology system, that combines direct fuel injection and port-injection technologies, while the port injection and in-cylinder injection have been optimized. The direct-injection system provides a cooling effect in the cylinders, which allows the engine to use a very high 12.5:1 compression ratio for maximum power. The port fuel injectors, meanwhile, come into play during light- and medium-load conditions to help maximize combustion efficiency.
Altogether it gives drivers an experience that only a naturally aspirated engine can deliver. One so scientifically refined that it brings drivers enough power to keep them engaged with a throttle that responds to their every whim.
The automatic and manual transmissions have also received the GR treatment.
The six-speed automatic transmission now employs adaptive controls that sense brake and accelerator operation, automatically shifting to the optimal gear so the driver can experience just the right amount of control. Torque capacity has also increased, as well as the number of clutch discs.
The manual transmission now uses low-viscosity oil and strut bearings that enhance clutch capacity and gear strength. These materials support the higher torque output of the 2.4L boxer engine. The essence of GR 86-ness is also captured through a redesigned, low catch manual gear box that delivers smooth, enjoyable control for manual transmission aficionados.
Add it all together and you get the agility, responsiveness, and easy-to-drive feeling that equals “86-ness.”
Track Ready Performance, Everyday Comfort
GR 86’s driver-focused cockpit is designed to elevate the daily driving experience while also offering a simplicity that keeps drivers squarely focused on the road. Start up the GR 86 and you’re greeted by a 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen with an opening animation sequence inspired by the piston movements of the GR 86’s horizontally opposed engine.
The display has an all-new three-mode digital instrumentation with Normal, Sport, and Track modes. While in Track mode, drivers get real-time readouts of gear position, engine speed, water temperature, and oil temperature.
The horizontally configured instrument panel now has LCD toggle displays with silver trimmed dials that give the cabin a modern, race inspired feel. A leather-trimmed steering wheel (AT only: w/paddle shifters) and leather-wrapped parking brake handle and gear shift boot also add refinement.
Standard sport front bucket seats with side bolsters firmly hold drivers in place around each corner, with upgraded leather trimmed sport seating and aluminum pedals on the Premium model. The GR 86 also brings everyday usability, with 2+2 seating that offers the versatility of fold down rear seats.
Tunes, Tech, and Safety
Toyota GR 86 comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display and six-speaker audio system, with eight speakers on the Premium model. It includes Bluetooth® for hands-free phone capability, a SiriusXM® 3-month All Access trial, wired Apple CarPlay® Android Auto™ compatibility, two USB ports and one auxiliary port, and trial access to a suite of available connected services (with additional subscription).
GR 86 features Toyota’s Smart Key System (on both doors) with Push Button Start and adds an alarm to the anti-theft system. It lights the night with Standard LED headlights and available adaptive front lighting on the Premium grade.
All grades of the GR 86 come with Toyota’s Star Safety System™, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA). It also includes Smart Stop Technology® (SST), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Track Mode, and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC). Additional safety features include LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) with lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats and a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Seven airbags are standard on all models, with the addition of a driver’s knee airbag.
The Automatic Transmission version comes with the Subaru® EyeSight® driver assist system standard, which includes Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lane Departure Warning, Sway Warning, Lead Vehicle Start Alert, Cruise Control, and High Beam Assist.
Preliminary Specifications
All specifications are estimated and values and not final.
GR 86 pricing will be announced in the coming months and it will go on sale later this year.
About Toyota Canada Inc.
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over five million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI’s head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than eight million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models.
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