Comprehensive Guide to the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ: Features, Design, and Interior
Intro
The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, produced at Subaru’s Gunma factory.
The 2+2 fastback coupé has a naturally-aspirated boxer engine, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup, 53/47 front/rear weight balance, and low center of gravity; it was inspired by Toyota’s earlier AE86, a small, light, front-engine/rear-drive Corolla version widely popular for Showroom Stock, Group A, Group N, Rally, Club, and drift racing.
For the first-generation model, Toyota sold the sports car as the 86 in Asia, Australia, North America (from August 2016), South Africa, and South America; as the Toyota GT86 in Europe; as the 86 and GT86 in New Zealand; as the Toyota FT86 in Brunei, Nicaragua, and Jamaica; and as the Scion FR-S (2012–2016) in the United States and Canada.
The second-generation model is sold by Toyota as the GR86 as part of the Gazoo Racing family.
Development and production
The production Toyota 86 made its debut at the December 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Its development was led by chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. All versions are made at Subaru’s Gunma Main Plant, with the first cars put together on February 2, 2012, before sales began in March and deliveries in April. 7,000 orders were placed for the Toyota 86 in the first month of production, while Subaru received 3,500 orders.
In the United States, Scion was allocated 10,000 units of the 2013 model year (MY13) production, while Subaru was limited to only 6,000 units.
Design
The 86’s rear-wheel drive setup and front-mounted flat boxer engine provide a low center of gravity, enhancing its handling performance. The body design has a drag coefficient of Cd=0.27.
According to the 86’s designers, “The goal was to create an authentic rear-wheel drive sports car with compelling style, exceptionally balanced performance and handling, flexible utility, and surprising MPG.” When asked about the TRD version of the car, lead engineer Mr. Tada said, “There is definitely going to be a more TRD-oriented variant down the line. However, any of the parts that would be standard on the TRD model will fit on your current Toyota 86, so there is no need to wait.”
The design of the GT86 was inspired by the Toyota 2000GT, following the concept of ‘Neo Functionalism’ (the idea that the car’s driving quality and appearance were part of its functionality). References to the 2000GT were especially evident in the side profile, windows, and dashboard of the car.
The 86 “boxer” side badge appears on all Toyota and Scion versions of the car, but not on the Subaru BRZ. Aside from the badging, the main differences between the 86/GT86 and the BRZ are the front grilles and bumper bars.
The car included numerous references to the number 86:
- The engine bore and stroke is 86mm x 86mm.
- The diameter of the exhaust tip is also 86mm.
Interior
The interior of the 86 features low-mounted front seats and fold-down rear seats, increasing storage space. The FR-S and base 86 models have cloth seats with all-black interior trim, black patterned dash trim, and red stitching on the shift boot.
The BRZ offers two interior options: one similar to the FR-S but with silver dash trim, red stitching on the parking brake boot, black gauge faces (instead of the white tachometer in the 86 GTS models), and a touch-screen navigation head unit; the other includes leather and Alcantara heated seats, automatic HVAC controls, and a push-button start. The top-of-the-line 86 models are equipped like the BRZ, except as noted, and the Japanese interior can be had in black/red leather and Alcantara or full black leather and Alcantara.
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