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Our coverage on the production version of what we came to know as the FT-86 in concept form but which Toyota decided to name GT 86 for the European region and simply '86' in its home market of Japan, continues with two fresh videos that depict the rear-wheel drive sports car in action.
The first clip is from a quick spin around the Fuji Speedway racetrack, while the second video includes a more comprehensive test drive from a Japanese car magazine that provides us with a more in-depth look at the sights and sounds of the 86 as well as in a wider palette of colors.
Toyota is highly optimistic about the '86', which it describes as an "entirely driver-focused sports car, designed to recapture the fundamental joys of motoring".
The Japanese firm's recipe includes a 200HP naturally-aspirated engine mounted up front matched to a six-speed manual (or 6sp automatic) and a limited slip differential driving the rear wheels, and a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution.
By now you already know that the '86' will give birth to the global Subaru BRZ and the North American market-only, Scion FR-S.
For those of you thirsty for more information on the '86', you can check out our comprehensive post that includes all the initial specs and details along with the first pictures of both the European and Japanese market models.
When Honda CEO Takanobu Ito confirmed the NSX replacement, it made sense that the new sports car would be revealed at the Japanese company's home turf. However, Honda displayed the compact EV-STER concept instead, a small RWD roadster that resembles the 1990’s Beat.
There’s no reason for disappointment though as British publication Autocar is reporting that Honda plans to debut a new concept called 'Super Sports' at the Detroit Motor Show in mid-January.
According to Yoshikazu Kigoshi, Honda’s general manager for research and design center, the Super Sports study is described as “a halo model that will be a successor to the NSX.” Kigoshi added that the production version of the concept would be sold under the Acura brand in North America and as a Honda in the rest of the world.
The three concepts that are currently on display at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show may have already given us a glimpse to the new NSX’s front design. That’s because Honda’s creative director, Toshinubu Minami, who is also responsible for the Super Sports concept design, admitted that the Detroit concept “will wear the same Honda face as the Tokyo models, because of course there must be consistency, but they won’t be the same.”
The Super Sports will most likely by powered by a new, top-of-the-line hybrid propulsion system that is part of Honda's “Earth Dreams Technology” plan unveiled yesterday during the Tokyo Motor Show.
According to Honda's official announcement, the so-called "high output electric SH-AWD hybrid system" combines a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with a built-in, 30kW (40HP) electric motor, two independent 20kW (27HP) electric motors on both sides for the rear wheels, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a high performance lithium-ion battery.
Honda says that this is a newly developed version of its acclaimed SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system which adjusts torque distribution not only between the front and rear axle, but also between the rear wheels.
It also claims that it will provide “incredible tight cornering, just like driving on rails”, while at the same time improving overall consumption by 10% and total output by 5%.
PHOTO GALLERY
After the unveiling of the Toyota 86 (GT 86 in Europe) on Saturday, it's time for Subaru to take center stage with the presentation of its version of the jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports coupe in production guise.
The new BRZ was revealed today less than two weeks after Subaru exhibited the STI-badged concept model at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and just before the sports coupe makes its first public outing under the spotlight at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday, November 30.
To the surprise of no one, the production BRZ loses the concept’s neat aero-kit with the large rear wing and carbon-fiber parts, but no need to worry as it's almost certain that Subaru's STI division will offer either the same or similar components as an option in due time.
Even though we knew from day one that the Subaru BRZ, the Toyota 86 and the upcoming Scion FR-S were all jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, we had some hope that the cars might differ in appearance and flavor. As you can see for yourself, this never happened – at least with the BRZ and the 86.
From this first set of pictures, we see that the exterior styling changes between the BRZ and 86 are limited only to the re-sculptured front bumper, the alloy wheel designs, the fender trims and the tail lamp graphics (even the shape remains the same). We don't have any photos of the interior yet, but we’re willing to bet that there won't be any noticeable differences between the two cars.
The same goes for the mechanical hardware with the BRZ and the 86 sharing Subaru's 2.0-liter flat-four engine with Toyota’s “D-4S” direct injection and port injection technology, which is rated at 200-horsepower and 205Nm (151 lb-ft) of peak torque.
Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox with a short stroke shift lever or an optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel, while the BRZ also gets a specially tuned electronic stability control. The basic model will ride on 17-inch wheels wrapped around 215/45R17 rubber.
We could go on with the dimensions and the suspension setup but we'd be practically repeating what we said about the 86. In fact, come to think of it, we could have just swapped the words "Toyota" with "Subaru" and "86" with "BRZ" and be done with it. Too late now
Danny de Vito and body builder-turned actor-turned California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, were probably the only twins that were completely different to one another. On the other hand, that was a comedy film in which artistic freedom allows the producers to do anything they please.
In the real world, human twins may indeed differ, mostly in character – though not as much as Arnie and Danny by any stretch of the imagination. In the automotive world, however, when two manufacturers jointly develop a vehicle, 99.9% of the times it ends up being identical to its sibling.
Even Subaru and Toyota are not pretending that their BRZ and 86/GT86 are anything but the same car. They clearly admit it in their press releases and even inscribe it on the engine cover. It’s badge engineering, pure and simple.
Therefore, all the hoopla about the extremely low center of gravity, the compact dimensions, the fun to drive RWD configuration et al is repeated in the BRZ which also made its premiere today at the 42nd edition of the Tokyo Motor Show.
In fact, the only noticeable difference, apart from the badging, is in the front fascia design. The BRZ looks a bit more restrained and less “Tokyo Drift”, but that’s just our take and you can decide on your own which is the better looking of the two.
And oh, Subaru is being more honest than its partner calling the BRZ a 2+2 and not “the world’s most compact four-seater sports car”.
Everything else is the same: the 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer, the six-speed manual or auto transmissions, the front strut and rear double wishbone suspension, the small steering wheel – heck, even the interior is identical.
Nevertheless, if Toyota and Subaru deliver what they promise, the BRZ/86 should be a very entertaining car – which we certainly hope so.
In Subaru's case, you know what would be even more entertaining? The BRZ STi concept shown in LA, complete with carbonfiber roof, front spliter and rear wing and a more aggressive body kit. As is customary with Subaru Tecnica International models, a little bit more oomph from the boxer engine wouldn’t hurt either…
Scroll down to check out our gallery with live pictures from the show as well new video footage showing the BRZ in action.
The wait for the most hotly anticipated (and teased, may we add..) sports cars of the year, the production version of the Toyota FT-86 2+2 coupe, is finally over as the Japanese automaker came out with all the juicy details ahead of the car's world premiere at the at the Tokyo motor show on November 30.
In Europe, the new Toyota will be called the GT 86 in tribute to the Japanese firm's GT car heritage and especially the Corolla GT (or Levin) AE86, which inspired its creation. The Japanese domestic market version will be aptly called 86.
The GT 86 is the result of a joint Toyota and Subaru development programme that will spawn two more models, the global Subaru BRZ that will also make its debut in Tokyo next week in production trim, and the North American market Scion FR-S.
All three cars will share the same platform and mechanical hardware including the Subaru-sourced flat-four, with only minor styling differences between them.
The story of the GT 86 began in October 2009 with the unveiling of the first FT-86 Concept in Tokyo and was followed by the almost production ready FT-86 II concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show this past March.
The exterior styling of the GT 86 is what we would best describe as more "Fast & Furious" than the original FT-86 concept, which had a sleeker, simpler and overall more European feel to it – but that was something to be expected after seeing the second iteration of the FT-86.
The interior design of the sports coupe is generally uncluttered featuring a three-meter instrument cluster arranged around a large tachometer and a large center screen for the audio and navigation systems.
The dashboard gets a carbon-effect trim, while there's all-black roof lining, red stitching on the upholstery, aviation-style rocker switches and lightweight, aluminium pedals.The GT 86 is also fitted with 365mm diameter steering wheel, which is said to be the smallest ever fitted to a production Toyota.
The GT 86 measures 4,240mm long (166.9-in.), 1,285mm (50.6-in.) high and 2,570mm (101.2-in) wide, which Toyota says make it the most compact four-seater sports car available in the market today.
Under the hood, you'll find Subaru’s new, horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine upgraded with Toyota's D-4S direct injection technology that delivers 200PS (197bhp/ at 7,000rpm and a peak torque of 205Nm (151.2 lb-ft) at 6,600rpm.
A standard six-speed manual gearbox with a short-throw lever or an optional six-speed automatic transmission that can be controlled using paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel, drive the rear wheels via a limited slip differential.
Toyota says that both the powertrain and the driving position have been set "as low and as far back as possible to achieve the best balance" with the GT 86 boasting a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution – though the company has not yet announced the car's weight. The 2+2 sports coupe also has a very low center of gravity, at just 475mm (18.7-inches).
The suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear, while the standard version of the car rides on 17-inch wheels (18-inch for the JDM model) and is fitted with ventilated disc brakes all around.
Aside from the ABS, the GT 86 is also equipped with switchable vehicle stability control systems, which Toyota claims "have been tuned specifically to deliver dynamic stability at the limit of the car’s performance with minimal electronic intervention to help preserve the purity of the driving experience".
We'll keep digging for more information on the new Toyota GT 86 as well as its Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S siblings and bring it to you as we get it. In the meantime, hop over the break to check out the high-resolution photo gallery.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now that Hyundai unveiled its Veloster coupe at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. So, what's with the 'scoop' title of our post, we here you ask? Well, this here example is the European spec Veloster and it was caught undisguised by our spies in Germany ahead of its debut at the at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March.
The only visible styling changes over the North American model concern the use of clear indicators up front, all-red tail lamps at the back and the newly styled alloy wheels. Unfortunately, our spies couldn't get close enough to the prototype to snag the interior, but don't expect to see any significant modifications other than trim and color options.
Up until now, we were in the dark about the engine lineup of the European model. However, we just learned from an official source that the Veloster will be offered with two gasoline engines including a flagship turbocharged four banger.
The Veloster will launch in Europe with the same 1.6-liter direct-injection four-banger as the NA-spec model, producing 140-horsepower and 167 Nm of peak torque for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of under 10 seconds. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a standard six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional dual-clutch transmission.
Europeans will also get a Blue Edition version that pairs the 140-horse motor with a start-stop system and some additional fuel-saving features, which help drop CO2 levels from 138 g/km to 129 g/km.
The crown jewel of the Veloster lineup will be a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology and an output of 208-horsepower, allowing the car to complete the standard sprint in around 7 seconds. We don't know if or when Hyundai will offer this engine in North America.
The naturally aspirated models will go on sale in most European countries this April, with the UK following later in the year. The Veloster 1.6 Turbo will be added to the range in early 2012.
Toyota is highly optimistic about the '86', which it describes as an "entirely driver-focused sports car, designed to recapture the fundamental joys of motoring".
