Toyota releases more images of new GR 86
Are you excited for the GR 86 to arrive?
Toyota officially launched the all-new GR 86 last April. At the time, however, there were only a handful of press photos to choose from. Now that it's officially on sale in Japan, it seems the automaker has released more information and photos of its new sports coupe. At least we'll have a better idea of what to expect once GR 86 arrives in the Philippines and possibly even the price.
The design of the GR 86 is an evolution of its predecessors and is nearly identical to that of the BRZ. It features larger round headlights and a more aggressive front bumper with L-shaped corner vents and a GR-specific Matrix grille.
Along the side, it's easy to see the similarities between it and the outgoing model. Toyota did add large fender vents, which are fully functional. At the rear, the GR 86 features a ducktail integrated into the trunk and adopts a new set of taillights with C-shaped elements. Meanwhile, the bumper features a more prominent rear diffuser over the previous-generation model but retains the twin-exit exhaust.
Over in Japan, the GR 86 is available in three trims – RZ, SZ, and RC. The RZ comes with larger 18-inch wheels, which are styled similar to the GR Yaris. The SZ rides on smaller 17-inch wheels, while the RC is the stripped-out, bare-bones variant that comes with 16-inch steelies.
Step inside, and there's a new dashboard with rectangular center air vents and rounded vents at the corners. In front of the driver are a new GR steering wheel and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Interestingly, the cluster resembles the flat-four engine that powers the 86. Depending on trim, the RZ comes with leather seats and red contrast interior. As for the SZ, it uses cloth seats and comes with a plain black cabin.
Powering the GR 86 is the new naturally aspirated 2.4-liter flat-four that produces 235 PS and 250 Nm torque. It's available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. To give a better idea of the changes of the 2.0-liter mill, Toyota released a dyno graph of the two.
The Japan-spec GR 86 starts at JPY 2,799,000 or PHP 1,245,000 for the bare bones RC variant, while the A/T RZ tops out at JPY 3,512,000 or PHP 1,562,000. Affordable, but expect prices to be even higher once it arrives in the Philippines.
For reference, the current 86 offered by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) starts at PHP 2,086,000 for the manual and PHP 2,186,000 for the automatic. We suspect prices to be around the same or even higher once the new model arrives.
But when will TMP officially launch the GR 86? So far, the automaker has been quiet about the model. Judging by the brand's continued launch of GR models, it could happen very soon. Subaru Philippines said last December the new BRZ will arrive in Q4 2021. However, Toyota will likely introduce the GR 86 first.
