Here’s a fun video showing the Toyota 86 being driven around a very wet Marulan Driver Training Centre. Supposedly the two cars are being driven by rally aces Rick and Neal Bates.
From inside the cabin, the 86 sounds half decent too.
Rounding out our launch coverage of the Toyota 86, we bring you a healthy selection of press images. We start with the images you saw yesterday, but add to them, most notably with the higher-spec GTS model. For some reason Toyota has gone light on with pics of the entry-level 86 GT.
After the break you can get your hands on over 40 pics of the Toybaru 86; simply click on the photos to open in 2000px super image sizing.
Here, in all its glory, is the full text from the 2012 Toyota 86 press kit, with thanks to Toyota Australia. For an introduction to the 86, including local pricing, check out today’s earlier pricing & specs article.
As the contents list below shows, there’s a lot of detailed info in this press kit. We hope it will be a great resource for fans of the Toybaru, who we expect will enjoy pouring over every last word!
Toyota Australia has just announced pricing for its new rear-wheel drive 86 sports coupé. And we think Toybaru fans will like it: the base GT model starts from $29,990 and the higher-spec GTS (shown above) is priced from $35,490.
On its Facebook page Toyota Australia has shown an example of drive away pricing for the base GT model. If you’re a 40-year-old male with good insurance history and based in the 5000 postcode you can drive away for $33,748. Of course, you’ll need to check with your local Toyota dealership to confirm individual pricing if you don’t fit that description.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor expects buyers will embrace their sharp pricing: “The 86 is meant to be enjoyed by as many driving enthusiasts as possible, and our pricing will extend its appeal to people who never imagined they could afford such a fun car.
“The 86 will serve as a halo car for Toyota, expanding the brand into a new dimension of driving performance.”
The base model, with 6-speed manual transmission, tips the scales at 1222kg and with 147kw on offer from the 2.0 litre boxer engine the Toyota 86Â has a power to weight ratio of 120kW/tonne.
A 6-speed automatic transmission can be optioned for an extra $2500, which comes with steering wheel paddles to activate the 0.2 seconds gear changes. The auto ‘box will also blip the trottle to match revs on downshifts.
Fuel consumption for the 86 is rated at 7.8./100km for manual equipped cars and, surprisingly, a low 7.1l/100km for those fitted with the self-shifter.
Standard equipment on the 86 GT includes 16″ alloys, cruise control, air conditioning, seven airbags and a five-mode stability control system. While the higher-spec 86 GTS gets 17″ wheels, satellite navigation, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, climate control and leather accents on the seats with red contrast stitching.
You can read Toyota Australia’s press release after the break, accompanied by 15 wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images.
Subaru’s global marketing manager, Atoshi Atake, has given the biggest hint yet that a BRZ STi will become a reality.
A concept model was released at the LA Motor Show last year and any fans generated from that exercise will gain heart from Atake’s comments to Auto Express: “We have already had many requests from interested customers regarding a faster version. Let me say this—we will certainly satisfy our customers. We are already working on a faster version.”
However, don’t expect the STi version to stray too far from its basic BRZ roots. “We want to keep turbocharging separate. It is for models like the WRX STI,” added Atake. “The same goes for four-wheel drive. We could not make the BRZ four-wheel drive even if we wanted to.”
A peak power figure of 186kW (250hp) is being bandied about for the STi model and represents a sizeable increase from the 147kW in the standard model.
Overall weight would likely be reduced thanks to measures like carbon fibre body panels and racing seats. Usual enhancements such as revised suspension and uprated brakes would complete the package.
[Source: Auto Express]
After teasing us a couple of weeks ago Subaru has now officially revealed its BRZ Concept-STI. And we’re pleased to say they have made a fine looking car as well; something Subaru hasn’t been too adept at in recent years.
For the moment, though, Subaru is keeping major technical detail for the Tokyo Motor Show and will reveal all towards the end of this month.
They have told us their Toybaru concept has a carbon fibre roof, resulting in “one of the lowest possible centres of gravity compared to other cars on the market today.” The familar blue paintwork is actually not familiar at all, it’s a new-generation colour called WR Blue Pearl II.
Not much else to report for now, but we’ll be back with more in a couple of weeks.