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Photo: Foxnews SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: both from the same factory, Subaru will build the BRX and the Toyota GT86 with the latter to be sold in South Africa as the 86. |
THE talks took seven years to conclude, but Subaru, on Friday, finally held a much-anticipated ceremony at its Gunma factory in Ota City, Japan, to start building the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ.
The GT 86, which has over the years also been called the FT-86, ST-86 and Scion FRS, was on display at the Geneva auto Show last month.
Toyota design chief Dezi Nagaya explained that the front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports coupé GT86 was purpose-built to drift.
However, Driversrepublic.com journalist Chris Harris, who took the GT 86 sideways in Spain, agrees with The Witness’s assertion that in terms of power and looks, Toyota’s 86 will have the Peugeot RCZ as a main contender — despite the Pug being pulled by its front wheels.
Harris reports that the GT86 can be drifted only by revving up the kilowatts, not torque.
“From behind the wheel, you have to use all the engine revs to make it jiggle about. With the engine buzzing above 5 500 rpm, and the Torsen differential forcing power to both rear wheels, the car has a quite a narrow window of stability. Too much throttle and you quickly need to use all the lock to correct the slide, too little and the car will straighten itself, and deliver those unprepared, a sharp little tank slapper,” Harris reports.
Which means that if you want to drift, get a BMW M3. If you want to feel warm fuzzies in a really good-looking retro-styled car, get either the GT86 or a used Honda S2000.
Toyota has announced first 86 that will reach customers in Japan. Grades G and RC will reach their first owners starting on May 3, while grades GT and the GT Limited will get to the streets in September.
The car will be sold only as the 86 in South Africa with prices reportedly between R300 000 to R350 000.
Toyota SA predicts demand will outstrip available numbers by miles.
FHI president Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said: “This car symbolises our corporate strategy in two significant aspects — good progress in our alliance and advancement of our select and focus approach. The start of production today was a huge step for us, but it is not our end goal. By constantly refining both models, FHI and TMC hope to nourish each model to be loved by customers all over the world for a long time to come.”
TMC president Akio Toyoda said: “The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 could not have been successfully developed without collaboration between FHI and TMC. We started the alliance for mutual growth in 2005. Now I’m delighted to see that our alliance bore fruit.”
Watch the 86 on www.tune86.com/ft-86-video /17503-toyota-gt-86-reviewed-chris-harris-drive
