Style: August 03, 2017

66 STYLE | motoring
THE BEST
OF 86
Motoring writer Ross Kiddie takes the sporty GT86 coupe for a
high-country blast.
THE SPECS
PRICE: Toyota 86GT, $51,986
DIMENSIONS: Length, 4240mm;
width, 1775mm; height, 1285mm
CONFIGURATION: Four-cylinder
(boxer), rear-wheel-drive, 1998cc,
152kW, 212Nm, six-speed manual
PERFORMANCE: 0-100km/h, 7.4sec
FUEL USAGE: 8.4l/100km
was a little disappointed when Subaru
I withdrew their sporty two-door coupe –
the BRZ – from New Zealand’s market.
While the car lives on here in Toyota’s 86,
it was good to have that point of difference in
the marketplace, and considering that Subaru
engineered the BRZ/86, I felt it was right for
consumers to have a choice.
Nevertheless, Toyota is marketing the 86
with the recognition it deserves, and has
just given the stylish wee sports car a fairly
extensive upgrade.
Anyone will tell you I’m wildly enthusiastic
about the 86, it is a cool piece of kit and in its
latest iteration it is even more appealing. As you
would expect, it is further refined cosmetically,
and if performance is a key buying ingredient,
you’ll be pleased to find that it offers more
power – albeit in manual form only.
While I know most 86s sold here in New
Zealand will be autos, the market for manual
cars still exists, and this is one that I would
choose to buy in manual form as it’s such a
delight. The gearshift has short movement up
and down and across the gate, it moves with
direct action and can be moved as quickly
as the driver can manipulate. Clutch action
is also short but progressive, meaning that in
combination it offers a performance car feel
which will appeal to buyers. Also, the engine
develops so much natural torque that it can
be driven in tall gears at low speeds; that being
the case it’s not a matter of a manual shift
being a burden.
Toyota rate the horizontally opposed, fourcylinder
engine at 152kW and 212Nm (up
5kW and 7Nm). There’s no secret Subaru
supply the quad-camshaft unit, so it carries all
of the boxer engine characteristics that have
made that company so popular as an engine
builder.
Coupled with the six-speed transmission,
there is a solid flow of energy through the rev
band. It also comes with an audible howl, just
to lure the driver.
In terms of performance, the 86 can’t be
described as quick. It is capable of a 7.4sec
standstill to 100km/h time, but in sports car
terms that isn’t lightning speed. However,
what the 86 does do well is put the power to
ground in a fashion that entertains the driver.
Short-wheelbase, rear-wheel-drive cars have
unique handling characteristics, and while this
model offers a natural handling sensation,
the power outputs mean there is a definite
tendency for grip to be challenged. And therein
lies a key ingredient as to the way the 86 is set
up; it has a stepped traction control system,
and the driver can select settings whereby
oversteer can be forced, although this is only
ever encouraged on track.
Nevertheless, there is a constant feeling
when cornering hard that the rear will be a bit
tail-happy and when it does, TCS will rein it in,
but the point remains that the 86 is playful and
will constantly entertain the driver.
I took the test car through a series of tight
and twisty road sections and enjoyed its
balance and steerage. It has handling ability akin
to its concept, it is precise up front and the feel
from the rear is constantly involving.
In GT form the 86 rides on tyres an inch