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Is this the Toyota 86 at last? Japanese giant to finally reveal "good car" developed with Subaru

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Toyota could finally be about to pull the covers off the Toyota 86 (image credit: Best Car Web)
Toyota could finally be about to pull the covers off the Toyota 86 (image credit: Best Car Web)
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
26 Mar 2021
2 min read

It seems Toyota is set to finally reveal its Subaru BRZ twin, with the new 86 though to be the star of the Japanese giant's just-announced new-car reveal on April 5.

The announcement - though mysterious - is entitled "let's make a good car together! Talk session" and will be hosted by senior executives from Toyota's Gazoo Racing, as well as Subaru.

While neither brand has confirmed what vehicle will be revealed, the entirety of the Japanese automotive media is pointing to the Toyota 86 as being the star of the show.

Read More: 2022 Subaru BRZ reveal timing confirmed! New Toyota 86 twin only weeks away from debut - but will it turn to turbocharging?

To be fair, the only remaining question mark surrounding Toyota's new performance car is its appearance, as the BRZ's unveiling in the USA told us all we need to know about what's under the skin ahead of the latter car's launch in Australia, which is expected around Q3 next year.

The new BRZ - and so likely the new 86, too - makes use of a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder horizontally-opposed "Boxer" petrol that develops 170kW and 249Nm, up from the up to 152kW and 212Nm produced by the outgoing car. The old model delivered a sprint to 100km/h of around 8.2 seconds, which should see this new model drop that figure into at least the seven-second range.

Subaru says the new engine will deliver "a smooth revving feel and sharp throttle response, (and) the engine provides stronger acceleration and a noticeable power increase".

Like before, the new BRZ and 86 will be had with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, with the latter also getting a more aggressive "Sport" mode that will pick and stick with a lower gear when cornering.

Handling should be improved, too, with Subaru reporting a 60 per cent increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50 per cent increase in torsional stiffness. The brand says you can expect faster steering response, more agile handling and more grip - also thanks to the 18-inch alloys shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber.

The unveiling will be streamed on YouTube on Aril 5 in Japan.

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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