Toyota Gazzo Racing turns GT-86 into GR86…now with more bite – The Irish Sun

TOYOTA has launched a new version of GT86.

It is now called the GR86 and is its third global GR model, which will join the GR Supra and GR Yaris.

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In case you didn’t know, GR stands for Gazoo Racing and the GR86 directly benefits from Toyota’s multiple championship-winning involvement in top-level international motorsport.

The previous generation GT86 was produced in cooperation with Subaru and featured a 2.0-liter, normally aspirated, 4-cylinder boxer engine that produced 200 horsepower.

The engine is still boxer, high revs, but its displacement has been increased to 2.4 liters and a larger engine means more power.

The GR86 now makes a healthy 250Nm 231bhp, so it’s good to go from 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 225kph.

A new water-cooled oil cooler has been added, while the thicker heatsink structure features air struts to increase cooling air intake.

And in the exhaust system there is a new 5.6-liter center pipe that produces a satisfying growl when accelerating.

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The noise is then further amplified by the Active Sound Control system that transmits engine messages into the cabin.

And best of all, the GR86 maintains a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout that makes it a blast to drive.

In particular, it can be fitted with a limited-slip differential as standard.

So the GT-86 is a small car that easily drifts and slides, but only on a track of course.

Toyota has made other tweaks to the chassis, focusing on reducing weight.

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And further lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity and suspension also benefit from detailed tweaks to optimize handling.

The designers received support from their motorsport colleagues in developing new aerodynamic features for the bodywork.

As with the six-speed manual transmission, you can opt for an automatic.

But whoever does that is missing the point of the GR86 in the first place.

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Toyota itself calls the GR86 a Waku Doki car.

That is to say, fun to drive and present it as an analog car for the digital age.

So it’s not a sports car just for the purists and the high-powered.

And its rewards can be discovered daily on the open road as well as on the track.