GET DRIFTING WITH THE GR86
TOYOTA vehicles that bear the “86” code are legends in the making and it all began with Japanese race car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya and his AE86 Sprinter Trueno. While not exactly winning races with the car, Tsuchiya did popularise a crowd-pulling technique that would eventually earn himself the title of “Drift King”.
Years on and the cult favourite model would achieve iconic status after it was heavily featured as the main car in a street racing animation known as “Initial D”.
Love or hate it, the AE86’s reputation has forever been elevated to unimaginable heights.
Today, it is one of the few car models in the world whose value has only risen since its launch back in the 1980s, also helped by the model’s rarity.
Since 2012, the “Hachi-roku” (popularly translated to “Eight-Six” in Japanese) has been revived to recapture that magic moment in the form of the Toyota 86. Jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, the 86 callback is mostly only in name since it comes in a 2+2 sports car configuration with a different performance setup from the AE86.
You could say the only true association beyond marketing is the rear-wheel drive (RWD) drivetrain that, in simple terms, allows the driver to perform a proper drift when the right technique is applied.
As of 2023, the model has been given the Gazoo Racing (GR) treatment, resulting in the GR86 being further improved on everything the initial Toyota 86 had set out to achieve.
PERFORMANCE POP-UP
Combining styling elements taken from Toyota’s past sports cars, such as the 2000GT and AE86 Levin (and essentially sharing its’ design with Subaru’s BRZ), the GR86 is an evolution of the 86 coupe with the incorporation of the Gazoo Racing performance technicalities, on top of the classic front-engine and RWD coupe configuration.
Its exterior design is completed with the GR badging front and back, dual exhaust pipes, black 18-inch alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.
The interior holds an eight-inch display multimedia infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, six audio speakers, a configurable seven-inch TFT colour LCD display, a combination of premium leather and suede seats as standard with six-way manual adjustment for the driver, and dual zone automatic climate control.
Replacing the 2.0-litre powerplant used in the Toyota 86 is a new 2.4-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder boxer engine that delivers 237PS at 7,000rpm and 250Nm of torque at 3,700Nm.
This enables it to sprint from zero to 100kph in 6.3 seconds.
The new naturally-aspirated engine is said to provide linear throttle response and smoother revs. This helps to provide significantly more torque for better mid-range response.
This can be paired with either a sixspeed manual gearbox or six-speed torque converter automatic transmission, with the latter featuring paddle shifters.
The Track Mode is designed with help from GR professional drivers to provide real-time readouts of important data for circuit driving.
The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) settings allow for customised performance characteristics.
The car also comes with a limitedslip differential on the rear axle with the aim to maximise handling capability while the tuning of its MacPherson strut-double wishbone suspension and steering components are primed for sharper agility.
Its handling control is further enhanced by weight reduction, a lower centre of gravity and a front engineRWD configuration with a 50:50 weight distribution.
The chassis reinforcements aim to significantly improve torsional and lateral rigidity, while large front and rear ventilated disc brakes as per-sports cars aim to give sufficient stopping power.
Its Active Safety Suite includes precrash system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, adaptive front lighting system and seven SRS airbags.
Available in a range of four colours, the GR86 is priced at RM295,000 and comes with a five-year and unlimited mileage factory warranty.
MAXIMUM FUN
Let’s first address the burning question on most people’s minds; other than the RWD setup, the GR86 and AE86 are miles apart in experience.
Most obvious is the vastly sportier design and modern features that the GR86 comes with. The AE86 would have
barely passed as a sport performance variant of a 1980's Corolla while the GR86 is an outright modern low-stance sports car.
What’s nice about the design is the balance it finds itself adopting. It is clearly sporty but nothing too outlandish.
To give credit where it is due and for those unaware, the car essentially shares its design with that of Subaru’s 2+2 seater BRZ, as with some of its specifications.
The performance itself is a huge upgrade from the AE86 days. The GR86 also addresses a number of shortcomings of the original Toyota 86 (GT86 as it is known in selected markets), namely the overall performance and power.
This effectively makes the GR86 the ultimate 86 variant to date in terms of power, control and comfort in a sports car.
However, all of that doesn’t mean much if the GR86 is just another pretty car with a huge marketing backing. Thankfully for all of us that the model’s pop-culture association is no mere gimmick.
The car’s big draw is how it can easily simulate or enable a drift action while you’re out on a drive. This neat little trick is in part thanks to a tail kick out when you’re quick on the steer around bends.
It gives the driver and passengers the false drift start as if traction control was turned off but holds you down with its low ground force and handling. The grip is there but it lets go just enough for the driver to execute a mini controlled-oversteer action.
Simply put, this is one of the few cars that makes it very easy for you to execute or simulate a drift experience without having to turn off the traction controls.
Professionals can just outright turn traction control off to get their full satisfaction on the track. The fun does come with a price and or he G , s
The drift machine will require RON98 fuel and above for it to perform at its fullest. You can opt for RON97 but there’s no telling how much power loss or any damage (if at all) you will incur from the onset.
VERDICT
Most of us won’t have a clue how close the GR86 comes to replicating or delivering the AE86-experience (the opportunity to drive the latter isn’t going to simply drop your lap) but there is no need for the comparison, with the former by default the better machine as far as modernity goes.
Even better that it comes with its own characteristics since it would do no favour to the model for following in the footsteps of an even more iconic sibling. Superior in almost every way, unless you're looking around for a retro ride.
The GR86 is a machine unlike any other in today’s world.
Very fun and better in performance when compared to the base 86 model. Also depending on your taste, the car may even be your choice of sport over the more expensive models in its segment.
But don’t get the idea that you’ll suddenly transform into a drift professional overnight.
What cannot be denied is that the GR86 is a standout among standout for what it is capable of. Lightweight, fantastic handling an appealing design and the capability to allow drivers to perform a drift se-quence tat least its start up), are all plus points,
Spend time with the car and you'll probably be convinced to fill up the GR86 with that RON100 petrol by the end of the drive because it is just that worth it.