Sharper look and more performance for Toyota's upgraded compact coupe
It’s about time, we hear you say.
Since its launch in mid-2012, Toyota’s now-iconic compact affordable coupe, the 86, has remained virtually unchanged bar for suspension and equipment tweaks.
That will finally change in April next year, given the 86 was developed for a model life of eight years and its major mid-life facelift is due to appear exactly four years after its Japanese launch in April 2012.
And the good news is the mid-cycle makeover for the popular Japanese sports coupe will bring fresh lines and – at last – more power.
Before you get excited, however, a source close to Toyota has revealed that revisions for the MY16 86 will be relatively minor, at least under the bonnet.
“Look to some major body panel redesign,” says our source. “It won’t be too radical because the 86 is made on the same assembly line as the Subaru BRZ, so the restyling process must be carried out within set parameters.”
Expect the 2016 86 to bring a new front-end design featuring a fresh bonnet, headlights and bumper, while Toyota’s designers will aim to add extra character by increasing the size of the lower grille.
This is a process known in Toyota circles as “under-priority” and the intention is to inject newness and aggression by putting more emphasis on the lower section of the car’s nose, as evidenced in recent times by Toyota’s Japanese-market Crown facelift.
The 86 will also get a remodelled rear bumper incorporating a more aesthetic yet aggressive rear diffuser. The exhaust outlets have also been repositioned towards the rear corners for a sportier look.
As you can see by this artist’s rendering of what the 2016 model could look like, the combination of an all-new new front-end including a fresh bonnet with aggressive new vents should give the car a significantly new look.
Under the bonnet, while the power output of the 86’s Subaru-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine has stubbornly remained the same over the past three years, the MY16 will undergo a few strategic mechanical upgrades.
According to our insider: “Engineers have focused on friction reduction engineering and a more efficient intake manifold design that will boost power and torque by around five per cent, while improving fuel efficiency by up to seven per cent.”
Given the 86 has always offered 147kW, expect next year’s revised version to deliver up to 155kW.
In chassis terms, the MY16 86 should also bring bespoke Sachs dampers as standard equipment, in an effort to enhance ride quality while maintaining its renowned handling balance. Also helping in this regard will be a reinforced rear suspension subframe to improve rear-end rigidity.
Our insider tells us the fresh 86 will benefit from extensive chassis tuning feedback from the 86 GRMN, which is destined for a September debut in Japan.
GRMN of course stands for Gazoo Racing tuned by Meister of Nurburgring and is Toyota’s in-house racing arm, while Gazoo Racing’s 86 won its class in the legendary Nurburging 24-hour race.
Of course, the 86’s near-identical twin, the Subaru BRZ, will also come in for changes next year, given they’re built on the same production line by Subaru.
While details around the MY16 BRZ remain sketchy, our insider suggests we should look to the company’s VIZIV concept car from 2013 for its design direction, suggesting Subaru’s 86 clone could get at least some unique styling elements.
Illustration: Holiday Auto
