From a partnership Subaru first turned down to a second generation that carried the GR badge, the 86 built a following on balance rather than power.
The Toyota 86 is a 2+2 sports coupe co-developed with Subaru, which builds it at its Gunma plant. It uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre boxer engine rated at 200 PS and a rear-wheel drive layout. First sold in 2012, it has a Subaru BRZ twin and a second generation launched in 2020.
The Toyota 86, sold as the GT86 in Europe and the Scion FR-S in North America, is a 2+2 sports coupe that Toyota and Subaru developed together. Subaru builds the cars at its Gunma plant, and the twin model is the Subaru BRZ. Its layout is a naturally aspirated boxer engine at the front, a rear-wheel drive driveline and a low centre of gravity.
The car's roots reach back to Toyota's AE86, a small, light Corolla that became a legend in motorsport and drifting. The 86 name and its development code both nod to that history, and the car was built to recapture the simple, playful character of its predecessor.
How did the 86 partnership come about?
Toyota showed its first concept in 2007 with the FT-HS, a front-engined, rear-drive 2+2 with a hybrid V6. In 2008 Toyota bought 16.5% of Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent of Subaru. Project leader Tetsuya Tada then invited Subaru to co-develop a new boxer engine, and Subaru initially rejected the offer.
The project halted for six months before Toyota invited journalists and Subaru engineers to test a development prototype. After that test Subaru agreed to take a larger role, and the two companies began working as partners on a shared sports car.
A Subaru-built boxer coupe that proved a rear-drive sports car could be cheap, balanced and fun without big power.
What concepts came before the production car?
The collaboration produced the FT-86 Concept, which debuted at the October 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Smaller than the FT-HS, it was refined by Toyota's ED2 design studio, and the hybrid V6 gave way to the new D-4S boxer. Subaru supplied the chassis, which was modified from its Impreza.
In 2011 the FT-86 II Concept was unveiled at Geneva in March, and Scion showed the FR-S Sports Coupe Concept in April at New York. Subaru followed with the BRZ Concept STi in Los Angeles in November, the first full mock-up of its own version of the car.
When did the production 86 go on sale?
The production Toyota 86 debuted at the December 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The first cars were assembled on 2 February 2012, sales began in March and deliveries followed in April. Development was led by chief engineer Tetsuya Tada.
Demand was strong from the start. Toyota received 7,000 orders in the first month, while Subaru took 3,500. In the United States, Scion was allocated 10,000 units of the 2013 model year production, and Subaru was limited to 6,000.
What engine powers the 86?
The 86's engine is known as the 4U-GSE by Toyota and the FA20 by Subaru. It is a naturally aspirated 2.0 L flat-four with Toyota's D-4S direct injection, a compression ratio of 12.5:1 and an 86 mm bore and stroke. It produces 200 PS (197 bhp; 147 kW) at 7,000 rpm.
Torque is 205 Nm (151 lb ft) at 6,400 rpm. The engine runs on premium unleaded. The boxer layout is mounted low, which keeps the centre of mass down and helps the car feel planted through corners.
How did the 86 handle and balance its weight?
The 86 has a weight distribution of 53% front and 47% rear, and the low boxer engine keeps the centre of gravity close to the road. The design uses an aluminium bonnet and a fixed roof rather than a hatchback, which keeps the weight down.
The front suspension uses MacPherson struts, and the rear uses double wishbones. A Torsen limited-slip differential was standard on most models.
Which gearboxes were available?
The 86 came with two six-speed transmissions: an in-house Toyota TL70 manual, based on the Aisin AZ6, and an Aisin-Warner A960E automatic. The automatic was modified from a unit used on the Lexus IS 250 and had software that mimicked the response of a dual-clutch gearbox.
The automatic offered Sport, Snow and Normal modes. In 2016, for the 2017 model year, the manual car was upgraded to 205 bhp (208 PS; 153 kW) and 212 Nm (156 lb ft), and the final drive ratio was changed from 4.10 to 4.30.
How fast was the 86?
The 86 reached a top speed of 233 km/h (145 mph) as tested. Toyota claimed 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, while estimates for 0-97 km/h were 6.0 to 6.2 seconds.
Performance was not the whole story, and the car's appeal rested on how it felt to drive.
How did the 86 look and feel inside?
The design drew on the Toyota 2000GT under a philosophy called Neo Functionalism, where the car's driving quality and appearance were treated as part of its function. The 2000GT influence was most visible in the side profile, windows and dashboard.
The interior used low mounted front seats and folding rear seats for extra storage. The base cars had cloth seats, while top models offered leather and Alcantara with heated seats and automatic climate control. The car also repeated the number 86 in its bore, stroke and exhaust tip.
How did the BRZ differ from the 86?
The Subaru BRZ shares the basic car but differs at the front, with a hexagonal inverted grille and different headlight and bumper assemblies. Its name is said to combine boxer engine, rear-wheel drive and a Z for Zenith. Aside from badging, the front grilles and bumper bars are the main visible differences.
The 86's boxer side badge appears only on the Toyota and Scion versions. In Australia the BRZ was the first new car to be sold exclusively online.
Toyota and Subaru marketed the twin cars differently, which gave buyers a choice between the Toyota badge, the Subaru badge and, in North America, the Scion name.
How did the 86 launch in Australia?
The Australian launch came in June 2012 with GT and GTS models. The GT manual was priced at A$29,990 and the GTS manual at A$35,490, and all models carried a limited-slip differential except the automatic GT.
The entire 2012 Australian allocation of 201 BRZ cars sold in under three hours, which showed how far demand outstripped supply. Toyota later marked 20,000 Australian sales with an Apollo Blue edition in 2018.
Which limited editions did Toyota and Scion build?
Scion released a 10 Series of 2,500 FR-S models in June 2013 for the 2013 model year, and later the Release Series 1.0 of 1,500 units in April 2014. The Release Series 2.0 followed with 1,000 cars revealed in October 2015.
In Japan the 14R-60 was limited to 100 units and priced at 6,300,000 yen. In the UK the Giallo was limited to 86 units, and Australia's Blackline edition of 450 units arrived in November 2016.
Each limited run was small by design, which kept scarcity high and gave collectors a reason to watch for the next release.
How did the 86 perform in racing?
The Toyota 86 MC won the GT300 championship in Super GT in 2016, and the new BRZ GT300 won its class in the 2021 season. Gazoo Racing took the SP3 class at the 2012 Nurburgring 24 Hours, and the first D1 Grand Prix win for the 86 came in 2013.
In the United States, Ken Gushi raced a Scion FR-S in Formula Drift, and the SCCA created a Solo Spec Coupe class for autocross in 2018. That class used the 2013 to 2016 BRZ and FR-S, which showed how the car remained popular with amateur drivers.
Racing success also gave the 86 credibility with buyers who wanted a car with a competition heritage, even though the road cars were built for everyday use.
What changed with the second generation?
The second-generation BRZ debuted on 18 November 2020, and the Toyota version followed on 5 April 2021 as the GR 86, later renamed GR86 for digital marketing reasons. The roof, bonnet and front wings are aluminium to lower the centre of gravity.
The new car uses the FA24D engine, a 2,387 cc flat-four rated at 231 to 235 PS (170 to 173 kW; 228 to 232 hp) at 7,000 rpm, with 250 Nm (184 lb ft) at 3,700 rpm. Car and Driver recorded 0-97 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and the top speed was electronically limited to 225 km/h (140 mph).
What special editions followed the second generation?
A 10th Anniversary Special Edition was built for the 2023 model year, limited to 860 units in the US. The Trueno Edition for 2024 celebrated 40 years since the AE86 Sprinter Trueno, and it was also limited to 860 units.
The GR86 Hakone Edition arrived for the 2025 model year in a single colour, Ridge Green, with tan leather seats and satin bronze wheels. The Yuzu Edition for 2026 used Yuzu Yellow, a nod to the Scion FR-S Release Series 1.0.
How did the 86 earn its awards?
In Europe the GT86 won Top Gear's Car of the Year in 2012, along with Autocar's Best Driver's Car and Auto Express's Performance Car. In Australia the car won Wheels' Car of the Year, and the United States News named the Scion FR-S its Best Affordable Sports Car in 2012.
Japan's Car of the Year gave the 86 and BRZ a Special Award in 2012 and 2013, and Ward's named the D-4S boxer one of its 10 Best Engines in 2013. These honours reflected the car's focus on handling.
Specifications at a glance
The table below lists the key figures for the first generation and the second-generation engine. Where a value belongs to one generation or variant, the table names it so the figures stay separate.
| Model or variant | Key figures |
|---|---|
| First generation engine | 2.0 L flat-four; 200 PS (197 bhp; 147 kW) at 7,000 rpm; 205 Nm (151 lb ft) at 6,400 rpm |
| Weight distribution | 53% front, 47% rear |
| 2017 manual upgrade | 205 bhp (208 PS; 153 kW); 212 Nm (156 lb ft) |
| Performance (as tested) | 233 km/h (145 mph); 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds (claimed) |
| Second generation engine | FA24D, 2,387 cc; 231-235 PS (170-173 kW; 228-232 hp) at 7,000 rpm |
| Second generation torque | 250 Nm (184 lb ft) at 3,700 rpm |
| Second generation sprint | 0-97 km/h in 5.4 seconds (Car and Driver); 225 km/h (140 mph) limited |
Frequently asked questions
How many 86s sold in the first month?
Toyota received 7,000 orders for the 86 in its first month of production, while Subaru took 3,500 orders for the BRZ over the same period. Demand far outstripped supply, which led Subaru Australia to sell its allocation online.
What is the Solo Spec Coupe class?
The SCCA created the Solo Spec Coupe class for autocross in 2018. It uses the 2013 to 2016 Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S, and the choice reflects the car's popularity with enthusiasts.
Which engine did the second generation use?
Subaru chose a naturally aspirated layout for the FA24D, a 2,387 cc flat-four that keeps a free-revving character. The engine's larger bore raises peak torque at a lower rpm, which suits the car's pure sports character.
How much was the Australian GT?
At launch in June 2012 the GT manual was priced at A$29,990. The GTS manual cost A$35,490, which kept the car within reach of many enthusiasts who wanted a rear-drive coupe.
