Review
Toyota GT86
In our search for fun and sporty cars we came across the Toyota GT86. A nice sports car with a light body, low center of gravity and rear-wheel drive. We were curious about the driving experience and took a test drive with the GT86 with automatic transmission.
Classic recipe
In terms of concept, the Toyota GT86 has become a pure sports car that revolves around pure and unadulterated driving pleasure. Toyota has designed a car that is compact, lightweight and with a low center of gravity. The engine is at the front and the drive is on the rear wheels, which can only improve the driving pleasure.
Boxer
Under the hood of the GT86 we find a naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer petrol engine with a displacement of 1,998 cc. This block delivers a power of 200 hp and a maximum torque of 205 Nm. You can choose the GT86 with a six-speed automatic transmission (34,900 euros) or with a six-speed manual gearbox (33,400 euros). The GT86 sprints in 7.6 seconds. to 100 km/h and has a top speed of 226 km/h. with the manual transmission. Contrary to what you might expect, the automatic transmission is a little slower. Namely, it reaches 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and the top speed is 210 km/h.
Standard EBS
To increase occupant safety, the GT86 is equipped as standard with traction control (TRC) with ABS and EBD. The latter stands for Emergency Brake Signal and will warn traffic behind you if you unexpectedly brake hard. The GT86 is also equipped with Vehicle Stability Control. With this system you can choose from a Sport mode or Normal mode depending on your own driving style. VSC automatically operates each brake individually and meters the engine power to help maintain stability and prevent skidding, for example on slippery surfaces. In addition to braking assistance, steering assistance also helps to keep the car on track.
Track Mode
One of the nicest improvements to the latest generation of the Toyota GT86 is the track mode. This allows you to fully enjoy this sports car with minimal intervention from the various electronic systems such as traction control or electronic Vehicle Stability Control. Ideal for when you want to spend a day on the track with the GT86. On the display in the car you can also see real-time information including data about power, torque and G-forces. You can also use a stopwatch to keep track of your lap times.
Small steering wheel
Special attention was paid to the design of the steering wheel. In particular, the size and shape of the steering wheel have been chosen to provide the best grip for the driver. The diameter of the three-spoke steering wheel has been optimized so that when the driver holds the steering wheel, the arms are slightly inward for an even sportier experience.
Driving pleasure
In our opinion, the GT86 does what it should do, namely give the driver a fun and sporty driving experience. The naturally aspirated boxer engine revs wonderfully high and the automatic transmission shifts up and down enthusiastically. The car steers precisely in the corners and thanks to the low center of gravity you feel the car very well.
Conclusion
The GT86 may not be the most famous sports car, but that certainly doesn’t make it any less fun. A lot of attention was paid to details to create the sportiest driving experience possible and Toyota succeeded in this.
Johan De Haes
Test driver
