Facts you may or may not know about your GT86/BRZ/FR-s
 

Some of us have watched every detail about the GT86/BRZ/FR-S twins from the FT-86 Concept to production, for others they may not know much other than it looks cool and is fun to drive.

I have compiled a list of some of the design features I found interesting that you may or may not know about your GT86/BRZ/FR-S. Facts are not listed in any particular order. For those of you who may have already known this, don't troll, as there may be members of the community who did not know and find it interesting.

All of these facts were taken from video & documentation on the twins.

1. GT86, BRZ, & FR-S are all produced at the same factory in Gunma Prefecture, Japan (Subaru Assembly Plant).
Subaru manufactures each vehicle, although they produce more GT86/FR-S's than BRZ as the Toyota/Subaru partnership is for 1 BRZ for every 10 GT86/FR-S.
http://www.tune86.com/sites/default/...ction-line.jpg

2. Exterior Overall Design & Side Windows are based off the Toyota 2000 GT.
The long front end with aggressive fenders and side-window shape which designers refer to as the DLO (Daylight Opening) pay homage to 2000 GT.
http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/5...2000-GT-13.JPG

3. Interior Dash also based off Toyota 2000 GT
The "double-bubble" as designers call it is a design cue taken from the 2000 GT.
http://www.2000gt.net/Photos/Mavoiture/0073.jpg

4. Shift Surround is designed to resemble a connection rod between the piston and crank shaft.
This same design element was extended to the rear taillights as well, with a circle connected to a rectangular shape.
http://driverblogs.com/en/media/2/12..._Shifter_p.jpg

5. JDM Exhaust Tips are 86mm wide
Same size as the bore & stroke of the boxer engine, and the same number as the chassis code AE86 which the GT86/BRZ/FR-S are based off.
http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/20...w-1024x640.jpg

6. "Kill-switch" Push-Button Start Location
Typical push-button starts now a days are location on the dash next to the steering wheel. Designers asked circuit drivers where they would recommend putting a push-button, and their answer was to put it similar to a kill-switch location for race cars.
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/brz/br...tecontrol1.jpg

7. Side sills are wider than most average vehicles
Designers wanted to lower the car and center of gravity as much as possible while keeping 13mm minimum road clearance for passenger vehicles. Thicker side sills ensure adequate rigidity.
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/brz/brz13-doorsill1.jpg

8. Smallest HVAC controls possible for dual-climate control.
Designers looked for the smallest HVAC control possible in order to ensure having enough controls for dual-zone climate control that didn't interfere with low dash. They ended up with airplane style switch buttons.
http://ichitaka05.files.wordpress.co...04281759_o.jpg

9. Smallest steering wheel fitted to a Toyota at 14.4"
And Subaru as well?
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/brz/br...ringwheel1.jpg

10. Uses the same Michelin Primacy HP 215/45R17 stock tires as a Prius.
Designed to be thin, low-resistant, and let the back end slip out for extra fun and lower speeds.
http://bycarinfo.com/wp-content/uplo...ing-Wheels.jpg
11. T-Shapes found all over.
Designers hid plenty of T's into the GT86/FR-S just in case you forgot you were driving a Toyota Sports car. Located in the front grill mesh, instrument cluster, faux-carbon fiber dash panel, window control cluster, HVAC cluster, and even the rear fog-light is shaped as a T.
http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/0/i/j/2/ag_13frs_gauges.JPG


12. 86 Piston Logo
This one is probably well known within the community, but there is likely some out there that are not aware, especially FR-S owners because the vehicle is not called a GT86. The fender logo of 86 with pistons symbolizes the horizontally opposed boxer engine with 86 in the center paying homage to the JDM version GT86, spiritual successor AE86, bore & stroke size, and the 86 even forms the shape of the wheels of the car while drifting.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...78947992_n.jpg

Thanks for the read!

Dear Lord ... We must find the... "T"s !!!

Great post and really enjoyed the little details !!

Thanks for the writeup!

Pretty cool

Cool stuff. Might add the T's represent the old Toyota logo for those that didn't know.

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index...ch=79978;image

not really hating... but im pretty sure all of these details are well known by the community by now.

No...
This is redundant but There will always be new people joining the community.

Love the write-up. As someone who didn't follow as closely as some members here, I loved all those little details :) Thanks for the writeup!

#10
 

Minor nit-pick, but I don't think #10 is correct. I don' believe the 215/45R17 are stock tires on a Prius (I believe stock rims on a Prius are 15"). However, I thonk there is some performance package you can buy for a Prius that does upgrade to that.

The size is different, but they're made of the exact same compound. Same tire, different size.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I know. Some of these I didn't even know about like the sill size, connection rod motif, & exhaust tip size. I thought I knew every little detail. I think everyone who knows everything about these cars has got one already, it is the newer members to the community who are looking to purchase, or recently purchased that I wrote this for. It is always interesting to here from the designers to see just exactly why something was designed the way it was, adds more character to the vehicle :)

You are correct, I was referring to the Prius performance package with 17" wheels. They are hybrid wheels on a sports car is probably better description hehe.

17" is standard on the Prius 5 package.

http://priuschat.com/threads/4-vs-5-...ckages.105285/

I love the fact that our cars are built in gunma, hometown of takumi fujiwara from initial d for those who like that show, must be fate...
And fujiwara/fuji heavy industries weird coincidence from a 15 year old show

Might I add that the FR-S comes with 4 wheels (and a spare if you got one)