First clear look at GR86 / BRZ prototype during testing

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Marrk

@AnalogMan: The post-war years were a Golden Age of sports car design, so you're setting a high standard. I wish we could get back to those kinds of cars and that kind of driving.

About the humps — and this is the last that I will say about them (I hope) — I think the idea is good, but the execution is hokey. They seem added on rather than an organic part of the design. If you want humps, go to the Ferrari Dino, or the Porsche 904, or something like that. I could be a happy humper with cars like those.

That said, the current BRZ has a lot going for it. Especially since we don't live in the sports car-rich environment of the 1960s.

Totally agree @Marrk. Unfortunately, cars will just never be as beautiful again as they were in the 1950's. Because now companies are infested with the greatest embodiment of pure, counter-productive, soul-sucking, creativity-killing evil known to mankind: the committee.

Cars used to be largely the dream of one particular designer. Legendary greats like Harley Earl, Giorgetto Guigiaro, Battista Farina, Virgil Exner, Alec Issigonis, Colin Chapman, Bill Mitchell, Siochiro Honda, and others. They gave us the cars of legend many of us had posters of on our bedroom walls when we were kids (or adults). They were visionaries, they dreamed up things no one else could, and they pushed them through to reality.

Now companies are paralyzed in the stifling morass of committees. When a committee designs something, it regresses to the lowest common denominator. The goal is not to offend anyone. If you have to make a design inoffensive to a room full of bureaucrats, you're not going to get anything out of the process that will take your breath away.

The Japanese business philosophy of 'building consensus' is in part a nice way of appeasing and appealing to everyone and offending no one. Honda used to produce such distinctive designs, and then they died a slow death by committee. Mazda is one of the few car companies left that still tries to stick to its roots, keeps an element of soulfulness in (some of) its cars and still makes things like the Miata. Given the realities of the 21st century and the towering Toyota bureaucracy, I'm amazed the BRZ/86 turned out as distinctive as it did.

As far as the humps being added on vs an organic part of the design, I could make a salacious and inappropriately non-woke comment with a comparison to other hump-like things that could be added on, and whether added humps are as desirable as natural humps. But I won't. Humps are humps. However they got there, and I think they look good on the BRZ.

[jeffchap]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Contrary to what this thread title states I am still waiting for a "clear" look at the car. We have no idea what the camo may be hiding even though some seem to have x-ray vision.

Not only that, but they sometimes stick fake bumpers, vents, tail lights, etc. on these mules to further camouflage them.

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[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by jeffchap

Not only that, but they sometimes stick fake bumpers, vents, tail lights, etc. on these mules to further camouflage them.

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That's more common with German automakers and or early stage development. Using the current car during testing in 2011 as an example, its pretty much just camo wrap.

[Vides990]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

That's more common with German automakers and or early stage development. Using the current car during testing in 2011 as an example, its pretty much just camo wrap.

Thanks for posting those pics, definitely hadn't seen them in a while. Really shows the curves and sharp lines missing from gen2, which appears more smooth and bulbous, or supraish.

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by D1cker

You're down to a Camaro, Mustang, MX5 or a BRZ/86.

+370Z. Lighter and far more of a sportscar than a Mustang, although the Z is really like a Japanese pony car.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by Red-86

+370Z. Lighter and far more of a sportscar than a Mustang, although the Z is really like a Japanese pony car.

370Z = 3232 el bees. 1,000 more than any man needs. .



For Context:

Mustang 3825 lbs.
McLaren F1 2501 lbs.
t.50 2160 lbs.
BRZ 2776 lbs.
MX-5 2341 lbs.
Lotus Elise 2010 lbs.
Lotus Evora 3175 lbs.
Honda S2000 2864 lbs.

[beltax90]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

That's more common with German automakers and or early stage development. Using the current car during testing in 2011 as an example, its pretty much just camo wrap.

speaking of sticking a bunch of fake bumpers, taillights, etc. on mules to camo them being a German automaker thing:

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by beltax90

speaking of sticking a bunch of fake bumpers, taillights, etc. on mules to camo them being a German automaker thing:

Yup, it's common refer to as body cladding. There used to be a video on Youtube of how BMW does it at their testing center. Literally guys just drilling faux paneling onto the body of the car, and sometimes even wrapping camo on top of that.

Toyota, and other automakers do it from time to time as well, but the Germans take it to a whole other level imo. For example the LS testing cycle.

Early stage testing. New platform under the current LS shell.


Production car with faux camo and lights.


Production car with mostly just camo wrap.

[beltax90]

yes, am very aware

super fun looking job, drilling garbage can lids onto cars

[vh_supra26]

^Thanks for finding the vid.

Originally Posted by Vides990

Thanks for posting those pics, definitely hadn't seen them in a while. Really shows the curves and sharp lines missing from gen2, which appears more smooth and bulbous, or supraish.

Anytime. I guess it depends on which camp you're in. Some like the sleeker look like with the original FT-86 concept. For me I'll hold off judgement until we see official pics from Toyota. All I know is that it can't look any worse then the Zupra with 8 fake vents and odd Milhouse looking nose.

[Dirty Harry]

Test mule?

Refer article below.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/879681/...n-turbo-power/

Article goes on a bit about the non turbo engine but probably fair guess it’s doing engine testing and links to the original forum it was posted on.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

Test mule?

Refer article below.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/879681/...n-turbo-power/

Article goes on a bit about the non turbo engine but probably fair guess it’s doing engine testing and links to the original forum it was posted on.

hard to even conclude its a test mule.

i could be blind but i dontt see the rear mounted temp sensors anywhere...but the badging was definately taped up for some reason...

and it DOESNT sound turbocharged?....well its a current gen BRZ or 86....almost completely intact...so it can also completely be a current gen 86/brz with no modifications...hell it could just be a regular 86/brz that someone taped the rear badge to troll wannabe spy shooters.

[Dirty Harry]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

hard to even conclude its a test mule.

i could be blind but i dontt see the rear mounted temp sensors anywhere...but the badging was definately taped up for some reason...

and it DOESNT sound turbocharged?....well its a current gen BRZ or 86....almost completely intact...so it can also completely be a current gen 86/brz with no modifications...hell it could just be a regular 86/brz that someone taped the rear badge to troll wannabe spy shooters.

I think it being in Vegas and having Michigan manufacturer plates was the thinking behind it being a test mule. Yeah turbo/non turbo talk was just fluff to fill up the article I think. Probably doing hot climate testing.

[weederr33]

Refresh my memory, when will we get an official unveiling of the actual car?