10 Little Toyota 86 Things

[v3rgil]

Like #1: You can fit four wheels in the back. In case you get lots of punctures.


Not really (the puncture bit). But Toyota made sure the "enthusiastic driver" could fit four spare wheels in the back for those track day visits. Nifty.


Like #2: The story behind the 86 badge.


Oh yes, there is one. As well as saying "86" in a kind of clever way, the four little cut outs are supposed to represent four wheels drifting. The pistons on either side of the badge represent the horizontally-opposed boxer engine.


Like #3: Frameless rear vision mirror.


You know how rear vision mirrors normally have a black bezel, frame thingo around their outside? Not this one - it's mirror right to the edge. And it's a world first, according to Toyota.


Like #4: the traction control and ESP.


Turning them off, we mean. Happy times guaranteed. The 86 is hilariously easy to slide.


Like #5: this tube here.


Let us explain why it is good. The tube is attached to the 86's air intake and goes into the footwells of the cabin. That way, you hear more of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder's rather delicious induction noise when you're mushing accelerator pedal into carpet. Above 4000rpm, the engine is noticeably louder. We'd like to thank the arm for pointing this out.

Random Toyota 86 thing we didn't know: the engine's bore and stroke is 86x86mm.


Like #6: Distinctive 86 triangle pattern.


See the weird triangular outline of this here rear foglamp? It's a special 'I'm-a-Toyota-86' thing. C why next


Like #6: Distinctive 86 triangle pattern (continued)


Not only is it on the rear foglamp, but it's also on the fake carbonfibre on the dashboard. But wait, it's everywhere...


Like #6: Distinctive 86 triangle pattern (continued)


...it's also on the seats! Highly enthusiastic 86 nerds (currently incubating in the car culture womb) will make t-shirts out of this pattern. You watch.


Like #7: the insanely unToyota instrument cluster.


A Camry's tacho and speedo are as exciting as potatoes in water. We can't believe that Toyota - Toyota! - made an instrument cluster with a centrally-mounted tacho. We really dig how far counterclockwise '0km/h' is on the speedo. Very supercarish.

(Nerds will also spot that triangular pattern here again.)


Like #8: Stig-friendly headrests (continued)


Some say Stig gets a sore neck (all of them) when he normally drives cars. That's because his helmet rubs up against the headrest. Not in the 86, which has been designed such that you can swap around the headrests (like this) when going to a track day, to better accommodate your helmeted head. Very, very nifty.

Random Toyota 86 thing we didn't know: it goes on sale June 8. Or the 8/6. Get it?


Like #9: sexy raised bonnet bits - look closely.


You know when you're driving a 911, because you can see the tops of the headlights raised up through the windscreen ahead of you. Well, weren't we quite stoked to see a similar thing in the 86! Because it uses a low-lying boxer engine, Toyota was able to sink the middle of the bonnet down low, giving way to sexy creased edges above the front wheels. Nice.


Like #10: rollcage-friendly door handles.



More good news, trackday TopGearers! According to Toyota, the door handles have been strategically positioned to facilitate the easy fitment of a rollcage (otherwise you'd install your rollcage and then become trapped inside your 86 forever, apparently).

Random Toyota 86 thing we didn't know: the exhaust pipe diameter is 86mm. How nerdy.

And there you have it! If you're still craving Toyota 86, we can help you.

[sav]

Scary that I knew all of that, except for #8.

[tuckdaddy]

Badass I really didn't know about number 8 but knew most everything else.

[GT86drifter]

you forgot the little bump on the center dash so you always know the center of the car attacking corners

[sav]

Cool, I didn't know that either.

[GT86drifter]

also for #9 real reason the arches are there so you know exactly where the front wheels are so you can keep your line as tight as possible on the track

[whaap]

Originally Posted by GT86drifter

also for #9 real reason the arches are there so you know exactly where the front wheels are so you can keep your line as tight as possible on the track

I always thought the arches were there as necessary space for the front suspension.

[jshadeck]

Agree w all but #7, i really liked the instrument panel in my is300 and the lfas cluster is a-ma-zing

[Thavash]

Originally Posted by jshadeck

Agree w all but #7, i really liked the instrument panel in my is300 and the lfas cluster is a-ma-zing

Agreed - Toyota have always made some funky instrument clusters. Like the original IS200 which looked like a watch. Even the 3.0l Cressida's in the 1980's had a crazy digital dash.

[jshadeck]

Originally Posted by Thavash

Agreed - Toyota have always made some funky instrument clusters. Like the original IS200 which looked like a watch. Even the 3.0l Cressida's in the 1980's had a crazy digital dash.

Was the orginal is200 different than my is300? Heres what mine had

[sav]

That looks cool. I still think the 86's analogue speedometer is a massive fail because it's so hard to read quickly. They should have given them all the digital speedo and used that space for oil pressure and temp.

[jshadeck]

Originally Posted by sav

That looks cool. I still think the 86's analogue speedometer is a massive fail because it's so hard to read quickly. They should have given them all the digital speedo and used that space for oil pressure and temp.

Completely agree w the analog speedo, but appearance wise i like the twins cluster. Function wise, yes it would be nice to have oil and maybe boost gauge in that location

[gmookher]

A la Porsche

[travace]

the headrest thing is cool.