Tokyo Motor Show: 2012 Toyota GT 86 Makes Grand Entrance

The 2012 Toyota GT 86 has been officially unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, marking Toyota's return to the sports car arena and paying tribute to Toyota's 50-year sports car heritage. To capture the spirit of the AE 86, the GT 86, the name reserved for Europe where sales start in June 2012, possesses a similar front-mounted engine and rear-wheel-drive layout. The 2+2-seater, two-door coupe is known as the 86 in Japan, and the FR-S in the US, where it is marketed under Toyota's subsidiary brand, Scion.

Measuring 4240 mm long, 1775 mm wide and 1285 mm tall, the GT 86 is claimed to be the most compact sports car on the market today. The front-to-rear weight distribution is near-perfect at 53:47, thanks to the powertrain and driving position which are set as low and as far back as technically possible. The centre of gravity is among the lowest at just 475 mm, while a kerb weight of 1180 kg ensures nimbleness and a superior power-to-weight ratio.

The all-new rear-wheel-drive platform on which the GT 86 is built features MacPherson struts at the front and double-wishbones at the back, along with ventilated disc brakes installed both at the front and rear. A limited slip differential enhances the all-round traction, while the vehicle stability control system can be switched off to minimise electronic intervention that is common in sports cars of today.

Mounted at the front is an engine developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru. Subaru's horizontally-opposed, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Boxer engine, with the addition of Toyota's D-4S direct injection, churns out 200 HP at 7000 rpm and 205 Nm at 6600 rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox with a short-throw lever and a six-speed automatic gearbox controlled via paddle-shifts are options.

Complementing the sporty exterior is a driver-focused cabin with a buckskin-trimmed, small-diameter steering wheel (said to be the smallest-ever fitted on a production Toyota model), a large three-meter instrument cluster and a prominent center screen for optimal ergonomics, as well as aluminium pedals, carbon-effect trim, red upholstery stitching, black roof lining and aviation-style rocker switches for a sporty visual appeal. Enjoy the live photo gallery of the 2012 Toyota GT 86 below!