86 Toyota FT-86: First Official Photos of Near-Production RWD Sports Coupe

[mini_cooper4]

Martinbo was saying, Torsen limited slip differential IS a mechanical differential. They keep referring to it as an electronic LSD, which is ignorance on their part. It will be standard on all FT-86.

I think Toyota should make the power around 230 - 240 HP (which should be easy to get from a 2.0 Liter naturally aspirated direct injected engine) and with 2400 - 2600 lbs weight this car will be perfect.

Sorry I meant electronic LSD. Thanks for the correction

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

If they get around 230-240 hp out the 2.0L, which I doubt barring a turbocharger, this could be the heir-apparent to Honda's beloved S2000.

That said, I'm surprised they are that adamant about not offering a turbo as an option when it comes out or during its product run.

Also, that side vent looks non-functional, thus making the cheesy vent even cheesier.

 

[Centurion]

Easy to get 240 hp NA from a 2.0 4 cylinder? Surely not..

I agree that is like 120hp per litre and wold put the engine in class with the F430 Scuderia and GT3.

 

[Centurion]

It seems like the photos of a broschure were legit. He's the first real shot of the interior:

Engine power is rumoured to be a slightly heart breaking 200hp with a similar torque figure to match at about 6000rpm. However the short gear ratios does mitigate the lack of grunt low rpm torque. Sadly there won't be turbo version of the car. So it will very much be an enthusiast car. Success will likely be hindered given that the Golf GTi has been loved and praised with 200hp to match. Given that this car is technically more sophisticated, it should be still be a thrilling car. Let's hope Toyota don't give it snob pricing like they did with the LF-A

First drive:

Toyota FT-86 coupe (2012) CAR review | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online

 

[330CIZHP]

Got the specs for it:


Power: 205 PS @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 152 ft-lbs @ 6600 rpm
Weight: 1210 KG (2662 lbs)
Length: 166 inches
Width: 70 inches
Wheelbase: 101 inches
Height: 50.5 inches
Power to weight ratio: 12.9 PS/HP

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

more brochure pics

New Toyota FT-86 Shots Bring Specifications into the Light

Looks like the basic is really basic! Shot in the dark, esp. since my Japanese is lacking, I guess so it can be easily modified.

Despite some detail issues, the more I see it, the more I like it.

 

[Sunny]

Like what I am reading especially the weight part - has the makings of a modern day E30.

 

[NarutoRamen]

It's WAY under 3000lbs, so that 200hp should be plenty.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

But is it 2662 lbs. sans equipment and amenities?

 

[Deutsch]

All looks and sounds good. Question for me is: how far and low does that seat go to accommodate my6'5" frame??

 

[Guibo]

But is it 2662 lbs. sans equipment and amenities?

Probably yes. That would likely be for the base model with manual transmission before any options. It's still a good figure though. That's about 40 kg lighter than what the old US-spec Nissan 240SX weighed before it moved slightly upmarket and got fat. With the sloping roofline, longish hood, low-slung stance and price point, the FT-86 is almost like a modern interpretation of that car IMO. Basic equipment is probably higher on the FT-86, as is modern safety equipment and crash structures, plus hardware to handle 60 more horses...and it weighs less.

Perhaps something that might be of concern is Ben Barry getting out of shape in his test drive. Toyota can ill-afford a car that might seem "dangerous" at this point. What is "fun" to us or to people who can handle it can take on a darker connotation to the general public, especially in the American market. I think for the enthusiast driver with a bit of sense, the modest tire sizes and compliant sidewall look to be a good recipe for great fun on real-world roads.


Here's Matt Prior's review:

Toyota FT-86 2.0 First Drive

Test date 28 October 2011
Price as tested £20,000

What is it?

We’ve been waiting a long time for the Toyota FT-86. Literally, because we’ve seen a lot of the concept. But figuratively, too: Toyota is promising the FT-86 will deliver a return to sports car purity that is driven by feel and intuition, not lap times and lateral grip levels. We’ve wanted a car like that for a long while.

“Sports cars have gotten boring,” Toyota says. “They’re only interested in going fast.” The FT-86 is meant to amend that, to bring speeds down but take the enjoyment up, not unlike the Caterham 7 Supersport which we’ve fallen for recently.

The FT-86 is on a new platform that has been co-developed with Subaru (whose Subaru BRZ will be distinctly similar). We still don’t have all the technical details because it’s some way from launch – sales start in June 2012, following the production car’s unveiling at the end of November 2011.

What I can tell you is that it’s “as small as possible for a four-seater sports car,” which means it weighs 1280kg. It has a 2.0-litre flat-four petrol engine in the front, naturally aspirated, which is supplied by Subaru but gets Toyota’s D4-S direct injection system. It makes 197bhp.

The key things to add are these: it drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and a Torsen limited-slip differential. And the tyres are the same modest 215/45 R17 items you’ll find on a Toyota Prius.

Oh, and the ESP can be completely switched off.

What’s it like?

As much fun as you’d hope. I drove a disguised car on a deserted airfield last May (wasn’t supposed to be able to tell you about it until the end of November, but recent revelations have brought that forward a bit ), and it still makes me smile to think about it now.

First impressions: it feels light and compact, a bit like an MX-5. The driving position is low, straight and snug, with grippy front seats (and not a lot of room in the back).

The Toyota FT-86 feels quick enough, too, with a precise if a touch notchy gearchange, and an engine note that’s a bit growly – there’s not much flat-four burble. Tweaking the NVH is high on Toyota’s ‘to-do’ list. It has a broad power curve - it revs to 7500 but there’s no desperate need to wind it that far past the mid-range.

It’s hard to accurately guage the ride on a concrete airfield, but the FT-86 feels quite deftly set-up, light on its feet, with a touch of tyre roar that’s to be expected.

It steers easily too. At 2.5 turns lock-to-lock the steering’s quick without being hyperactive, and is light-to-middling in weight. It all adds to the impression that this is going to be an easy car to get along with.

Find a corner and you’ll find some roll, but its rate is well contained. The FT-86’s weight distribution is 53/47 per cent front/rear, so it’ll nudge into steady-state understeer if you’re on a constant throttle, where it grips moderately well and is pleasingly poised.

The great thing about the FT-86 though is, as promised, it really handles. It lets you choose how you want to corner. Add any amount of power and it’ll turn at least neutral. Trail the brakes into a bend, give a mid-corner throttle-lift or, well, just give the steering a bit of a bung and lots of throttle and it’ll either straighten its line or give you armfuls of oversteer, utterly as you prefer.

There’s still a bit of tweaking to do on the damping, but it’s 90 per cent of the way there. As it is, in third gear the FT-86 will run out of power to keep a long slide going (if you like that sort of thing), so inevitably it takes momentum rather than power to play games with the chassis. But if you add more power to compensate then you’ll want a turbo and bigger stoppers too, and that adds weight, and, well – that’s where the downward spiral starts, right?

“The key development for the FT-86 is that it’s a front-engined, rear-drive car with intuitive handling,” says Toyota.

“A fun car is a car you can control. We rejected the idea of a car developed using numbers. It must have front-engine/rear-drive, a naturally-aspirated engine and a low centre of gravity.”

Should I buy one?

I suspect those who do won’t regret it. The Toyota FT-86 will need a change in attitude: this car’s not about delivering ultimate acceleration or lap times, it’s just about having fun.

The FT-86’s modest limits and power mean that it should prove enjoyable on the road: you’ll be able to get more out of it, more often, than you could a much faster and more theoretically capable sports car, whose reward is more often than not limited by visibility and sensibility.

It’d be terrific fun on a track day, too. It’s light enough to not wear out its consumables quickly and, while an FT-86 wouldn’t be the fastest way around a circuit, there aren’t too many cars out there – certainly not at its predicted £20k-odd price tag – that could put a bigger smile on their driver’s face.

Toyota FT-86 - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

 

[Merc1]

At least it looks better than the Subaru version.


M

 

[mini_cooper4]

For the first time in my life I'm in love with a Toyota...
I'm in love with the idea for such a car !!!! Haven't been so enthused about a car lately...
This car is a future classic for sure and will put so many smiles on so many faces...
1230kg. for a high spec car and 205PS is my dream everyday/fun car. Fuel economy is a factor too and of course PRICE
I love affordable cars for enthusiasts when done the RIGHT WAY

 

[330CIZHP]

I am worried the curb weight of 2662 lbs does not end up becoming 28XX lbs because the 2662 lbs was the dry weight.

 

[330CIZHP]

.

 

[q5s]

Anyone care to explain what's the fascination with this car?
How is it different from say a honda s2000 we had 10 years ago?
Personally I think the honda looked a million times better, didn't have 2 useless back seats, offered open top motoring, a 2l 240bhp 9k rpm screaming vtec engine and was very lairy to drive (to say the least). No esp/electronic gizmos. Can't see it being much heavier than the toyota either. Is it a price thing? As for a subaru with anything other than 300+ turboed horses channeled through all 4 wheels, not interested.

 

[Guibo]

Anyone care to explain what's the fascination with this car?
How is it different from say a honda s2000 we had 10 years ago?
Personally I think the honda looked a million times better, didn't have 2 useless back seats, offered open top motoring, a 2l 240bhp 9k rpm screaming vtec engine and was very lairy to drive (to say the least). No esp/electronic gizmos. Can't see it being much heavier than the toyota either. Is it a price thing? As for a subaru with anything other than 300+ turboed horses channeled through all 4 wheels, not interested.

Partly it's the price. An S2000 was $33k 10 years ago; that would be over $40k in today's money. Those back seats look useful enough for kids or small adults for short trips, so I wouldn't rate that as useless. Even when used for cargo, that's a helluva lot more space than what the S2000 offered. Not everyone wants a convertible; a fixed top is more refined, offers less chance of vandalism. It will also be at least Euro 5 compliant; not sure if the S2000 ever was.
Partly it's the fact that nothing quite like an S2000 is available today. Not even from Honda. If the Honda S2000 was something worth being excited about, then the FT-86 should be too, for people wanting a reasonably cheap, light, fun car. The difference is that it will be available in the near future. The S2000 is not.

I am worried the curb weight of 2662 lbs does not end up becoming 28XX lbs because the 2662 lbs was the dry weight.

That's a good point. I wish these manufacturers would quit listing dry weights. And from what I've read elsewhere, that "Low-spec" model might even be lacking in A/C and stereo.

 

[Centurion]

Anyone care to explain what's the fascination with this car?
How is it different from say a honda s2000 we had 10 years ago?
Personally I think the honda looked a million times better, didn't have 2 useless back seats, offered open top motoring, a 2l 240bhp 9k rpm screaming vtec engine and was very lairy to drive (to say the least). No esp/electronic gizmos. Can't see it being much heavier than the toyota either. Is it a price thing? As for a subaru with anything other than 300+ turboed horses channeled through all 4 wheels, not interested.

The big deal about the car is that it will be a poor man's Cayman, but in the most positive sense. It's good that the brought up the well acclaimed S2000 since it embodies a similar spirit, but the S2000 was pretty much in the Z4/TT/SLK price bucket. The Toyota FT-86 will be cheaper, probably even undercutting the GTI a bit. Currently the FT-86 does not have a peer with similar sophistication and sports car pedigree. Most "sports cars" around the 25k mark are either FWD/AWD hatchbacks or overly comfy roadsters with tin roofs.

 

[q5s]

I figured it would be the price. What about the mx5? That's like 167bhp some 30bhp down but is lighter and is an open top 2-seater. I hate 2+2s with a passion and love open top motoring. I also hate most (but not all!) japanese design both inside & out. The toyota exterior & interior I would characterize as cheap & nasty. A vw would be more right up my alley (like the one below) or a new z3 (although bmw have stopped making cars I love a long time ago).

 

[Sunny]

I hate 2+2s with a passion and love open top motoring. I also hate most (but not all!) japanese design both inside & out.

So you are biased against everything this car is and then wonder why others who don't share your prejudices are excited about it?