Very few cars of late have created as much of a buzz amongst car enthusiasts as the Toyota GT86. The joint venture between Subaru and Toyota has produced a car that has all of its efforts pointed in the direction of driving pleasure. GT86’s don’t cost the Earth, are Toyota bullet proof and as previously mention, a riot to drive. TRD, or Toyota Racing Development as they are known in full, has got their hands on these fantastic sports cars producing a limited run of just 250 for the UK with a few added toys over the standard car. We have the keys to one of them…
Ok, the obvious question first. What is the difference between the standard car and this TRD model? The answer is not too much actually. Firstly there is that much more aggressive bodykit which fills out he profile of the car nicely and gives the machine a butch appearance. Next up are the wider Yokohama tyres in tandem with a set of shiny new alloy wheels. However, the most mechanical change you will find is the addition of a quad exhaust system. Now the 86 is a great car as standard and so not medaling with a successful formula is wise, that said the car could do with an extra 20 or 30BHP, something the TRD does not bring to the table. 197BHP, 0-62MPH in 7.6 seconds are unchanged from the standard car.
Approaching the TRD you get to admire that new slightly swollen body. It really does make it look like a serious bit of kit and does a very good job of separating it from the base car. The profile is sleek but this cars character is written all over it. It just screams rear wheel drive fun! Long bonnet, snug cockpit and a sort rear overhang are all things that get us petrol heads a bit excited.
Getting into the car and being hugged by those heavily bolstered seats puts you in the prime position to survey all of the things Toyota are getting right with this car. The dashboard is focused with the rev counted being placed centrally. Its console isn’t cluttered and just houses the necessities. Rear seating may be a bit of a squeeze but rest assured that there is space in the car to store four spare track tyres.
Hitting the starter button brings the GT86 TRD to life with those new exhausts giving the car a slightly deeper tone. Bumbling around town the GT86 is comfortable with a much more compliant ride than many competitors. The slightly larger alloys don’t thud into potholes and the steering is well weighted. Visibility is good allowing this car to be considered as a genuine daily driver. Picking up the pace, the GT86 shines bright with excellent handling and the most delicious gear changes. It just seems to leap from bend to bend like a deer, completely effortless in its function. The steering at speed is direct and full of feeling allowing accurate and rewarding corning capabilities. The new rubber is noticeable when directly comparing this car to the standard. Where the base model was quite loose around the hips, the TRD has more grip allowing for higher cornering speeds. A cheeky drift is still very possible, but you can feel that this car is a bit more about lap time and not getting an ASBO. Does that take some of the fun away from the GT86? Yes and no. Whilst going sideways in this car is intoxicating and clearly a very big selling point, the TRD has a bit more focus, that in my opinion, makes hitting an apex a bit more thrilling. Putting your foot to the floor reveals brisk acceleration but, as mentioned earlier, the 2.0 litre boxer could do with just a tad more power. Throttle response is sharper as the new exhaust system aids the engine to breath better.
The Toyota GT86 TRD is a brilliant car and a real wake up call to all those manufacturers who gave up on the affordable sports car. Every time I get behind the wheel of this car I leave it with a big dirty grin on my face. The TRD does demand a premium of £6,500 (making it £31,495) over the standard car and for that you get all of the previously mentioned extras and an exclusive spot in this one of 250 club. Is it worth the extra money? In short, no. The TRD is a fantastic machine but the price does leave me and many others thinking what would we do with a standard GT86 and a spare £6,500.
Oh how I have waited like an impatient child for today! I love sports cars, there is just such freedom in their design, in their function and the way they make you feel when it is time to play. The Toyota GT86 has been coveted by the worlds press and won many awards from magazines. However, its popularity is the very reason it has taken me so long to get the opportunity to drive it. Enough drivel about my anticipation, let’s get down to the bit you really care about… The car.
You know when someone watches a big blockbuster film before you do and they say how “amazing” it is, but then when you get round to watching it the hype leads the film to be a slight disappointment? Well, the Toyota GT86 is nothing like that. This car not only met my high expectations but exceeded them. This well priced 2+2 is equipped with a flat four boxer engine that sends 197BHP to the rear wheels. This recipe sounds good already doesn’t it? Factor in that this good looking machine can be yours for under £25,000 and you know you are onto a winner.
Inside the cabin is snug and the driving position is absolutely spot on for a sports car. The seats are supportive and the minimalistic architecture of the interior leaves no distraction for the driver. This car is all about the way it moves and my goodness it can dance! The steering is razer sharp in its response to inputs and has fantastic levels of feedback. Its gearbox provides a satisfying swap of cogs every time and just begs that you use it to drop down a gear. Revving to 7,400RMP the GT86 thrived on the Alpine test track at Millbrook revealing a rather cheeky character when you really start to push. It’s hips wiggle with a twitch of the throttle upon the exit of a corner and when the rear does come out to play it is just so manageable.
As you can probably tell, the Toyota GT86 scores very highly in my books and does a heroic job of bringing the fun back to our roads that are clogged with crossovers. We hope to snag the keys long enough for a full review soon.
Todays world is packed with clever little gadgets and gizmos. iPod’s transform your music library into a small on-the-go box, mobile phones turn miles of cables into a go-anywhere device, even tape measures today are packed with lasers and the like. It appears the trend is to make everything smaller but more functional, but how to do that in the motor industry? The last car to spark such a revolution was the original Mini Cooper but with todays health and safety flim-flam engineers cant be as creative as they would like to be.
Toyota say they have gotten smart with their iQ (excuse the pun). This is the smallest car on sale today measuring just 3 meters in length and despite this it still seats four. From the outside the little iQ looks as fashionable as the latest offering of training shoes and in white I think even the fabled Steve Jobs would approve. Its simplicity in design makes for a clean and well finished exterior. But what about inside? Surely its size is to its detriment?
Incredibly the answer to that question is no! Ok, so you probably shouldn’t expect business class levels of space and comfort but for a car of this size its a bit of a TARDIS. Upfront the clear layout of the dashboard, centre console and compact wheel all amplify the good levels of room. The iQ lacks a conventional glovebox in favor of giving the front passenger a couple of inches more in terms of legroom. In the back there is room for two medium sized adults thanks to an intuitive layout that takes full advantage of every millimeter of space the cabin has to offer. It isn’t claustrophobic and the view out of the car is rather good thanks to the proximity of the front windscreen. I wouldn’t like to spend more than an hour in the back, but as a city run-about that eventuality is unlikely. The only real downfall of the interior is that with the two rear seats upright the only cargo you will be fitting in the boot are envelopes. Not good news for those hoping to get the weekly shop with the kids in the back.
Our test car was the base 1.0 litre model with a few toys such as keyless go. On the move the little engine was perky getting out of junctions with the revvy motor. However once you get to about 35MPH it rather begins to run out of puff. Though designed for the city we decided to take the iQ on a trip down the dual carriageway well out of its comfort zone. This showed as it will get to 70MPH (eventually) but not do allot more once it gets there. Heading back into a busy town the iQ comes into its own with a turning circle that has to be seen to be believed! Parking, as you can imagine, is a piece of cake in such a small car and with parking sensors you will surprise yourself as to the size of spaces that you can get into.
In terms of practicality, efficiency and engineering the iQ is well worth its £9,995 starting price. Is it a modern-day incarnation of the original Mini? No, and I shall tell you why. Though the iQ is extremely functional and very good at being an urban mover, it just lacks character. Your dishwasher, for example, is very good at washing dishes but you don’t form any sort of attachment to it. Its the same with the iQ, it just lacks personality that a little car such as this should have. Its not a deal breaker if you literally use a car to get from a to b and care not for the experience, but to someone who enjoys driving some of its larger competitors do offer a better time behind the wheel.
So overall the iQ is very well built and extremely safe thanks to its 9 airbags. Bounding around town it offers everything you could want but much in the same way you don’t thank your iPod for playing music, you won’t appreciate the iQ for anything more than its function.
