A Gazoo Racing Toyota 86 Is Here, Along With A Whole Series Of 'GR' Cars
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to get you acquainted with Toyota’s new, Gazoo Racing-fettled performance car line-up. It’s convoluted range that covers everything from minivans to sports cars over three ‘levels’ of intensity, so do make sure you’re paying attention.
Let’s start at the top with one that should sound familiar: GRMN, currently used only on the Vitz - known the Yaris in most other markets. GRMN cars will be limited production, featuring extensive engine and chassis enhancements. In the case of the Vitz/Yaris, that means a 1.8-litre supercharged engine pinched from a Lotus Elise, upgraded springs and dampers, and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
Below that we have the halfway house, GR. Cars branded thusly are imbued with the “essence of GRMN,” according to Toyota. Just the Yaris and the 86 have been given the GR treatment so far, and for the 86, that means new aero devices, Sachs shock absorbers, Rays forged wheel, upgraded brakes with six-pot callipers at the front/four-pot callipers at the rear, and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
On the inside meanwhile you’ll find new Recaro seats, and a smaller diameter steering wheel. Oh, and before you ask, nothing’s been done under the bonnet. How about changing that with an 86 GRMN, Toyota?
Finally, we have the entry-level ‘GR Sport’ grade. This expands to a huge range of cars encompassing minivans and even the Prius, and focuses on more mild suspension tuning, additional chassis bracing and - in some cases - smaller, sportier steering wheels. Currently, it’s offered on the Vitz, Prius, Harrier, Mark X, Voxy and Noah models.
Much of the range is on sale now, with the 86 GR arriving next Spring. The cars you see here are for Japan only, but don’t panic, the Gazoo Racing goodness will eventually be spread to other markets. “Beginning with the Yaris GRMN revealed in Europe in March 2017, TMC plans to deploy the GR series outside of Japan as well gradually,” Toyota said today.
Watch this space…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I hope they are going to break the long Japanese tradition of modifying the Toyobaru without adding any power
Well it’s going to take them an eternity to break the tradition at this rate.
Legal reasons prevents either company from releasing an 86 with significantly more power. Subaru unvailed the car as an STi prototype, and TRD had an aftermarket supercharger for the 86/brz. My personal speculation is that toyota knows that subie can outdo them when it comes to performance, or they dont want the baby car stepping on the toes of future sports cars to come (and the STi)
But isn’t one defining feature of that car low power anyways?
The original AE86 defined itself as being a low-power car with tons of potential and this is supposed to be its successor.
Welp, Toyota has gone full “Gazoo Kid”.
DAMN IT TOO LATE
“Toyota has revealed a whole range of GR-branded cars for the Japan, with the upgraded eventually set to expand to other markets”
“cars for the Japan”
“the Japan”
The Japan is my city
I love how a base spec Camry has more power than a 86.
86 philosophy: handling>>power
They let you tune it to what you want
‘See nismo range of cars’
put in production gazoo range of cars
This name just sounds so strange
The new battle: Gazoo vs Nismo
Wut about TRD?
Waiting for Toyota to bring this to the U.S
Do you honestly expect a non-American manufacturer to bring a fun car/fun version of a car in North America?
All that and still No Engine upgrades
ALL THAT
205 HP
ALL OF THIS
205 HP
HOW ABOUT THIS? NO NO
205 HP
205*
Sooo…..it’s a tS with a Toyota badge…..K…I knew it would happen anyway
Is nobody else interested in the Prius. I mean yeah it’s a Prius but done right?
for the same amount of money to get a Prius “done right”, you can have things that are more exciting and people can stop questioning about your gender.