Product attributes
The 2+2 fastback coupé is noted for its naturally-aspirated boxer engine, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive configuration, 53/47 front/rear weight balance and low centre of gravity — and for drawing inspiration from Toyota's earlier AE86, a small, light, front-engine/rear-drive Corolla variant widely popular for Showroom Stock, Group A, and Group N, Rally, Club and drift racing.
For the first-generation model, Toyota marketed the sports car as the 86 in Asia, Australia, North America (from August 2016), South Africa, and South America; as the Toyota GT86 in Europe; as the 86 and GT86 in New Zealand; as the Toyota FT86 in Brunei, Nicaragua and Jamaica and as the Scion FR-S (2012–2016) in the United States and Canada. The second-generation model is marketed by Toyota as the GR86 as a reference to its Gazoo Racing division.
Motorsport
In 2011 Subaru unveiled the Super BRZ Concept STi and their latest entry in the Super GT series GT300-category. R&D Sport developed the BRZ GT300 to replace their Legacy for the 2012 season using the EJ20 engine.
The Toyota 86 MC also competes in the GT300, but unlike the BRZ GT300 it is based on a standard Super GT Dome-produced chassis and GT Association-branded Nissan V8 engine. Only the name and body style are shared with the production car. In 2016 VivaC team Tsuchiya's 86 MC won the GT300 driver and team championships, with Takeshi Tsuchiya and Takamitsu Matsui at the wheel.
Toyota worked in partnership with Gazoo Racing to develop the 86 for motorsports, with both supporting private teams in the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and All-Japan Rally Championship. Gazoo Racing entered cars in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, winning the SP3 class in 2012. Privateers Toyota Swiss Racing also claimed the V3 category in the same year. UK-based GPRM developed a turbocharged version for classification in the European SRO Group GT4 category, without formal factory backing but "with the blessing of Toyota Great Britain". Race engine development work on the 2.0l boxer unit was carried out by Nicholson McLaren Engines. The car ran practice sessions at 2013 British GT round 3 at Silverstone but withdrew during FP2 when the car dropped oil. In 2014 the car ran four rounds in the Invitational category; starting 2015 in the same category but running as a full entry from R3 onwards.
In the United States Ken Gushi used a GPP Scion Racing FR-S built by GReddy Racing for the US Formula Drift championship. The FR-S features a turbocharged EJ25 boxer engine from a Subaru WRX STI producing more than 450 kW (600 bhp). Ryan Tuerck drove a Scion FR-S powered by a stroked 2JZ-GTE producing more than 520 kW (700 bhp) for Retaks Backpacks and Maxxis Tires in the 2013 US Formula Drift championship. Also in 2013, the FR-S replaced the Scion tC for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. In all cases the competition FR-S were standard production units modified for racing safety and reliability. By contrast the 86 entered by Nobuhiro Tajima to compete at the 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb only used the production car silhouette.
