Photos courtesy of Toyota Press

After years of anticipation and excitement, the long wait is over. Toyota Motor Philippines uncovers the legendary 86 sports coupe in June of 2012. Made famous by car enthusiast, the number “86” presents multiple meanings behind it, including the rich history of Toyota sports cars and the emotions that went into building this vehicle. It shares the same number based on the motor show concept “FT-86”, which in turn was patterned on the 1982 Toyota AE86 also known as the hachiroku; a car which never relied on beastly horsepower but instead on a combination of a lightweight design, responsive power and a perfect balance. 30 years later, the 86 is reborn with the spirit and the heart of its predecessors; the 2000GT, Sports 800 and the AE86.

The creation of the 86 was fueled by Toyota’s years of engineering, innovation and lengthy racing heritage. In engineering Toyota’s goal is to create a unique rear-wheel drive sports car that is fun to drive. Made with compelling style, extraordinary balance and superb handling, all of these characteristics are realized by the 86. It is powered by a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine, which delivers 200hp and 205nm of torque mated with a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission gearbox.  The manual transmission offers quick and responsive gear shifting ratios combined with a short-throw shift knob. Meanwhile, the automatic gearbox features an aggressive up shift and rev-matched down shifts both initiated by the steering wheel mounted paddle shifter. The immense power pushed through the pavement is made possible by the newly developed limited-slip differential. The idea of achieving an extraordinary balanced vehicle is grasped by the 86’s lightweight design and short wheel base. This combination allows the 86 to be quick and nimble in and out of every corner. The weight of the 86 is kept to a supreme minimum of 1200 kg. The 86 also has an exceptional front to rear weight distribution ratio of 53:47.


The 86 is a sports car icon in every angle. The front bumper is low and aggressive matched with stunning and dramatic lines.  The rear features a trapezoidal shape bumper with unique tail lamps and center positioned reverse lights. The roof features a pagoda layout to channel airflow smoothly above the car. With the evolution of the aerodynamic technologies accumulated through Toyota’s experience in Formula One and other high performance research, the engineers of the 86 developed a body that enables superior balance of down force and drag as well as overall handling stability. This enables the 86 to respond to every input of the driver even at extremely high speeds. Functional beauty is much more than mere beautiful styling. It is a synergetic combination of aesthetic and mechanical innovation fused together using advanced technology which delivers superior driving quality.

The interior shares the same concept of having a unique design matched with form and function. Everything about the 86 has been designed to induce fun in driving. Exterior lines and surfaces have been shaped specifically to let the driver identify where each corner of the vehicle is at. The bucket seats are assertive and are mounted low as possible to the ground without sacrificing comfort. It also offers a 2+2 seating configuration with a foldable cargo area. The large center mounted tachometers are designed to keep the driver informed of the engine dials. To help the driver extract the most out of the 86, it is equipped with a shift light indicator illuminated in red to signal precise shifting. As a philosophy Toyota believes that getting into a sports car should be like entering another world and leaving ordinary life behind. The feel when driving the 86 channels a sensation of uniting the car with the driver. The 86 is a definition of a true sports car that offers hardcore car enthusiasts the fun and pleasure a driver truly deserves.


The 86 comes in 7 stylish colors: Satin White Pearl, Sterling Silver Metallic, Orange Metallic, Lightning Red, Galaxy Blue Silica, Dark Gray Metallic  and Crystal Black Silica.

It comes in 3 different variants: Manual Transmission priced at P1,550,000, Automatic Transmission priced at P1,650,000 and a sportier Aero variant is also available which features a wrap-around body kit and a rear spoiler priced at P1,875,000. A White Pearl color option is also available on all variants for an additional P15,000.


For more information on the 86, log on to its official website, www.area86.ph. You may also visit TMP’s website www.toyota.com.ph or contact our Customer Assistance Center at +632-819-2912 or visit any of the 32 authorized Toyota dealers nationwide.