Toyota and Subaru have both revealed the updated versions of the GR86 and BRZ respectively for the 2025 model year. Now, if you’re expecting any aesthetic changes or added power, sorry, that’s not happening.
Instead, updates to the Toyobaru twins are limited to improvements to its steering and handling. In the case of the GR86, a limited-edition color—Rigid Green (see lead photo)—will be made available by lottery.
First, let’s look at the GR86. For 2025, Toyota has tweaked it based on “feedback from professional racecar drivers.” The changes include improvements to the body shell, changes to the shock absorbers, and tweaks to the electric power steering control. For manual transmission variants, engineers modified the throttle characteristics for easier “blipping,” while for the automatic transmission variants, there’s an expanded engine-speed tolerance range during downshifts.
All in all, Toyota says the updates provide “a better sense of contact with the ground, better steering response, and better linearity.”
In terms of equipment, the GR86 now gets the option of LED daytime running lights and a tire pressure warning system.
If you’re curious about the Rigid Green Limited, it’s limited to a 200-unit run. Apart from the eye-catching color, it also gets bronze-colored wheels, black and tan seats, and special embroidery on the door trim. It also adds SACH shock absorbers and Brembo brakes.
Now onto the BRZ. It gets the very same updates to its steering and suspension, but instead of tire pressure sensors and DRLs, Subaru engineers have added a new Sport mode exclusively for manual transmission variants.
Also developed with the help of the BRZ’s participation in the Super Taikyu racing series, the Sport mode “ensures that the engine responds more faithfully to the accelerator operation.” The volume of the speaker enhanced engine sound—Active Sound Control—has also been increased when this mode is engaged.
Both the 2025 Toyota GR86 and BRZ will be made available first in Japan this month. Other markets will soon follow.
Still, as well as given how it got updated, the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ only finds itself as being fed with hype than to be driven with heritage as it also implies that the 86/BRZ since its introduction has always been fitted with a boxer engine than anything conventional - especially with the longstanding fact that Toyota is deeply known for bland-looking cars compared to other car manufacturers. (Particulary Chinese marques in these days.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, forget about the 86/BRZ, the only thing for Toyota to find such a way to distract from its controversies for the past years - including the ones relating to Daihatsu and Hino for example - would be having them (Toyota) acquire Ford in the sake of Toyota's ownerships in Suzuki, Isuzu, Subaru and Mazda, four of which (plus Daihatsu and Hino) didn't go big in contrast to Ford and also Toyota would use Ford's presences in markets where the former isn't doing well compared to the latter (ex: Mexico, Europe) like for example Ford would use itself to lure and attract customers who could end up buying Toyota products while they're temporarily sold in lots/showrooms that are under Ford. (Anyway since having mentioned that Toyota owns Suzuki and Isuzu then I think Ford would even try to rebadge and market the Jimny and D-Max as Fords so that Ford would also ditch their already aging lineup to say.)
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DeleteReminds me of the Hakone Special Edition.
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