It’s been two years since Toyota first revealed the FT-86 concept, and after numerous leaks, and even more concept teasers, the production version of the most highly anticipated car in years has been revealed. The very first photos of the production model also come with an announcement of the car’s name: the GT 86. Revealed in Euro-spec, the GT 86 will come with a dual exhaust, a rear spoiler, 17-inch wheels and an ’86 piston’ logo on the fenders.

Inside the cabin is a three-gauge cluster with a larger tachometer, with carbon fiber styled trim, an all black roof, red stitching, aluminum pedals and “aviation-style” switches. Also of note is a 365mm steering wheel – the smallest ever fitted to a Toyota.

With a total displacement of 1,998 ccs, the 4-cylinder direct-injection boxer engine produces 197-hp thanks to twin-injectors and a 12.5:1 compression ratio. Full power comes on at 7000 rpm with 151 lb-ft of torque at 6600 rpm. Toyota promises instant throttle response, with steering to match and, “the kind of performance that appeals to those for whom driving is a passion, not a necessity.”

Look for live photos from the car’s official reveal later this week at the Tokyo Motor Show.

GALLERY: Toyota GT 86

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See video of the GT 86 below:

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Another day, another Toyota FT-86 leak. A concept development that has received more facelifts and nose jobs than most production cars get in a whole life cycle, today we reveal one more.

FT86Club.com has leaked a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brochure showing pictures of an accessorized FT-86 with a unique aero package as well as a list of parts from TRD that will be available as upgrades.

Notable add-ons include TRD aero kit, “high response” quad exhaust, a selection of 18 inch wheels, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear Brembo brakes, full length adjustable suspension, and strut tower brace.

Let’s hope this Toyota has power adders in its future as well!

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 TRD

[Source: ft86club]

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Toyota is keeping quiet ahead of the car’s reveal today at the Frankfut Auto Show, but it has released two pictures of the latest FT-86 II Concept. What’s new? Other than some new paint it’s not entirely clear, although Toyota did promise a “faster, lighter and sportier” version of the car.

When it does officially debut in production form at the Tokyo Auto Show later this year, the FT-86 (sold in America as the Scion FR-S) will be powered by a direct-injection 4-cylinder boxer engine, putting torque to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with a limited slip differential as standard. In Tokyo, Subaru is also expected to debut a version of the car, called the BRZ.

Look for more details and live photos later today at AutoGuide’s official Frankfurt Auto Show page here.

Get more Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ news and info at fr-sforum.com and subarubrzforum.com.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 II Concept

In two weeks time Subaru will give us the best look yet at its upcoming BRZ at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Rather than any sort of reveal, however, the “Subaru BRZ Prologue – Boxer Sports Car Architecture II” is expected to be yet another look at the car’s underlying platform and engine. The final unveiling won’t come until the Tokyo Auto Show a few months after.

If like us you simply can’t wait that long, then take a gander at what artist Jon Sibal has created. Based on the most recent Toyobaru concepts and taking inspiration from both the Impreza Concept and production model this is a realistic look at what to expect.

The much-discussed twin to the Toyota FT-86, the BRZ will retain the original’s rear-drive, non-turbo setup, using a direct-injection boxer 4-cylinder. More specific details have yet to surface but the most recent tidbit of info to slip out is that the car will be a return-to-basics sports car and will even boast the lowest center of gravity of any production car.

Subaru will officially debut the BRZ at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.

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At a day dedicated to honoring the infamous Hachiroku in Japan, old generation AE86s stood by as Toyota‘s FT-86 II Concept finally made its Japanese debut at the Fuji 86 Style event. The Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya, was on hand to give his take on Toyota’s second FT-86 concept car as well as sharing his past experiences racing his AE86. But clearly the FT-86 II Concept was the star of the day, with Fuji Speedway Square Plaza completely filled with enthusiasts waiting to finally see the car in person many months after it first debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.

While Toyota has officially released few details, what they have said is that the car will be powered by a Subaru boxer engine, paired with a Toyota direct-injection system and either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. A limited slip differential will be standard. (For a more extensive list of what will be included in the production model, see here).

Set to debut at the Toyota Auto Show in December, it will be rebadged as the Scion FR-S for North America where it will bow at the New York Auto Show the following April.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 II Concept In Japan

[Source: Jon Sibal]

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Subaru is the latest automaker to announce ambitious mid-term goals, with a new “Motion-V” plan designed to boost global vehicle sales 37 percent. Having already achieved incredible success over the past several years in North America, the Japanese automaker looks to continue that growth, forecasting a 24 percent rise in sales by 2016, up from the record 264,000 units it moved last year. During that same period, Subaru looks to triple sales in China to 180,000 units.

Other aspects of the plan include cost-cutting measures, a significant fuel economy improvement across the Subaru lineup, and the goal of being a leader in “safety performance.”

Details weren’t provided on how Subaru would reduce overall vehicle development costs, but the target is to reduce that number by 20 percent. One hint lies in the FT-86 sports car project, which was co-developed with Toyota. Subaru plans to launch this car and three others (including a hybrid) in the next five years and is looking to reduce its overall fleet fuel consumption by 30 percent.

As for safety, the Motion-V plan calls for new advancements in both active and passive safety systems.

Subaru isn’t alone in forecasting tremendous growth over the next few years. Ford recently announced plans to increase global sales by 50 percent by 2015, while the “Nissan Power 88” plan calls for that automaker to capture 8 percent of the global market by 2016, launching one new vehicle ever six weeks for the next six years.

[Source: Automotive News]

Perhaps the fact that there’s more interest in the car’s name than what’s under the hood is a sign that the Toyota FT-86 will be a bigger hit with hard-parkers than track fanatics.

According to an unsubstantiated report by the notoriously rumor-filled AutoCar, the FT-86 could wear the ‘Celica’ badge when it makes in to production. Or at least that’s the case for Europe and Japan, with the Scion version for North America likely to keep its FR-S letter scheme from the concept car.

Then again, AutoCar‘s own report seems to suggest from a “Toyota insider” that it will somehow keep the “86″ in its name in homage to the Corolla AE86 from which it draws its inspiration. That said, maybe its best to just ignore this latest rumor.

Either way, the FT-86 will be powered by Subaru boxer 4-cylinder using a Toyota direct-injection setup to make around 200-hp and the car will come standard with a limited slip differential. The official name will be known when the car is revealed with Fall at the Tokyo Auto Show.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 II Concept

[Source: AutoCar]

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Call it whatever you like, but the upcoming Toyota FT-86/Scion FR-S/Toyotabaru/King Ghidorah sports car has been spotted in public, well ahead of its anticipated production-ready December unveiling.

We know what the Toyota version looks like—time and time and time again. But the camoed-up version seen stuck in traffic on the 405 looks more like Subaru’s version—and given the Subaru distributor plates, this is more likely the case.

While the Toyota/Scion model is expected to be more focused on handling dynamics and light weight, rumors continue to point to the Subaru model as a lower volume, higher output, hard-core version.

[Source: GTRUSABlog via Autoblog]

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Toyota will never stop developing mutations of its FT-86 sports car, which will be released sometime between now and the real Rapture. Maybe.

But news from Japan indicates, finally, when we can see the officially official ultimate final production version: the Tokyo Motor Show, in December. Both Toyota and Subaru will launch versions of their joint sports car on their home turf then, which is more final a date than anything the companies have previously announced.

The production version of the FT-86 will reach America by 2012 as the Scion FR-S, and Subaru’s version will be released in the spring. Rumors that both cars will be equipped with a Phantom entertainment console are unsubstantiated.

GALLERY: Scion FR-S

[Source: Inside Line]

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