Years of anticipation have all lead to the debut of Toyota‘s new compact sports car at the Tokyo Motor Show today. Referred to by many different concept names, at its word premiere company CEO Akio Toyoda called it, simply, the 86.

Powered by a direct-injection 1.6-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine it makes around 200-hp and when combined with a curb weight of just 2,700 lbs should deliver solid acceleration and a dynamic driving experience.

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GALLERY: Toyota 86

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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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In a week’s time at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will unveil what might just be the most important car it will launch in decades. Sure the Camry makes the Japanese automaker plenty of cash and the Prius points to the future of the automobile, but if Toyota is going to succeed it needs an enthusiasts following, and that’s just what the FT-86 was designed to create.

Billed as having the lowest center of gravity of any production car, with 200-hp and a 2,700 lbs curb weight it promises to be a back-to-basics type of motoring, giving enthusiasts exactly the car they’ve been asking for. And all at a very reasonable price.

In a new video released today, Toyota teases a little more of what is presumably the production version of the FT-86, looking a lot like the original concept. One big difference, however, are the circular taillights, much like the Nissan GT-R or Corvette.

While plenty has already been leaked about the FT-86 (Scion FR-S), stay tuned for the official reveal with AutoGuide’s coverage from the Tokyo Motor Show starting here November 30th.

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More and more news and info on the Toyota FT-86 (Scion FR-S) continues to slip out ahead of its upcoming debut at the Tokyo Auto Show, and rather than spoil all the fun, it’s continuing to build anticipation.

Along with new details revealed by Spanish car magazine Autopista (one of a select few outlets allowed to drive a prototype version of the car) there’s also now the first underhood photo, showing the rather unglamorous engine bay and boxer 4-cylinder engine.

In addition, new tidbits of info include the fact that the FT-86 will be available with two different manual transmission options, one with shorter gear ratios and likely a mild improvement in acceleration. Perhaps more significantly is news of an easily tunable ECU, allowing the aftermarket to get to work immediately on making the FT-86 the choice of a new generation of auto enthusiasts.

[Source: FT-86 Club]

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Following on from some images of the upcoming  Scion FR-S (Toyota FT-86 in other markets), detailed specifications have now been leaked from a reported actual Toyota training manual onto the web, via enthusiast site FT86Club.com

If the information that’s surfaced is in fact accurate, then the specs of the rear-drive coupe look something like this: Two trim levels (at least in Japan); including a base and higher performance variant (the latter with a standard limited slip rear differential, leather steering wheel, white faced gauges, six-speaker premium sound system and LED lighting); a choice of manual gearbox or automatic transmission; a standard 197 horsepower 2.0-liter dual overhead cam boxer four cylinder engine that requires premium unleaded fuel; curb weight in the vicinity of 2,700 lbs (fairly light for a modern coupe of this ilk) and a choice of different wheel and tire combinations (16-inch wheels on base cars, 17-inchers on the others).

In addition there’s also reportedly a “Customize Grade” variant with a very basic interior, unpainted bumpers and steel 16-inch wheels, though, as with other Japanese performance cars in the past, this one is likely aimed at JDM racers and hardcore motorsports enthusiasts, which means it probably won’t be showing up in Scion showrooms anytime soon.

Given the drip feed of leaked information we’ve been experiencing with the FR-S/FT-86 in recent weeks, it’ll be interesting to see what else comes to light before the car makes it’s official debut. Stay tuned for any further developments.

[Source:FT86Club.com]

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Just a day after the first leaked photos of the Toyota FT-86, numerous other pictures of the highly-anticipated sports car have hit the net. Even juicier than the last time, these pics appear to be of the official production car, and not of the Modellista version.

Staying true to the design of the original concept, there are some more dramatic styling cues, particularly on the front of the car. The rear, however, is somewhat the opposite, losing some of the hard lines in favor of a more rounded end.

When it is officially unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show in late November, look for a 2.0-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder under the hood with a healthy 7500 rpm redline. Weighing close to 2500 lbs, expect a 0-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds. All models are expected to come from the factory with a push-button ignition and a limited slip differential.

Curious what it’s like to drive? Then read some of the first impressions here.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Leaked

[Source: CarScoop]

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With photos leaking yesterday, today comes news of what the Toyota FT-86 is like to drive. But first, the specs. According to one of the journos at CAR Magazine, who had some seat time in the affordable sports car, look for the 2.0-liter to boxer 4-cylinder to develop around 200-hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. The car’s curb weight should be around 2,645 lbs, although the final production number has yet to be released and will differ from market to market. That said, look for a 0-60 time of around 7 seconds.

As for the driving experience, it’s good says CAR‘s Ben Barry after a first-drive of a prototype model. In fact, he says it, “trounces its closest rival, the Mazda MX-5, in the fun stakes.” That’s quite a statement.

Highlights include throttle response and steering with a rev-happy 7500 rpm redline, a soft rev limiter and a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. Less impressive is the feel of the shifter and the car’s willingness to understeer at higher speeds. Also in the negative column is the ‘Sport’ setting for the stability control system, which is still too intrusive – although engineers are reportedly working on a less restrictive version. And finally, there’s the Torsen limited slip differential, rather than a mechanical one, although Toyota engineers are reportedly also planning on offering a version with a mechanical LSD, as well as other upgraded components, like Brembo brakes.

The drive was of a prototype model and Toyota intended to use the info to help develop the final production version, so we’ll await our first chance behind the wheel and relay our impressions as soon as possible.

Under neath the bodywork is a MacPherson front end and a double wishbone rear suspension setup and the test car even had pricey Sachs shocks. The car’s weight balance is projected to be around 53/47.

Other items of note is a standard keyless ignition system, while a six-speed automatic will be offered, reportedly based on the 8-speed in the IS-F, so look for some pretty quick shifts.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Concept

[Source: CAR]

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Dying to know what the production Toyota FT-86 will look like? Here’s the closest look yet.

These scanned images are from a Modellista brochure; Modellista being an in-house tuning arm of Toyota. That said, it’s not the production version that will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, but a modified version of the car, sporting an aero kit and several other accessories.

By the looks of it, the car will stay close to the original concept, though the rend end seems to have changed more significantly. Inside, the brochure photos show what appears to be a high-grip seating surface with impressive red stitching on black seats. Other highlights include a push-button ignition and a redline of around 7500 rpm.

When it does debut at the Tokyo Auto Show in just over a month’s time, the car is expected to make roughly 200-hp from a direct-injection 4-cylinder boxer engine. More recent reports indicate that the FT-86 will have the lowest center of gravity of any production car and a curb weight of around 2,500 lbs.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Modellista Brochure

[Source: 7Tune]

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It usually only take a few days after the launch of a new sports car for rumors to begin swirling about a convertible version. But why wait until then?

It’s not set to debut until the Tokyo Auto Show in late November, but already one report has indicated that the Subaru BRZ may get a roadster variant. No decision has yet been made, reports AutoCar, but such a car is, “under consideration.”

Depending on how the platform is engineered, a drop-top two-seater version of the BRZ, as well as its Toyota FT-86 and Scion FR-S siblings, is certainly possible. If a convertible was part of the product plans since the beginning, the joint Subaru-Toyota project could even deliver top-down motoring with a minimal weight gain and little or no negative side effects when it comes to the car’s structural rigidity.

Look for more details at the upcoming LA Auto Show when Subaru shows off an STI-themed BRZ concept, with the final production version bowing at the Tokyo Auto Show two weeks later.

[Source: AutoCar]

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Fanboys have been waiting for its arrival almost as long as Christians have been waiting for the second coming and now, lovers of Toyota‘s FT-86 sports car have a new way of passing the time until it arrives. Proving that there really is an App for everything, Toyota has just launched the “FT-86 World Report” App. Get ready to be disappointed.

It doesn’t let you race the FT-86 on the Nurburgring, or go behind the scenes of the creation or design of the car, or even have a great teaser of its exhaust note. Nope. Instead, the App let’s you digitally add a rendering of the FT-86 onto a photo you take and then upload it to the FT-86WorldREport.com website. Perhaps the only genuinely interesting part of this app is that you can see just how many others are as excited as you are about Toyota’s new affordable sports car.

Toyota will debut the FT-86 at the Tokyo Auto Show on November 30, with it’s sister car, the Subaru BRZ being unveiled the same day. The U.S. market Scion FR-S is expected to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show next spring.

Available for iPhone4, 4S and iPad2, download the app today here.

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