The Toyota GT86, a spiritual successor to iconic sports cars like the 2000GT and AE86 Corolla, has consistently championed Toyota’s commitment to crafting engaging and rewarding driving experiences. This philosophy, championed by Toyota President Akio Toyoda himself, who famously stated, “if it’s not fun to drive, it’s not a car,” is vividly embodied in the GT86.
Adhering to the classic sports car formula, the GT86 boasts a compact and lightweight design, a low center of gravity, and a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration. Its powertrain introduced innovation with a high-revving 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed “boxer” four-cylinder engine, a Subaru creation enhanced with Toyota’s D-4S direct fuel injection system.
The GT86’s prowess has been proven across diverse terrains, from roads and race tracks to rally stages. Notably, participation in the demanding Nürburgring 24 Hours through TOYOTA Gazoo Racing provided crucial data and insights that informed the enhancements implemented in the 2017 Toyota Gt 2017 model. These updates represent the first significant evolution of the car since its inception.
In the realm of rallying, Toyota Motorsport’s development of the GT86 CS-R3 has reintroduced the thrill of rear-wheel drive to the sport. This model offers an accessible and affordable entry point for grassroots enthusiasts while being homologated for competition at all levels, including the World Rally Championship.
Enhanced Driving Dynamics of the 2017 Toyota GT 2017
The 2017 Toyota GT 2017 model year brings subtle yet impactful changes beneath the surface, focusing on refining the driving experience. Detailed adjustments to the suspension and damping systems aim to improve handling precision, stability at high speeds, and overall ride comfort. Furthermore, measures to increase body rigidity have been implemented to create a more solid and responsive platform.
A standout feature for drivers of the 2017 Toyota GT 2017 is the introduction of a new Track mode. This mode empowers drivers to explore the car’s performance limits with minimal intervention from the electronic Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control systems. Complementing this, a new multi-information display provides real-time data on power and torque delivery, G-forces experienced, and a stopwatch for precise lap timing on the track.
The integration of Track mode is part of a comprehensive review of the GT86’s electronic control and handling systems, encompassing enhancements to the ABS and traction control performance. Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada emphasizes that these revisions are pivotal in unlocking the car’s handling potential, leveraging valuable data gleaned from the coupe’s extensive motorsport involvement.
Suspension Refinements
The MacPherson strut front suspension of the Toyota GT 2017 benefits from meticulous adjustments designed to enhance handling, stability, ride comfort, and steering feel. Optimized coil spring rates and an engineered axis load control system work in concert to minimize steering force variations between left and right turns. The springs are designed to flex and compress, contributing to a smoother and more predictable steering feel.
Revised Showa shock absorbers, featuring an altered guide bushing sliding surface for improved friction characteristics, further enhance handling and stability. Damping force has been reduced to improve ride comfort without compromising performance. For enthusiasts seeking an even sharper driving experience, optional SACHS shock absorbers offer an upgrade, delivering enhanced response and stability with reduced body roll for a flatter, more composed ride.
The rear double wishbone suspension of the 2017 Toyota GT 2017 has been tuned to optimize turning performance alongside gains in handling and stability. This is achieved through refined coil spring rates and similar shock absorber revisions as the front suspension. An increased diameter rear anti-roll bar further contributes to enhanced turning performance and a modified distribution of longitudinal body roll.
Enhanced Body Rigidity for Superior Handling
Body rigidity is fundamental to the GT86’s engaging handling and driveability. The Toyota GT 2017 further refines this aspect through strategic application of high-tensile steels to achieve strength, torsional stiffness, and lightweight construction within the body shell. The hood is crafted from aluminum, and the wings from thinner gauge steel to minimize overall weight.
Subtle but significant measures have been taken to further improve body rigidity and durability in the 2017 Toyota GT 2017. These include a thicker mounting bracket for the front suspension towers, a reinforced transmission crossmember, and additional reinforcements with increased weld points in the rear wheel arches. The center and front sections of the rear panel have also been substantially thickened.
New Track Mode: Unleashing Performance Potential
Staying true to the GT86’s core principle of delivering pure driving enjoyment, Toyota has refined the Vehicle Stability Control system to incorporate a new “Track” mode in the 2017 Toyota GT 2017. This mode offers drivers even greater control over handling, braking, and cornering, fostering a genuinely exhilarating sports driving experience.
Activated via a switch on the center console, Track mode illuminates an indicator lamp in the driver’s multi-information display. This setting minimizes the intervention of VSC and traction control (TRC), allowing skilled drivers to fully utilize their car control expertise for a more engaging and direct connection with the vehicle.
The addition of Track mode expands the driver’s choices to four VSC and TRC settings. In normal driving, both systems are active. TRC can be deactivated for improved traction when starting on loose surfaces. The GT86’s VSC Sport mode broadens the permissible range of lateral acceleration and vehicle movement before system intervention, enabling drivers to explore the car’s dynamic limits while maintaining a degree of stability assurance.
The development of Track mode and the recalibration of electronic control systems in the 2017 Toyota GT 2017 are directly informed by data gathered from the car’s participation in motorsport events, such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Fine-tuning of systems like ABS and traction control, as Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada explains, empowers drivers to fully realize their skills and unlock the GT86’s complete performance envelope.
Aerodynamic Enhancements
The Toyota GT 2017 retains the “aero-sandwiching” concept, where airflow pressure above, beneath, and along the sides of the car contributes to vertical and horizontal stability without generating excessive downforce or increasing its drag coefficient, which remains at an efficient 0.27 Cd. The “pagoda” roof contour plays a crucial role in this aerodynamic efficiency, a design element mirrored in the car’s underbody surfacing.
Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada mandated that all exterior design changes for the Toyota GT 2017 must positively impact handling and stability, down to the most minute detail. A new blocking surface below the front grille, featuring distinctive “teeth,” and a 45-degree angle for the lower bumper edge optimize airflow. Similarly, the lower edge of the rear diffuser is also set at a 45-degree angle.
The new wing-type rear spoiler significantly enhances both aerodynamic performance and stability. Extending across the full width of the car’s rear, it incorporates endplates that work with vertical mounts to create a wraparound airflow. The airflow dynamics above and below the wing generate downforce, contributing to high-speed stability.
Powertrain: Unchanged Performance Heart
The powertrain of the Toyota GT 2017 remains consistent, preserving its signature high-revving, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, horizontally opposed “boxer” engine driving the rear wheels. Toyota’s D-4S direct fuel injection technology, integrated with the Subaru-sourced engine, ensures responsive throttle, ample power, and torque across a broad engine speed range.
Delivering power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the 1,998cc 16-valve DOHC unit produces a maximum of 200 DIN hp/147kW at 7,000rpm and 205Nm of torque between 6,400 and 6,600rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h is achieved in 7.6 seconds with the manual transmission and 8.2 seconds with the automatic.
Exterior Styling: A Mature Sporting Evolution
Exterior styling refinements for the Toyota GT 2017 are not about radical transformation but rather about evolving its established aesthetic, adding a sense of maturity and amplifying its inherent sporting presence. Throughout the design process, Toyota remained committed to blending contemporary lines with visual cues from its distinguished sports car heritage, notably the 2000GT.
Refreshed Frontal Design
These design goals are harmoniously realized in subtle yet effective revisions to the front-end elements. A wider, lower-set grille, a more pronounced lower lip on the front bumper with integrated fins, and a lowered nose tip all contribute to a refreshed frontal appearance. This updated front profile emphasizes the car’s low-slung stance and agile character.
Aerodynamic detailing extends to a subtle new nose fin and restyled LED fog lamp surrounds with a triple-strake design that is both aerodynamically functional and visually striking. The headlight units have been redesigned to create a stronger horizontal emphasis, featuring new bi-LED lamps for both low and high beams. The turn indicators have been relocated from the bumper’s outer edges to within the headlamp clusters, arranged as a line of individual orange LEDs beneath an angled array of white daytime running light LEDs. This configuration generates a stronger horizontal axis across the vehicle’s front, highlighting its width and design maturity.
Coupe Profile and New Wheels
The Toyota GT 2017 retains its distinctive coupe silhouette, complete with the signature “pagoda” roof design, low center of gravity, and door apertures reminiscent of the two-seater 2000GT, successfully adapted to a compact 2+2 format. The vehicle’s dimensions remain unchanged, with an overall length of 4,240mm, height of 1,320mm (with shark fin antenna), width of 1,775mm, and wheelbase of 2,570mm.
In profile, the areas ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels have been sculpted to project a heightened sense of sporting performance. The wing garnish features a new integrated fin that contributes to body roll control, reflecting Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada’s philosophy that all styling changes should serve a practical purpose in enhancing aerodynamic performance.
A new 17-inch cast alloy wheel design has been introduced for the Toyota GT 2017, featuring 10 ultra-slim spokes with a contrasting bright and gunmetal grey machined finish, creating an agile and distinctly three-dimensional appearance.
Stronger Rear Styling
Rear styling enhancements on the Toyota GT 2017 mirror the front-end approach, aiming for a lower and more assertive look. A wider and deeper black molding and diffuser unit creates a strong trapezoidal shape, extending low enough to conceal the exhaust silencer.
The new wing-type rear spoiler replaces the previous integrated design, projecting a sportier aesthetic while contributing to the GT86’s improved aerodynamics. The rear LED light clusters have been reworked, generating a stronger horizontal line and employing light guides to create a distinctive lighting signature, along with new LED turn indicators.
Interior Refinements: Sensory and Functional Upgrades
Interior enhancements for the Toyota GT 2017 emphasize the car’s authentic sporting character while elevating the functionality and the visual and tactile quality of the cabin. The focus remains firmly on the driving experience, but within an environment that is even more visually appealing and pleasing to the touch.
Toyota’s Smallest Steering Wheel and Multi-Information Display
Particular attention has been given to the size and shape of the steering wheel to optimize grip and driver input. Retaining the sporty three-spoke design, Toyota has reduced the diameter by 3mm to just 362mm, making it the smallest steering wheel ever featured in a Toyota production car. The wheel’s weight has also been reduced by 10 percent.
The cross-section of the rim has been precisely calculated to ensure that when the driver grips the wheel, their arms are naturally angled slightly inward, promoting a sportier driving posture. The wheel’s visual appeal is enhanced with sculpted, metal-effect spokes and a prominent, silvered 86 logo on the center boss. The new wheel also integrates switches to control the new 4.2-inch color TFT multi-information display and the audio system.
The driver’s instrument display has been revised with a new triple-dial layout that includes a new 4.2-inch color TFT multi-information screen. This display provides real-time data that can be easily accessed and adjusted using the new control switches on the steering wheel. Beyond standard information like fuel economy, trip details, coolant temperature, and cruising range, the display can also present performance-focused data, including a G-force monitor, power and torque curves, a stopwatch, and sequential lap times. The multi-information display showcases the 86 logo upon vehicle start-up and provides driver alerts, such as door ajar and low coolant warnings. The tachometer has been reoriented so that 7,000rpm – the engine speed at which peak power is delivered – is positioned at the top of the dial.
Updated Center Console and Cabin Materials
A new 6.1-inch touchscreen display has been integrated into the center console, offering intuitive operation of the audio system, which now includes optional DAB digital radio reception. The Toyota GT 2017 is available with the latest iteration of the Toyota Touch 2 with Go multimedia and satellite navigation system, also accessible via the touchscreen. This system features a more user-friendly interface, complimentary map updates for three years, and access to connected services, including real-time traffic information, Google Search, and Twitter.
The GT86 features a new, unified “all black” interior finish, enhancing the sports car ambiance and reducing reflections from external light for improved driver visibility. A new carbon-fiber mesh pattern trim adorns the door switch panels and the ventilation control panel on the center console. Buckskin pattern upholstery is available for the instrument binnacle hood, complementing a new upholstery choice that combines leather with perforated Alcantara seat facings, offered in all-black or black with red leather accents on the seatback and cushion bolsters. The latter option also introduces matching red trim on the door panel armrests. The GT86’s cloth upholstery has also been upgraded to provide improved body-holding performance during spirited driving.
Conclusion: The 2017 Toyota GT 2017 – A Sharpened Sports Car Experience
The 2017 Toyota GT 2017 represents a significant evolution of a modern sports car icon. Through meticulous enhancements to driving dynamics, subtle yet impactful styling revisions, and interior upgrades focused on sensory quality and functionality, the Toyota GT 2017 delivers an even more compelling and refined sports car experience. Staying true to its core values of driving pleasure and accessible performance, the 2017 Toyota GT 2017 solidifies its position as a benchmark in the affordable sports car segment, carrying forward the legacy of Toyota’s celebrated sports car lineage.
