Toyota's New 205bhp, TRD-Tweaked GT86 Will Cut Your Lap Times

Compared to the standard 86, the new-for-2019 TRD Special Edition will lap circuits faster and more consistently
Toyota's New 205bhp, TRD-Tweaked GT86 Will Cut Your Lap Times

America has been gifted a new special edition Toyota 86 for the 2019 model year, and it comes with some speed-boosting upgrades.

The lightweight sports car has gained the TRD Special Edition model, described as the ‘Ultimate Performance’ 86. Brembo brakes all round, Sachs dampers, a TRD body styling kit and Michelin Pilot Sport tyres all give the divisive 2+2 a big advantage over the standard car, especially on track, where lap times should be faster and more consistent.

Toyota's New 205bhp, TRD-Tweaked GT86 Will Cut Your Lap Times

The standard, US-spec engine remains, so that’s a 205bhp output (since MY2017) versus the 197bhp we get in the European GT86. It’s backed in this car by a TRD exhaust and should sound a whisker fruitier.

Keen-eyed CTzens will note that the TRD’s spec is very similar to that of the Club Series Blue Edition GT86 that was confirmed for the UK market two months ago. Four-piston Brembo calipers at the front with matching two-piston items at the back haul the 86 up even more effectively, with greater resistance to fade.

Toyota's New 205bhp, TRD-Tweaked GT86 Will Cut Your Lap Times

Those Pilot Sport 4 tyres, in size 215/40R18, add a butt tonne more cornering grip and would be perfect for circuit days as well as your favourite winding mountain pass.

Only 1418 will be built, all in the same high spec but with a choice of colours including the new Neptune paint option and a red-on-black interior. Standard kit covers heated leather front seats, dual-zone air conditioning and keyless entry, while the options list still contains the sluggish six-speed automatic gearbox for some reason. We’re not against autos; it’s just that auto is a horrible choice for this car.

Toyota's New 205bhp, TRD-Tweaked GT86 Will Cut Your Lap Times

US buyers can order the 86 TRD Special Edition from August, with basic retail prices starting at $32,420.

Comments

Griffin Mackenzie

Good amount of power for the 1970’s

07/24/2018 - 16:37 |
4 | 4

Decent even for the 1990s

07/24/2018 - 22:22 |
0 | 0
White Comet

how many more edition do we need until the power upgrade?

07/24/2018 - 16:38 |
0 | 0

86 more editions then they’ll make a verision with 86 more hp than their baselines 200 hp.

07/27/2018 - 00:12 |
2 | 0
Matthew Henderson

And still, no-one gets the point of the 86… poor Toyota… also; how cute! it’s trying to be an F12 at the back :D

07/24/2018 - 19:56 |
2 | 0

so whats the point of it then?

07/27/2018 - 00:11 |
0 | 1
🎺🎺thank mr skeltal

So how many special edition GT86s are out there? I’ve lost count.

What was the one and only complaint everybody had about the GT86? It doesn’t have enough power.

What do all of the GT86 special editions have in common? They don’t have more power.

07/24/2018 - 20:32 |
0 | 1

I don’t think it needs more power. Whenever a company releases a powerful car, people always say that it has too much power, whenever a company releases a light car with not as much power, people say it needs more power. The grass is greener on the other side I guess.

07/24/2018 - 21:43 |
1 | 0
Dayton Sander

Literally only reason someone’s gunna buy this. Just you wait, 86 boiz are gunna have these everywhere, just you wait. Looks like the car has stock wheels almost too 😱 Even TC’s get cool one off designs. Toyota’s been neglecting their baby.

07/25/2018 - 01:33 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

Is this slightly lighter, and much more expensive like Porsche? I guess it’s a thing now

07/25/2018 - 05:22 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

5 years since the gt86/BRZ was released and you guys still dont get what tje point is. It isnt about having 300+ hp

07/25/2018 - 07:03 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

So whats it about then?

07/27/2018 - 00:11 |
0 | 2
jonathan 7

The mr2 was a blast to drive . My 97 celica has less than 100hp it feels like and i have a blast , any faster and id be in trouble alot more. This less than 200 in a light car is a excellent base line.
If u want power out of the box , buy a biger car . Ha!

07/25/2018 - 11:53 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Dont get me wrong, im not hating on this car, I like the chassis, its a cool looking car..
But people went nuts when I had my opinion that they should make a 286/300 hp verision.
I get that the “point” of this car is not having a lot of power yet being a great car to visit the tracks, however, not everyone is the same. Everyone have different needs, what about those who like it a bit more extreme?

For the past 7 years I have owned cars with 300 hp and upwards, and this is what I like. I would strongly consider buying an GT86 with a power update because this is the range I like and I dont want to tune myself a car this new if it can be manufactured just like they did a WRX STI or a GTR R34.
Why is this so bad to just wish for? Its just hypothetical thinking it may or may never happen.

I think its really cruel of some of you to downvote my comment so much I cant even see it myself because there can only be ONE opinion on the GT86 and that its only supposed to stay were it is, with 200 hp, no beefier suspension and how it is right now.

GT86 can be the cool, fun track car it is with 200 hp thats completely fine, but it can also be an even more badass and extreme track car for those who are into those things. People in here sure have played Forza and Need for speed and ur telling me u never upgraded any cars? U kept the GT86 completely stock since thats where it belongs? I really dont think so. “Ye but thats a video game duh” so what? theres people out there who want a car they like to go faster.

Its not gonna replace any supra or what we have left of rwd cars by giving it more power, those GT86s which has already been built will stay true to its principle. If BMW has different ranges with M at top, Benz have different ranges with AMG on top, why cant Toyota have one?

I understand what the GT86 and BRZ is all about and I never said they should make a drag racing king or a pro team drifters car, just a car with more power, but it seems NOPE there can only be one kind of GT86 and it has around 200 hp. So people cant have different opinions on here I see..

Well now this gonna get downvoted too I guess.

07/27/2018 - 01:11 |
0 | 1
Metrickzcz (Prelude Squad)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

200 horsepower is more than enough, people want a cheap sports car, not a 300+ horsepower beast.
If you want that, then wait for a Supra or buy something else

07/29/2018 - 13:24 |
0 | 0
Lukas Hohenegger

Stop whining, you wanted more power, you got it…

Still waiting for the 2012 standard to get affordable.

07/27/2018 - 22:42 |
2 | 0

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