by Kyle Francis
When designing a performance car, one of the most important elements to consider is the tires that it'll be running on. You can have the most powerful engine and the most sophisticated chassis and suspension combination in the world, but without the right tires, the car will never perform to its full potential. The rubber wrapped around the wheels is the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, so its performance will only ever be as good as the tires used.
As a result, manufacturers tend to provide as good quality rubber as they can for the price to make sure that buyers can make the most of their new purchase. Toyota elected to take a different path with its GT86 sports car though, with the brand instead looking to increase the fun factor of the model by compromising its outright performance.
The GT86 Signaled Toyota's Return To The Entry-Level Sports Car Scene
Once upon a time, Toyota was one of the market leaders when it came to affordable sports cars. The likes of the MR2 roadster and Celica coupe provided gearheads with cheap and reliable sports cars that offered refreshing and approachable handling, though things changed in the mid-2000s. The front-wheel drive Celica coupe was discontinued in 2005, while its little mid-engine and rear-wheel drive MR2 drop-top followed suit in 2007.
The Japanese brand was thus left without an entry-level sports car in its range. Fortunately, thanks to a partnership with Subaru, this wouldn't last. Thanks to the development of the GT86, the brand could once more take the fight to the venerable Mazda MX-5.
Toyota Had One Thing In Mind For Its New Challenger
From the outset of the GT86's development, Toyota and Subaru's engineers agreed that the car should be geared more towards fun, rather than outright performance. They reasoned that most owners never went near a track, and thus spent most of their time throwing their cars through corners at 30 or 40 mph, rather than 100 mph. The decision was taken to make the GT86 reach its upper limits at slower speeds, which would enhance excitement due to the car feeling more alive.
Cars are always at their most fun towards the limit of grip, as you feel it moving around beneath you, and Toyota wanted to capture this feeling, but at normal road speeds.
The GT86 Was Afforded Enough Grunt To Get You In Trouble
As a result of this approach, there was no need to give the GT86, also known as the Subaru BRZ and as the Scion FR-S in the US, a ridiculous amount of power. Subaru's 2.0-liter flat-four Boxer engine was deemed the ideal unit for the job, as its 200 hp provided enough grunt to ensure the car didn't feel slow. Indeed, the vehicle could manage 60 mph in a commendable 7.5 seconds. Being naturally aspirated, the GT86 was also graced with a crisp throttle response. The design of the Boxer powerplant also lent itself to enhancing the car's handling, as its unique configuration ensured its weight remained nice and low, which in turn lowered the GT86's center of gravity. The power was sent to the rear wheels via a traditional six-speed manual gearbox, though a six-speed auto unit was also on the menu.
| 2013-2021 Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L NA H4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Auto, 6-Speed Manual |
| Power | 200 hp |
| Torque | 151 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 7.5 seconds |
| Average Used Value | $13,807 |
These elements, when combined with the car's compact 166.9-inch wheelbase and MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension, brought together all the ingredients to create an agile little sports car. But Toyota wasn't finished yet.
Toyota's Budget Sports Car Was Awarded Budget Tires
While the GT86's underpinnings, and 53/47% weight bias, meant it would be responsive and nicely balanced, Toyota needed to ensure it wasn't so capable through the bends that you'd need to barrel through at 400 mph to make the car feel alive. To achieve this, the decision was made to equip the car with economy tires, which were usually found on the marque's non-performance models like the Prius Hybrid. The rubber in question was Michelin's Primary HP 215/45 units, which lacked the outright grip of higher-end performance tire sets.
As a result of using these, the GT86 was easier to get to its adhesion limit, which made it feel more engaging when pushing it on normal roads. It was also easier to get sideways, which was ideal when you finally found a parking lot you could have all to yourself.
Sources: AutoTempest, Classic, Bring A Trailer, Toyota.
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
