Toyota GT 86 all set for world debut in Tokyo

NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AT 1:53 PM BY ANTHONY LIM FILED UNDER 2011 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW,CARS, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, TOYOTA

The wait is over – the start of the Tokyo Motor Show tomorrow will see the world debut of Toyota’s FT- 86, and the production car will now be known as the GT 86, in a homage to the Corolla GT (or Levin) AE86 from 1983 to 1987, a car with an enduring reputation for delivering sheer excitement and capturing the fundamental joy of driving.

The arrival of the 2+2 driver-focused GT 86 heralds a return to Toyota’s sporting roots, with a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive package, with power distributed to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. It’s built on a new platform, with a highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the car’s mechanical elements.

The car is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 boxer unit, offering 197 hp at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6,600rpm, and customers will have a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick, precise shifts using a tactile, short-throw lever, while the auto features steering-mounted paddle shifters.

It measures in at 4.24 metres long, 1.28 metres high and 1.77 metres wide, with a 2.57 metre wheelbase, dimensions that Toyota says makes the car the most compact four-seater sports car available today.

Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to achieve the best balance – the car has a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution, and features an ultra-low centre of gravity, at just 460 mm.

The suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear, with ventilated disc brakes fore and aft. External cues include a “scorpion” look for the front lower grille, model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, twin exhausts and an “86” piston logo that denotes the car’s special powertrain configuration.

Inside, the ergonomics and function of every element the driver interacts with have been scrutinised to make driving the car as natural, instinctive and rewarding as possible, Toyota says. There’s a 365 mm diameter steering wheel, the smallest ever fitted to a Toyota, and this one is trimmed in buckskin, developed from exhaustive feedback from test drivers on how to achieve the best steering performance and grip.

Other elements include the use of carbon-effect trim, all-black roof lining, red stitching on the upholstery, aviation-style rocker switches as well as lightweight, aluminium pedals and a three-meter instrument cluster arranged around a large tachometer.

GALLERY: Landmark models at Honda Collection Hall, Twin Ring Motegi – 65 pics of cars, bikes and robots!

NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AT 11:41 PM BY DANNY TAN FILED UNDER CARS, FEATURE STORIES, HONDA

Greetings from cold cold Japan! We’re here to bring you coverage of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, which will open for the press the day after tomorrow. But before we see the typically wacky Tokyo concepts that could be the cars of the future, we paid a visit to Honda Collection Hall at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit for a look at the good old days.

Twin Ring Motegi should be no strange track to Gran Turismo fans, and the Honda owned circuit in Tochigi prefecture houses two “rings” – an American style oval and a road course – hence the name.

Surrounded by natural forests, Motegi has other interesting stuff for auto fans as well, including a Gran Turismo cafe and Honda Collection Hall. The latter is a must visit for all, and Honda fans in particular should pay a “pilgrimage” in their lifetime!

The left side of the three-floor building is dedicated to bikes, while the right is for cars. The ground floor houses a gift shop (tempting but expensive!) and what looks like a “library”, plus a section for Honda’s clever Asimo robot and its ancestors. First floor is for landmark production cars and bikes (no time for the latter, unfortunately) and the second floor is for Honda’s famous racing machines.

For the road cars, the more famous classics such as the N360 minicar from 1967, S600 Coupe and topless S800 mix with commercial vehicles and the P800 pick up truck (yes, Honda used to make those things!). Moving on, there’s a cute first gen Civic RS in the corner. The tiny 705 kg car had 76 PS and metal studded seats. Also, did you know that RS stands for Road Sailing?

One can also see the classy first Prelude and the original CR-X here, all in beautiful mint condition. Curiously, the prettier second gen CR-X was nowhere to be seen. The loop ends with two famous midship cars on opposite ends of the scale – the big NSX-R and little Beat.

Going up, Honda shows off the race cars that it powered to victories, like the RA300 of Surtees. F1 fans will have plenty of “wah, check that out” moments with the old racers – they used to have mega wings and octopus exhausts! Moving on, famous Honda powered F1 cars include the John Player Special car, the “Canon” Williams Honda of Nelson Piquet, the “Camel” Lotus 99T of Satoru Nakajima and Aryton Senna’s iconic McLaren Honda MP4/7.

Not much time left, but I had to jump over to the bike side just to see the Rothmans Honda 500cc bikes of Gardner, Okada and of course, Mick Doohan! Max Biaggi’s 250cc No.1 Marlboro bike was there, too.

Here are the souvenirs from Motegi, enjoy!