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Toyota's high-performance driver-orientated GR brand has captured the hearts of enthusiast drivers. All hail the return of the three-pedal sportscar

- Damian Adams

Ten years ago, Toyota caused a stir within the motoring community with the original Toyota GT86. It has sold more than 200 000 units internationally since its launch in 2012. This was thanks to an attainable price, engaging driving dynamics and a lightweight yet usable 2+2 configuration. Its replacement, the now rebranded GR86, aims to remain true to the sportscar character of its rear-wheel-drive predecessor while improving on the recipe with a new, larger-capacity, naturally aspirated engine. We attended the European dynamic press launch for a first drive of the manual-transmission Toyota GR Supra and GR86.

CAR has been following the development of Toyota’s high-performance arm, the Gazoo Racing (GR) brand, closely and no doubt you have, too. Locally, GR initially teased us with the effervescent Yaris GRMN in 2018 to give us a taste of what was to come. This was followed by the return of the legendary Supra nameplate. We tested and enjoyed two versions during our 2020 and 2021 Performance Shootouts. The brand then launched the massively entertaining GR Yaris in 2021 and by the end of this year, both the manual-transmission GR Supra and new GR86 will land on our shores. These two vehicles are rare as they demonstrate Toyota’s dedication to driver engagement despite the clear move towards EVs and the steady decline of three-pedal sportscars.

COUPÉ PROPORTIONS

In terms of exterior design, the GR86 is more of an evolution of its predecessor than a complete overhaul, inspired by elements of the iconic AE86 Corolla (HachiRoku to Initial D fans) and the svelte 2000GT. This may be too conservative a design approach for some, but the short overhangs, low-slung look and typical front-engined, rear-wheel-driven proportions should age well.