The Toyota FT-86 rear wheel drive sports car is one step closer to production. This week Toyota unveiled the FT-86 Concept II, the second generation prototype that is closer to production content than ever.
The Subaru/Toyota joint venture uses a 4-cylinder boxer engine set back in the engine compartment and driving the rear wheels. Toyota says that the FT-86 sports car will go on sale in 2012. It is well rumored that the sports car will come to market in the United States as the Scion FR-S.
The press matierals from the Geneva Auto Show where the FT-86 Concept II made its debut this week talk up the low center of gravity and excellent power to weight ratio the boxer engine provides. It will likely become a favorite with drifting and the sport tuner genre, being the first credible entry level rear-wheel drive offering from Japan in a long while. No offense Mazda, but the MX-5 is for Barbie.
The car says Akio Toyoda is inspired in part from the vintage Toyota 2000 GT and Corolla Levin AE86.
‘When the Toyota 2000 GT was built, I was eleven years old – and I loved it. I said: “I want to drive something like this when I grow up”. My dream came true when I drove a 2000 GT in a vintage car rally. That was a really great experience. I want young people to feel those same desires when they see a new Toyota sports car. I want to transfer the thrill of the race track to our vehicles, and make driving fun and exciting for our customers.’ Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Unlike many front wheel drive sports coupes on the market, the FT-86 sports a long low hood and rear-set cabin in classic rear-wheel drive sports car stance. Toyota says this concept is the closest indication yet as to the final design of the FT-86.
The company says the car will be driver oriented and tuned to be a driver’s car above all. They say that precise and instantaneous response to throttle, steering, and braking inputs will be key to the driving enjoyment the FT-86 will provide.
In current form, the FT-86 you see here measures 166.7 inches long and 70.6 inches wide. It rides on a 101 inch wheelbase and totals out at 50 inches high. That comes in about 10 inches shorter than a Scion tC, 5 inches shorter in wheelbase, and about 5 inches lower to the ground as seen in the illustration below. Width is approximately the same. While weight and other specifications are not given at this time, we estimate the FT-86 will most likely be lighter than the tC by about 100-150 lbs.
It can also be compared in size to the 1993-1995 Mazda RX-7, being about 2″ wider, taller, and longer than that car. Compared to the 1990-1999 Toyota MR2 to which it shares a similar silhouette, the FT-86 is also about 2″ longer, taller, and some 3″ wider.
The FT-86 will come with a six-speed manual transmission and rear wheel drive in standard form. While Toyota has not stated what power plant will be in the FT-86, Subaru announced this week that their version of the car will feature a 2.0 liter flat-four boxer engine in base models. A turbocharged variant akin to what is available in the WRX models is a logical possibility. An automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are also possible, though not listed as options at this time.
Also see: Subaru Exhibits Underpinnings Of Toyota FT-86 Architecture
