“Toyobarus”

A months its introduction, the Toyota GT86/Scion  FRS and it’s fraternal twin, the Subaru BRZ are establishing themselves as one of the most desirable sports cars of 2012.   A product of the collaboration of Toyota and Subaru, these models are aimed to revamp their manufacturer’s brand images from sensible to aspirational.  These cars are incredibly important to Toyota and Subaru especially in the realm of sports coupes. The GT86 or FRS(in the US Market) and the BRZ are the successor of two most iconic sports coupes in Japan, namely the Toyota AE86 and the Subaru GC8 Impreza STI.

Glorified in the anime series “Initial D”, the Toyota Levin Trueno AE86 and the Subaru Impreza STI sports coupes have long held a special place in the Japanese car enthusiast’s subconscious.  Designed with fun in mind, these cool two-door models evoke nostalgic fantasies of “touge” or late night cruises up and down deserted two-lane mountain highways. 

Designers from Toyota, which spearheaded the project emphasized that remaking an automotive legend in the AE86 and the Impreza is a monumentally challenging task for both manufacturers and releasing a product that is anything less than exceptional would carry a stigma of failure.  These cars carry their parents’ DNA but with how much technology has leaped forward, these cars will be better.

Toyota was tasked to handle the planning and design of the GT86/BRZ while Subaru tackled the engineering challenges.  With weight and balance as their top priorities,  Toyota  made sure the cars would be a few hundred of pounds lighter than the comparable cars, including those from Porsche and Lotus.

With a fewer pounds to haul around, Subaru went for its ever reliable, well balanced “boxer” engine,   a smaller, more efficient and proven powerplant.  This 2.0 liter flat four engine is rated at 200 horsepower connected to a 6-speed tranny which drives the rear wheels instead of a four wheel drive format which Subaru is famous for.  This motor’s compact size has allowed the designers to mount it in the car with optimum weight distribution and transfer.   Add a suspension and steering design copied from the Subaru Impreza STI and you have a car that handles a sweet as it looks.

Though primarily focused as a driver’s car, the Toyota GT86/ Subaru BRZ offer just enough practicality to make usable and reliable point to point transportation.  What has hit the selling spot is the price. These cars are reasonably priced low as compared to their contemporaries, yet the manufacturers have not shown any hint of production cost cutting.  Outside of the lightweight aluminum hood, the body of the GT86/BRZ is made of high tensile steel.   Race Buckets seats come standard, although with a 2+2 format, the rear seats are unusable by adult standards. Baggage space was also designed to carry two golf bags or a set of tires and tools for track excursions. Pedals are thoughtfully placed with the perfect “heel and toe” downshifts in mind.

The GT86 and the BRZ have long been on sale in Japan since the beginning of 2012. It has now surprisingly surpassed Subaru’s sales projection by over 400%. With its dynamic and daring looks, precision handling and a reasonable tag, the 86/BRZ are slowly making waves in the Philippine automotive scene. (Sources; Wikipedia,Evo Magazine)