The 86 and the Supra are not entirely new models. Both can trace their roots back to the 70s and have enjoyed periodical revivals that seem to have cemented their legendary status.
The modern interpretations of both the 86 and the Supra are in no way slouches either. And so to celebrate their history, Toyota has created what it calls “Throwback Editions”. This is a nod to the design of days past – of course as far as the 86 and the Supra are concerned, the Throwback is more about design than anything else but there are a couple of performance upgrades sprinkled in for good measure. Let us break it down for you:
The GR86 Trueno Edition
The Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition is an obvious and direct homage to the AE86. As a result, it offers much more than simply glitzy graphics to keep the drifting fun going. Regular GR86 purchasers should anticipate several enhancements and other options as well.
The AE86 has been around for four decades, and in the 1990s, the Trueno GT-Apex Liftback drove it to its pinnacle of popularity. With greater performance enhancements and the Halo “Panda” colour scheme in black and white, this new GR86 pays homage to it. It claims that a different colour called Track Bred is also forthcoming. Only 860 of these will be produced by Toyota for the entire USA market.
In addition to the clear stylistic references, the new GR86 Trueno Edition has unique ZF Sachs dampers and Brembo brakes. In order to minimise vibrations, maximise ground contact, and support solid, steady steering, the dampers use nitrogen and oil. They are widely used and generally regarded in the aftermarket.
Additionally, the Brembo brakes use a two-piston calliper for the rear and a four-piston arrangement for the front. Since the rotors are smooth, no drilling or slotting has been done to them. The option of an automatic or manual gearbox is available to buyers.
All Trueno cars will be equipped with black door handles and mirror covers in addition to 18-inch, 10-spoke aluminium wheels. They will all produce the same 228hp and 259Nm of torque as the standard variant.
The remaining GR86 models will be able to use the performance components from the Trueno Edition. Those who desire it can apply the performance package to the GR86 versions from 2022 and 2023. Models with manual transmissions can be ordered with GR86 Active Safety.
Active Safety includes:
- adaptive cruise control
- lane-departure warning
- sway warning
- lead vehicle start alert
- rear sonar warning
This is significant since Subaru hasn’t always been forward-thinking when it comes to equipping the manual BRZ twin with cutting-edge safety equipment. The price has not yet been disclosed for the 2024 GR86 Trueno Edition, which should arrive in December.
The 2024 Toyota GR Supra
The Supra is drawing inspiration from the past as Toyota’s GR series receives a number of changes for the 2024 model year. There are speed improvements as well as cosmetic nods to the previous generation in the new 45th Anniversary Edition. Toyota claims that it will only produce 900 vehicles in total for the US market.
This special version, according to the Japanese carmaker, is a tribute to the legendary Mk IV Supra. Mikan Blast (Mikan meaning orange in Japanese) and Absolute Zero (white) are the only paint colours available for it as a result. Toyota will apply one colour to 450 of the cars and a different colour to the remaining 450.
The 45th Anniversary GR Supra will have matte black 19-inch wheels, black GR brake callipers, and a black Supra wordmark design on the side of the car regardless of the paint job. Each vehicle has a black, manually adjustable rear spoiler that is massive. A strut tower bar painted in Mikan Blast under the hood increases stiffness.
The 3.0 Premium grade will serve as the foundation for each 45th Anniversary GR Supra. As a result, the 382 horsepower twin-turbo inline-six engine will be included. Customers have the option of choosing between a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It goes on sale this September. Pricing will be announced later this year.
Toyota will provide a free 1-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association with every Supra it sells. This includes one HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) free of charge as well as reduced entry fees to NASA-approved events. In addition to the standard three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage.
