The new Toyota GR86 is scheduled to arrive in Europe next spring, but is already on sale in other parts of the world, such as North America and its home market, Japan.
And it is precisely in Japan that we find the ultimate base version of the Japanese sports car: the GR86 RC.
The GR86 RC follows the example of its predecessor, the GT86 RC, and strips the coupé of (practically) everything that is not needed. Even so, compared to its predecessor, the GR86 RC is not so “naked”.
For example, the bumpers are in body color, a detail absent from the previous GT86 RC. But 16-inch iron wheels encased in narrower 205/55 R16 tires (standard for other markets comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/45 R17 tyres) transition to the GR86.
Also on the outside, the GR86 RC stands out for the absence of tailpipes (the tailpipes end somewhere under the bumper) and doesn't even have a rear fog light as standard.
Inside, austerity continues. Leather casings for the steering wheel and gearshift knob were left out, and the number of speakers was reduced to two. Still in the acoustic chapter, it also seems to have lost some soundproofing material as well as the Active Sound Control (which digitally increases the sound of the engine). The engine loses its cover, and the trunk its lining and even lighting.
just what matters
The GR86 RC obviously retains the 2.4 l naturally aspirated four boxer (opposite cylinders) cylinders, with 234 hp at 7000 rpm and 250 Nm at 3700 rpm, the six-speed manual gearbox and… the limited-slip differential (the predecessor GT86 RC did not need this component and came with an open differential).
Devoid of all of the above, the GR86 RC is priced around 1800 euros (in Japan) lower than the next tier of equipment, the SZ. Above the SZ there is also the RZ, the most equipped version. It doesn't seem like a big difference, considering the austerity of the specification.
For GR86 fans contemplating purchasing it when it arrives in Portugal, it's best not to read the next few lines: a GR86 RC in Japan doesn't even cost €22,000, going up to €26,250 for the GR86 RZ, the more equipped. In Portugal? Estimates point to a price similar to the previous GT86, in other words, something around 45 thousand euros!
But why such a “poor” GR86?
It is not the first time that we have seen very basic versions, even «naked», of sports models in Japan. The reasons for their existence are several.
Since they are destined for competition, so it is interesting to have a minimum specification that will facilitate the task of transforming it into a competition car; even being used by preparers, who always end up replacing elements such as wheels or seats, so it's not worth wasting money on the more equipped versions.
It is also of interest to enthusiasts who regularly attend track days. Also the first thing to go are the standard wheels, swapped for lighter or larger wheels and stickier rubber. And the lack of many equipment even ends up contributing to a lightening of the car, certainly an aspect appreciated when driving on circuits.