The 2023 Toyota GR86 should continue largely unchanged from the 2022 model, which was redesigned and reengineered for the first time in 10 years. New for 2023, however, is a limited edition model of the 86, made just for "the fun pure fun of sports car driving."
This special edition will only have 860 units made, and will give consumers new features to look forward to such as Solar Shift orange body color, a cat-back performance exhaust with pipes that are stainless steel, black chrome tips, a black C-pillar graphic, as well as matte black 18-inch alloy wheels and a GR special edition badge. The inside will feature Ultrasuede or leather-trimmed seats, but the rest of the interior is either a mystery or will be unchanged from the rest of the lineup.
For the rest of the 2023 lineup, previously known as the Scion FR-S and Toyota 86 (and mechanically related to the Subaru BRZ), the GR86 sports coupe has a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 228-horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This is a bump of 23 horsepower and 28 lb-ft over the 86's old 2.0-liter engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic remains an option. The manual transmission can get the car to hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The automatic transmission has a 60 mph time of 6.6 seconds, and an estimated fuel economy of 21 city, 31 highway, and 25 combined.
As with the previous FR-S and 86 models, the GR86 is a rear-wheel drive, two-door coupe with two small rear seats and limited trunk space. Besides new styling and a new platform, other changes for 2022 included a stronger body structure for increased rigidity and better handling, weight-saving body panels, and a new infotainment system and digital instrument panel. In 2023, the 86 will see additions like Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free Bluetooth calling, a voice-recognition system, and two USB ports.
Unlike before, Toyota has given the GR86 more standard driver assistance and safety features, including adaptive cruise control,pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning, and high beam assist. These features come standard on the automatic transmission model. Both the automatic and manual transmission models have brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brake systems, hill start assist control, and seven airbags throughout the cabin to name a few. There are more available safety features, but they require a subscription.
Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet tested the Toyota GR86.
