We tested the Toyota GR 86 at the Jarama Circuit (with video)

It is becoming more and more difficult to find a affordable sports car. When I say sporty, I mean a pure car, with its short body, stiff manual gearbox, engine with character, etc.; not a high-performance compact that, while perhaps quicker than many of these pure sports cars, isn't half as entertaining. The most anticipated of all 2022 is the Toyota GR86. We have already tried it!

Well, rather, we have driven it with the bottom foot. We still can't test it for a week in a thousand circumstances, as we would like, but we have been able to take it very quickly in the Jarama CircuitWhere the brand organized on November 5 a new GR Day hand in hand with 8000 laps and with the support of Michelin as a tire supplier.

At this event, which brings together customers from Toyota's Gazoo Racing sports range, fans of the brand and sports car enthusiasts in general, we had the opportunity to put on our helmets and ride hard on the Madrid track. In addition, there were several extra activities, but the main course was on the track. We had available GR RacingThe new GR Supra manual and the expected Toyota GR 86.

The latter, because it was not yet on the market and because it was a sports car with pure sensations, was my main objective. Coincidences of fate, because I recognize that I had been waiting for the moment for months and, As far as passionate cars are concerned, it is the great launch of the year at European level. At least for me. I will not entertain you any longer, I will tell you how this first contact was.

Toyota GR 86, the last samurai

To put us a little in the situation, we are going to quickly review the technical part of this Japanese coupe. The Toyota GR 86 is the successor to the earlier GT86, maintaining the concept but improving many performance sections.

El naturally aspirated boxer engine of origin Subaru grows up to the 2,4 liters, yielding now 235 hp and 250 Nm, thus increasing its maximum power and torque. We are talking about a car with a longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive, mechanical limited-slip differential and 6-speed manual gearbox. His weight is just 1.350 kilos.

By the way, measures 4,26 meters long, 1,77 wide and 1,31 high, while its wheelbase is 2,57 meters long. In these dimensions we find an approved cabin for 4 passengers, although the two rear seats are practically testimonial. what is known as a 2+2 of a lifetime.

At the wheel of the Japanese sports car at the Jarama Circuit

We didn't have a lot of time to try it out, so we worked as hard as we could to tickle the car and extract as many sensations as possible. The Jarama Circuit, due to its technical layout, slopes and curves of all styles, is an ideal place for it.

Starting with the engine, you can see the clear evolution compared to its predecessor. Toyota's GR 86 now feels more refined mechanically, being its sweetest propellant; but specially fuller in delivering power throughout the rev range. And beware, it continues to dispense with overfeeding.

It still doesn't leave you glued to the seat, but it feels much more forceful and faster. It is a delight to see how the tachometer needle goes up and up, reaching up to 7.000 revolutions per minute leaving an intoxicating sound, one of those that ask you to stretch each gear until practically the cut.

Don't look at the stopwatch, dedicate yourself to enjoy

This is accompanied by a manual change of short developments, with fast, precise and hard-touch insertions. a real wonder that totally involves you in driving. These details are what make you forget about the stopwatch, the lap times and that make you enjoy feeling the car, the support changes and the grip limit.

El chassis it shows great rigidity, but nevertheless the suspensions are not extreme. This, together with not too wide tires, allows you to play with the weights at each change of direction steering the car with both the steering wheel and the pedals, accelerating very soon and rounding the curve with a subtle rear slide, fully controlled.

La address is another strong point of the GR 86, since tand reports the weight you have at all times in the front train and, of course, where the grip limit lies. All this accompanied by a low driving position, with the legs well stretched out and the steering wheel practically vertical. In addition, the gear lever is very close to the steering wheel rim.

Finally, I was surprised by the touch of the brake. I expected it to be good, but I was a little afraid that when my turn came to drive, because the vehicle had been used for several hours for these tests, the braking system would already be somewhat damaged. Nothing could be further from reality, because I still had a Hard touch to measure with total precision and a more than correct bite.

Conclusions with the GR 86

For me, the Toyota GR 86 is the car that best represents pure sportsmanship in these difficult times for the most petrol heads. Ok, it is not a car to travel regularly, its interior is small and it has drawbacks for day to day, such as the low clearance of the bodywork or the low driving position, but...

It's a car to maximize driving enjoyment, that transmits a lot and that you feel that you take it to him at all times and not the other way around. It doesn't overwhelm you. In addition, it is a very "school" car with which to learn to go fast, to play with the weights and to round off the exit of the curves without for that implying risking the driver's license. Without going at devilish speeds, it transmits a lot.

A few months ago the Japanese brand announced the prices of this new Toyota GR86 that we have tested today. The access version comes standard with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, cruise control, light and rain sensor, signal recognition, automatic emergency braking and, of course, a mechanical limited-slip differential. Your starting price is $32.900, a bargain for everything that makes you feel, really.

Then they offer us two added packages. The first is the touring pack, which includes red calipers with sportier pads, 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires for a total of 35.400 euros. The most equipped is Circuit pack, with improved calipers and discs, forged wheels and some sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 in 18 inches for 37.900 euros.

toyota supra manual

But the day did not end there, because after getting off the GR 86, lowering our heart rate and regaining some strength, we put on our helmets again. In this case to get on the Toyota Supra in its new version, which combines the original 3.0-liter block BMW and with a new manual transmission which, without a doubt, totally changes the driving of the car.

After doing a reset in the brain, because we went from an atmospheric 2-liter with 235 hp to a 3.0 turbo 340 hp, start the dance with the manual GR Supra. Logically, it pushes a lot more and feels more poised, especially in fast corners. The engine is wonderful, with recoveries that already leave you glued to the seat from the second half of the tachometer.

We notice the influence of BMW in many ways, such as the feel of the steering wheel, the build quality or the insulation. And beware, because as far as insulating materials are concerned, according to Toyota, they have reduced a few kilos in this latest update. But having said the above, the Japanese firm has made its adjustments and of course the main difference is that it is a coupe and not a convertible, like the BMW Z4 from which it derives.

Total effectiveness and a pinch of fun for the GR Supra

Not that the Toyota GR Supra is unexciting, God forbid, but it's less fun because it doesn't inform as much as its little brother. Yes indeed, in effectiveness it has no rival, because it is a really fast and precise car in every way. In the fast corners it shows great poise, while in the slow ones it catapults out with fantastic motor skills.

According to the new manual gearbox, seems to me a success. As we said before, it changes the concept of the car because involves us more in the task and increases the driving experience. In addition, it is also a transmission with a very sporty touch and that has a function that performs the heel tip automatically to perfection.

Toyota GR Supra Price

The Supra is priced at $59.550, but not for this tested variant, but for the access one. It has a 2.0-liter turbo with 258 hp, always linked to the 8-speed automatic ZF box. For its part, the 3.0-liter block is now only offered with a recently tested manual gearbox, with a rate of $71.550 according toyota configurator.