Toyota has announced a new version of its 86 sport coupe and bringing back some retro colors to go with it. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is the most performance-oriented 86 (née Scion FR-S) offered in the US yet, and Toyota is really trying to go retro with it. Not only does its name harken back to the legendary AE86, but it also wears Toyota’s old racing tricolor.
We know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is no, its 2.0-liter Subaru boxer does not emit one iota of power more than stock. That number still stands firmly at 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque and it will only come with a manual transmission. Where engineers focused their efforts was in the handling.
The 86 TRD Special Edition has had its suspension beefed up with Sachs dampers. A Brembo brake kit with rotors measuring 12.8 inches pinched by 4-piston calipers in front, while 12.4 inch rotors are matched with two-pot calipers out back.
Those well versed in Toyobaru trivia will surely notice that these are the same specs as the Subaru BRZ tS. However, Toyota representatives say that the suspension was tuned by TRD engineers specifically for this car.
Unlike the BRZ, however, the 86 TRD comes with a chrome-tipped TRD-branded exhaust, a unique body kit, and unique 18 x 7.5J wheels. Frankly, we prefer the BRZ Performance Pack’s 17 x 7.5J wheels, because as designer Yuki Kumono told us, they were inspired by RS-Watanabes.
Nevertheless, the 86 TRD has its own heritage cues, first and foremost of which is a yellow-orange-red hockey stick stripe curving up its sides. That, of course, is a nod to Toyota USA’s old racing liveries, found on everything from IMSA Celicas to Baja trucks.
In addition to the decals on either side, the tricolor is repeated on a badge on the front of its exclusive body kit. Our favorite application, however, is its beautiful embroidering into the dash pad. The interior, now available in a new red and black motif, is significantly more tasteful than past multi-colored Toyobaru interiors as well.
The 86 TRD Special Edition comes only in Raven, and will have an MSRP of of $32,420. That slots right between the BRZ Limited Performance Package and the BRZ tS. Only 1,418 will be offered in the US with a few more in other markets, and they go on sale in August 2018.
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Images courtesy of Toyota
what’s the significance of only making 1418? does that mean anything? seems like oddly specific number to be randomly selected…
We asked, and a Toyota rep said that was the US allocation out of the total number produced. When you add in Canada and Puerto Rico, you’ll likely get a round number, give or take a pre-production version or two.
Well, I’m glad I got the 2017 BRZ Performance Package when I did: August 6, 2017. (Yes, Hachi-Roku Day.)
I made the first North American reserve for the 2013 Scion FR-S, in May 2011. Yes, that’s wicked early, but I wanted to get the “Toyobaru Coupe”, as soon as I saw the first shots of the Nurburgring mule, with near-final sheet metal. If it wasn’t for the “First 86” program, I would’ve had a chance to take first delivery; alas.
She was Raven (i.e.: Crystal Black Silica). “Project Yozora” (night sky). I had a good five years and 110,000 miles on the clock, when I started seeing smoke that I thought was the new brakes wearing in. But then, on 2017-08-06, I saw a puddle, looked under, and saw blue liquid dripping down. “Oh, no… that’s coolant…”
Luckily, I had coolant in the radiator, so my mechanic friend told me, “Top off the overflow reservoir, and drive it to a dealer.” So I did. I started the paperwork on a new BRZ, which turned out to be World Rally Blue… and a surprise with Brembo brakes and Sachs suspension. The new one is Project Aozora (i.e.: blue sky).
And the old one? Sold her to a friend, who replaced the engine, and got her running again.
Now that’s dedication! I agree, I preferred the FR-S when it first came out, after the recent facelift I prefer the BRZ, and the Performance Package wheels are a must!
Well, I like the Performance Package wheels, but those are my “winter wheels”.
For summer, I went for the gold. Volk TE37’s. Test-fit them in Gran Turismo 5. Ordered them before the car was out, even guessing at the right size while the fitment was still “rumored at +48mm”. I guessed right; 17×8″ +38 fits beautifully. (The wheels didn’t arrive until after the car was ready, but it was so worth it.)
Don’t worry too much about the engine; my 2013 was within the first 1000 built, according to the VIN. I had the throwout bearing go at 56K miles
Just got a Raven 2013 FR-S with ~55k about a week ago. This after waiting with anticipation since the FT-HS concept in 2007 and FT-86 in 2009.
Wound up needing to wait a few years for the used market to hit a price I was more comfortable with (not that it was overpriced, just not in my budget), and with my largest (payment wise anyway) student loan hitting my last payment in August, it seemed a good time to replace that payment with the FR-S payment.
My first payment on the FR-S hits August 6. I thought it was fitting.
Your story scares me a little, as 110k seems pretty early for an engine that has anything to do with Toyota (and I’m pretty sure for Subaru as well?). If the FA20 lets go early on me, I’ll probably look into swapping a 3S-GE or some other Toyota engine in there.
Enjoy the BR-Z!
Sorry for the hyphen in the BRZ. For shame, I just get used to typing FR-S…it just slipped.
Enjoy the BRZ! 🙂
It seems a shame it only comes in raven. I reckon a slightly off-white, with that tricolour livery, would look fantastic. Harkening back to the old white and tricolour racing colours shown in your vintage pictures.
Or even a deep crisp white to go with the tricolour…
Always felt the yellow-orange-red scheme was sort off a rip-off of the BMW tricolor scheme. On the other hand, Audi also came up with a tricolor scheme as well. Ugh.
But $32 large for only 205 hp… You could get a 310 hp Mustang for less money. And that’s a turbo 2.3…