Hachiroku, the digits 8 and 6, are legendary in the annals of Toyotaku by simply being the chassis code for last of the great FR Corollas. The car’s demise left a gaping hole in Toyota’s lineup that couldn’t be filled by FF Celicas and high-dollar Supras. Eventually, those disappeared too. For 20 years fans pleaded for a comeback, and in 2007 rumors of a modern-day revival for the bare-bones touge-runner, built jointly with Subaru, began circulating.
But when the global economy entered meltdown, its fate was questioned. Our hopes were pinned on Akio Toyoda, self-professed car enthusiast and racer that was favored to take the reins at Toyoda. Well he got the job, and apparently one of the new President’s first orders of business was reassuring fans that the project was still on during a speech at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
The entry-level FR will be sold for ¥2,000,000 (about $21,000) and it’s even internally referred to as the “086A” project. Color us hopeful, not just for this car, but for Toyota to return to sporting form. The invocation of these two measly digits at least shows that some in charge knows Toyota history. And with Nissan saying that the Silvia successor is dead, the 086A has this segment locked down.
[Source: Autoblog] Thanks to RoadsterViking for the tip!
i hope that we get the toyota version here in the us.
I’m hoping it gets badged as a Scion…. so it would be marketed at a afordable price. God knows what would happen if it becomes a Lexus….
I would buy in a heartbeat, a little retro styling needed, but the photo is a great possible rendition. I also hope the toyota model comes to the us, subaruss are great but would stray away from the whole subaru all wheel drive concept. This is truely a revival of a true TOYOTA classic. 20R power anyone?, just kidding.
Jim – I agree. The above rendering is the best I’ve seen yet. I would love to see some TE27 or Celica styling cues, but I’m getting greedy … 🙂
Well, this will open a Pandora’s Box…but how about reviving a true classic?
Yep, the AL25.
And for those who are unfamiliar – it’s the ’80s Tercel 4WD Wagon – a Gen 2 Terc.
Great ergonomics, even by today’s standards.
*crickets*
I think you might be in the minority on this one, Tom 😉
I really liked the Tercel 4wd wagon,and I’m very excited about the upcomming Urban Cruiser with optional 4wd (Europe’s version of the Toyota Ist/Scion Xd).
Two words… thank the Gods, sorry three.
I would get a little excited if I knew it wasn’t going to have a subaru engine in it.
Not bad looking at all. Lets hope they pull through!
as a current ae86 owner/driver/fan i’m just happy it’s an FR. let’s make this happen!
Is $21,000 considered “Entry Level” now?
Wow. I’ve been on this sphere for 44 years, and haven’t spent half that on a car.
i vote for the tercel, so there’s two of us. impractical new car do not impress me, especially since calif. has increased the vehicle registration tax by 70%