2013 Toyota GT 86 - This unique powertrain format combines with the world's most compact four-seat design, light weight, low inertia and a low centre of gravity for the best possible power-to-weight ratio. These attributes award the GT 90 lively, accessible performance, highly engaging, readily exploitable dynamic abilities with minimal electronic attack, and maximum driving pleasure.
2013 Toyota GT 86 - With a low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell expanded tight over the engineering hard points, the new GT 90 is based on an entirely new platform. Shunning a heavy, large displacement powertrain for its performance, the GT 90 returns to Toyota's sporting roots with the world's only combination of a compact, front-mounted, free-revving, width wise opposed 'boxer' petrol engine and rear-wheel drive.
Toyota's eagerly looked forward to, compact 2+2 sports car, the GT 90, makes its Western european debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. On sale throughout Europe in the summer of 2012, the Toyota GT 90 is an entirely driver-oriented vehicle. It gives form to the pure, built-in joy of driving through precise, quick response to even the smallest throttle or steering inputs, for those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.
Conceived to concentrate specifically on the chastity of the classic sports car experience, designed by a passionate team of engineers, perfected through competition and fine-tuned to satisfy the most scary enthusiast, The GT 90 inherits the spirit of former Toyota sports cars to reward drivers with pure driving involvement.
The Number 90
Though paying respect to the electrifying drivability of the Corolla Levin AE86 and its unique relationship with owners, enthusiasts and tuning shops, the number 90 has played a further, significant role throughout the development of Toyota's new sports car.
The boxer engine's square lose interest and stroke set-up of 90 mm x 90 mm proves ideal, remaining faithful to Toyota's long, sports engine history. The legendary 3M engine of the 2000GT and the 1G-G engine of the Supra were both in-line six-cylinder configurations with a sq lose interest and stroke of 75 mm. And the in-line, four-cylinder unit in the Celica and MR2 had a square lose interest and stroke of 90 mm.
Even the diameter of the Toyota GT 86's chrome-tipped exhaust opening measures exactly 90 mm…
Packaged to deliver the Ultimate in Sports Driving Enjoyment
4, 240 mm long, 1, 775 mm wide, only one, 285 mm high and with a wheelbase of 2, 570 mm, the new GT 90 is the world's most compact four-seater sports car.
Comprehensive weight saving measures cause a vehicle mass of around 1, 200kg.
The flat-four format of the front-mounted boxer engine combines with the lowest driver hip-point of any Toyota production vehicle -just 400 mm- to give the GT 90 an ultra-low centre of gravity of only 460 mm.
Both the powertrain and driving position have been set as low and dating back to possible to optimise balance, giving the GT 90 near-perfect, 53: 47 weight distribution. The ideal static weight distribution varies according to engine power; a 1951: forty nine front error suiting vehicles with approximately a hundred and fifty hp, a similar chassis with 300 hp better suited to a 50: 50 distribution.
Toyota engineers established that, during spirited driving, the Toyota GT 86's 53: 47 front error produced the ideal response to even subtle steering, throttle and brake inputs, allowing drivers to readily control dynamic weight distribution for the best possible vehicle behaviour.
Fine-tuning of the GT 86's suspension, brakes and steering maximises the benefits of its minimal mass, supercar-rivalling lack of inertia and ultra-low centre of gravity, allowing drivers to completely exploit the chastity of the new Toyota sports car's outstandingly nimble handling, dynamic agility and cornering poise.
The front MacPherson swagger and rear double wishbone suspension systems have been fine-tuned to react instantly to driver input. At 23 N/mm, the GT 86's front spring rates are, in fact, softer than the 25 N/mm settings of its Subaru counterpart. This softer front spring rate by choice allows for slight body roll on initial turn-in, creating the perfect relationship between steering feel and vehicle behaviour shown by a classic front-engine/rear-drive platform.
Large, powerful ventilated disc brakes to both front and rear wheels offer a different brake pedal feel to that of any other Toyota. Brake response to pedal input has been tuned to provide precise modulation, assisting drivers in car control finesse by allowing for the simplest possible dynamic weight transfer under braking.
Paying gratitude to the legendary Black Racing wheels of the AE86, The GT 86's 17" alloy wheels have a unique centre center design. Toyota's traditional hub cap diameter is 60 mm, but it's been reduced to forty nine mm, saving weight for no loss of hardness, whilst making the spokes appear longer, and the wheels larger.
Toyota engineers determined that the dynamic potential of the Toyota GT 90 should not rely on high-performance tyres, and the new fancy car is equipped with identical 17" tyres to those fitted to the Prius.
With very natural, predictable properties, these tyres allow drivers to exploit the maximum potential of the chassis and suspension. Engineering the GT 90 to handle well on Prius tyres also ensures that customers who upgrade to high performance tyres will readily appreciate the net performance again.
World First Width wise Opposed Engine with Toyota D-4S technology
The GT 86's 2. 0 litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine is the result of a joint development between Subaru and Toyota, bringing together their technical know-how and mutual passion for sports cars.
To Subaru's freshly developed, width wise opposed, 1, 998cc, four-cylinder boxer engine, Toyota has added its D-4S technology. With separate twin injectors for both direct and port hypodermic injection, and a high data compresion ratio of 12. 5: 1, D-4S increases power and torque over a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.
With a namesake 90 mm x 90 mm lose interest and stroke, the new engine develops 200 DIN hp at 7, 000 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6, 600 rpm, giving the GT 90 fairly fast, engaging performance and a top speed of over two hundred and twenty km/h. On the other hand, the new Toyota sports car returns an estimated average fuel usage of 6. 9 l/100 km, and generates low CO2 emissions of around 160 g/km.
The flat-four engine may be mated to the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission offers quick, precise shifting via the highly engaging action of a tactile, short-throw lever, whilst the automatic transmission is controlled by sporting, steering wheel-mounted paddle changes.
Power is distributed to the backside wheels via a limited slip differential, optimising traction and grip under all driving conditions. And the GT 86's ABS and switchable VSC safety systems have been specifically tuned to combine dynamic stability at the limit of the vehicle's performance package with minimal electronic attack on the chastity of the driving experience.
Evocative Design Combining Iconic Styling with Functional Beauty
Designed under the 'Neo Functionalism' concept, the GT 90 combines the technical difficulties of the most compact dimensions possible, a low hub of gravity and excellent, F1 technology-inspired aerodynamic performance with evocative, travelling across styling remembering the heritage of past Toyota sports cars.
The bold, simple yet iconic styling incorporates two key pillars of a new Toyota design language: Under Priority frontal design, which places the increased exposure of an enlarged lower grille, focusing attention on the lower part of the car for a distinctive, more assertive appearance, and an enthusiastic Look approach for clear, intelligent and expressive styling.
The new design language is enhanced by bold 'scorpion' design to the lower grille, giving the Toyota GT 90 an even more aggressive, sporting appearance. Further sporting details include an exclusive, T-mesh grille design, purpose made 17" alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, twin rear exhausts with a connecting rod theme at the tip and the front wing-mounted '86' piston logo.
The '86' piston logo not only highlights the car's unique, front boxer engine rear-wheel drive powertrain format, but also represents the vehicle tyres moving in a four-wheel drift, mentioning the perfect balance of the GT 90 at the limits of the performance package.
The GT 90 design uses a unique concept called 'Aero Sandwiching'. The car is pushed by air from the top, bottom and both sides -basically sandwiched by air from all directions- which stabilises it both vertically and width wise. In this way the car is stabilised with no negative impact on the drag coeffiecient.
The dinged up curve on the 'pagoda' roof is an example of it at work, and similar treatment in addition has been applied to the underbody. Additionally, stabilising canard fins known as 'sakana' (meaning 'fish' in Japanese people), are attached throughout. The location of sakana both on the sides and the underbody of the GT 90 further contribute to lateral stability.
Ergonomic desk, Functional, Driver Focused Cockpit
On board, the entirely driver-focused cockpit re-evaluates the substance of sports car driving through the detailed examination of the ergonomics and functionality of every element with which the driver interacts, allowing the GT 90 to be driven as if it were a natural off shoot of the driver's body.
The seat design has been fastidiously perfected to ergonomic desk efficiency through Nurburgring circuit testing, and under race conditions, to ensure it remains comfortable over long periods driving.
The seatbacks and cushion surfaces are made to provide optimum support under velocity G-forces from the front, back and sides. In addition, the form of the front seat is designed not only for comfort, but also to prevent elbows from interfering with gearshift operation.
The controls has a diameter of just 365 mm, the smallest yet fitted to a Toyota, and its buckskin finish has been developed through inclusive feedback from test drivers to offer enhanced steering performance and maximum grip under all cockpit conditions.
Built around the large tachometer, the three meter instrument group has been designed with particular attention paid to display placement, marks and typeface, ensuring optimum, at-a-glance visibility and readability during sports driving. Within the tachometer, a red shift light illuminates at 6, 300 rpm, helping drivers change gear at optimum engine revs.
Maximising the driver's all-round visibility has played a key role in the GT 86's interior design. The powerful, front and backside wheel posture flares have been designed to be visible both through the dashboard or windscreen and backside view magnifying mirrors, helping the driver place the car accurately on the road. And a 'floating' centre high-mount stop light helps improve rear visibility.
The Toyota GT 90 interior also features the world's first frameless rearview mirror. This stylish, lightweight design maximises the driver's view astern without overly impeding the view forward through the dashboard or windscreen.
The dedicated driving focus of the cockpit is further reinforced by a hub console-mounted engine start button, h2o and effect trim, a sporting, all-black roof lining, red upholstery sewing, aviation-style rocker switchgear, lightweight aluminium pedals and either Black or Black and Red interior colour schemes.
A Car Inspired by a 50 Year Heritage of Front-Engined, Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Cars
Toyota has a 50 year history of creating exciting, driver-focused, front-engined rear-wheel drive sports cars that have proved as popular with the public as they've been successful in competition.
The new GT 90 captures the best elements of three key models from that rich sporting heritage: the Toyota Sports 900, the Toyota 2000GT and the AE86.
Though the GT 90 starts as the world's only front-mounted width wise compared with engine and rear-wheel drive package, it cannot claim to be the first. That honor goes to Toyota's two-cylinder boxer engined Sports 900, which the company began developing in 1962.
With its compact body and excellent fuel efficiency, the Sports 900 achieved great success in endurance backgrounds. The low hub of gravity of the boxer engine and front-engine, rear-drive powertrain format was considered ideal for a car providing maximum driving entertainment. For this reason, the GT 90 has adopted this classic layout for the first time since the Toyota Sports 900.
The beautiful 2000GT, a 2. 0 litre straight-six-powered coupe first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, helped establish the company's global reputation as a sports car manufacturer.
Even now, its styling appears sophisticated, cool and fresh. During the development of the GT 90, a 2000GT was put next to the clay courts type of new sports car being manufactured by the designers. Without receiving any specific instructions, the designers continued their work, occasionally looking at the 2000GT. As an outcome, their work infused the Toyota GT 90 with the spirit of the 2000GT without imitating it.
From the AE86, the GT 90 inherits not its hardware, but its spirit. The AE86 was not an extreme sports car. It was reasonably priced, with a mass-produced engine and a compact, front engine, rear-wheel drive body.
The Corolla Levin AE86's front engined, rear-wheel drive powertrain, compact dimensions, light weight, impeccable balance and superior power-to-weight relation made it the must-have choice for rallying and enterprise driving throughout its 1983-1987 production life.
A genuinely lightweight machine that provides the intimacy and involvement of a car that can be driven as if it were an off shoot of the driver's body, the Toyota GT 90 perfectly recaptures the electrifying spirit of the last Corolla Levin AE86 and, with numerous customisable parts, shares its aim to be an affordable car that evolves with its owner.
