Following our earlier FT-86 spy photo story, come this new set of spy pics showing a body-kitted example of the upcoming Toyota FT-86 sports car.
That big rear wing on the FT-86 reminds me of a Supra…
Heaven forbid I provoke any further criticism from readers by likening the compact FT-86 to Toyota’s discontinued performance flagship. But, yes, the tall wing does bring to mind the last generation Supra Turbo, or the Celica GT-Four from the mid-90s.
This prototype is also sporting revised side-skirts, a deeper front airdam and revised lower rear bumper. We believe it’s part and parcel of a new tuned-up, harder FT-86 planned to take Toyota’s new coupe deeper into petrolhead territory.
Haven’t we seen the hi-po FT-86 concept before?
Toyota has previously exhibited a performance version of the FT-86 in concept trim. The FT-86 G Sports Concept was shown at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, and featured a turbocharged version of the Subaru-sourced flat-four engine. The exterior received suitably fast and furious styling add-ons, but the body kit was significantly different in design.
We know that Toyota is keen to promote customisation of the FT-86, and corner some of the money going into aftermarket accessories. Toyota Europe product planning and marketing manager Duncan McMath told CAR: ‘In the US we’ve been amazed by the amount of money customers have been spending on their Scion TCs’.
So this could be an appearance package for the options list, or to be added to the Toyota Racing Developments (TRD) parts catalogue. Expect some dieting to happen, as well, to make the FT-86 handle even more sharply.
You know the FT-86’s rear wing looks a bit like a WRX STI as well…
We know that Subaru is jointly developing the FT-86 with Toyota, and that they will produce their own version. But the German trade plates on this car match previous Toyota prototypes, rather than what we’ve seen on Subarus testing in Europe over recent years.
That’s a fairly tenuous clue, but the headlight outline and the central air intake are close enough to the FT-86 II and US market Scion FR-S concept to make us feel more confident about which one of the Toyobaru twins we’re looking at.
When do they peel the camouflage off the production FT-86?
European sales commence in 2012, and we expect to see a production FT-86 on Toyota’s booth at the 2011 Tokyo motor show.