Toyota AE86 entry level sports car to be reborn

The Japanese media have been going crazy over what could possibly be a long awaited replacement for the AE86 sprinter ‘cult car’. As previously reported by Carupdate, the original AE86 was the influence behind the successful ‘Initial D’ franchise in Japan.

Reports indicate that Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe has confirmed that the small rear wheel drive, entry level sports car is currently in its initial development phase in conjunction with Subaru.
Read Article

EvoAudi - 9/30/2007 1:07:45 PM

+2 Boost

Sounds like a good rival to the upcoming Hyundai Tiburon.

STJ88 - 9/30/2007 1:25:42 PM

+4 Boost

@EvoAudi

The AE86 won't compete with any car one the market, because how many $13000 RWD cars are there.

EvoAudi - 9/30/2007 1:31:50 PM

0 Boost

You make a good point. I'm talking about the motorsport aspect of it, as in DRIFTING!!!!!!!

AutoEng - 9/30/2007 2:59:09 PM

+2 Boost

Those of you who are familiar with the old Toyota AE86's from back in the day will remember that these cars were never really "sports cars". They were small, light, relatively cheap, economy minded cars but with (in the case of the AE86) a decent little twin cam engine. Still the power output was closer to 100hp than to the 250+ expected in most of todays RWD coupes.

If this vehicle see the light of day it will be in its own special niche. It will NOT be competing head to head with G35/RX8/350Z/S2000/and similar crew for example. It will be MUCH less powerful than any of those (120-150hp?), but also much lighter (1100kg?).

The beauty of the AE86 was the combination of decent chassis, lightweightedness, RWD, and low cost which made it an ideal starter vehicle for the enthusiast with performance driving aspirations. It has all the ingredients necessary to be a perfect car to learn high performance driving (or even drifting if that is your thing) without the high cost (and danger) of learning with a heavier, higher powered RWD car.

With a price expected to be below $15,000 it will far undercut (by about half!) the price range of the current RWD coupes. It will be targeted at a whole different segment of buyers. My guess is to keep it down to such a low weight and price it will be stripped of all the unnecessary luxuries. I'm thinking manual windows, locks, no fancy interior, no heated seats, no huge stereo system, etc. It will be targeted directly at the people who liked Initial D, the original AE86, and are wishing for an entry level RWD car for the sole purposes of driving enjoyment.

DaHarder - 9/30/2007 4:23:01 PM

+1 Boost

The pic posted doesn't come from one of the most credible of Japanese auto publications, and I, for one, would hope that whatever they come up with is a bit more forward-thinking/unique than this...

After all Mazda already has that fender design pretty much perfected.

gsh23 - 9/30/2007 11:23:21 PM

+1 Boost

10 bucks says toyota will screw us and brand it as a scion.