The new 2017 GT86 has been revealed at the 2016 New York Motor show, and it’s better than ever. This is not an all-new model, but there have been plenty of changes to what can be described as the facelift GT86.
Visually, the car is even more agressive than before, with a sharp, angular front bumper that is dominated by the central air intake which has been widened to accentuate the low, wide stance of Toyota’s fun-to-drive coupe. The fog light housings have been revamped, there’s new LED headlamps & front indicators, and “twisted spoke” alloy wheels have been added to the model.
It’s not just an exterior facelift that the GT86 has benefitted from, work has been going on behind the scenes to enhance the quality and feel of the car’s interior, too. New leather/Alcantara uplstery and Alcantara-wrapped instrument panel options have been included this time around. This extremely lovely material has also been included on the door trims too for an added feeling of luxury.
A new cloth upholstery option has been added to the specification options and features unique silver stitching for the ultimate sporty look. The steering wheel, praised for its size and feel by journalists across the globe, has been updated to include integrated audio controls as well as the recognisable “86” logo on the centre boss.
It may come as a surprise, given the car’s wonderful handling characteristics, that the 2017 GT86 has had a suspension makeover. Refined shock absorber tuning and spring rates will deliver “easier control” and “increased agility”, which is excellent news for driving enthusiasts around the world.
No, there’s no more power, but the beauty of the 197bhp 2.0-litre naturally aspirated GT86 is that you can drive it at full tilt almost all of the time without having to drive at particularly dangerous speeds.
The GT86 is being used as a key instrument in Toyota’s assault on motorsport competitions around the world, and the GT86 CS-Cup has been developed for a Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. There’s also a readily-available GT86 CS-R3 that customers can purchase for rallying purposes at all levels, be it a local grassroots event or an FIA-sanctioned championship race.
No exact word yet as to when the new 2017 GT86 will arrive in the UK, but it is said to be later in 2016 so stay tuned to Ron Brooks on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates!
