Toyota can always be relied upon for some great concept cars, and this one has to rank as one of the best. This is the GR86 Rally Legacy Concept, a one-off for the SEMA show that ‘showcases Toyota’s commitment to performance, nostalgia, and the future of rally racing.’ Someone’s got to, right?
We’ll get to the look, of course. But that’s not the important part of the Rally Legacy Concept, because it’s what’s under the bonnet that matters. Gone is the flat-four from a Toyota 86 sports car, replaced by the three-cylinder G16E-GTS turbo triple from the GR Yaris and Corolla. After so many years of speculation, here’s proof that the 1.6-litre hellraiser can fit in the coupe, bringing with it all sorts of promise about the future of Toyota sports cars. The GR-Four all-wheel drive system has been transplanted as well, so this is far more than just a styling exercise.
To make a 1,618cc three-cylinder turbo fit where a 2,387cc flat four once lived, Toyota modified the front of the chassis (it hasn’t specified any more than that), with the Rally Legacy Concept also benefitting from a bespoke subframe and set of engine mounts. Making all-wheel drive work sounds like the biggest headache; the rear end is basically now Corolla, complete with its diff, axles and gear ratios. The front also had to be overhauled to get the hubs in and all the parts required to get drive to another set of wheels. There are new control arms and tweaks to make sure the steering rack fits. So perhaps don’t get too excited about a Yaris-engined 86 just yet. But it’s here and it works, so that’s something.
Furthermore, while the Rally Legend Concept is rated at 300hp and 273lb ft, the engine features a host of upgrades that could make more power possible. These include an uprated intercooler, race ECU and custom exhaust. Looks like the manual gearbox has been retained also, in case this 86 couldn’t be any cooler.
Hopefully the SEMA showgoers will be paying attention to all the engineering effort that’s gone in, but it’s very easy to imagine being totally bowled over by the looks instead. Obviously hannelling the ST205 Celica GT-Four - famous from the SEGA arcade game, infamous for the cheating - the GR86 looks just fabulous for its Castrol-esque livery and quad spotlights. The white speedlines are perfect, the GT-Four-style hooped spoiler a lovely nod to the past (complete with GR-Four on the side) and the mudflaps the cherries on top. Sometimes SEMA can seem a bit of fun without much substance; here’s proof of how much it really matters.
Of course, Toyota won’t go so far as to confirm anything about what this concept points to, suggesting only that the GR86 Rally Legacy Concept ‘exemplifies Toytoa’s strategic approach to blending heritage with innovation.’ But as mentioned, it shows they’re willing; Toyota didn’t have to do this, and it looks even cooler as a brand because it did. Here’s proof that a turbo triple GR86 can happen, and it just so helps that this concept looks utterly brilliant in the process. Well done, Toyota.
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