2019 Toyota 86 GT: A Sports Car Done Right

When discussing what makes a sports car a true sports car, I believe there are some very simple rules that allow someone to make the determination. Nowadays, as the disappearing car world is being replaced by a landscape of bigger more versatile SUVs and CUVs, many marketing people are trying to redefine what a 'sports car' is.

I have an automotive journalist friend that says you can't have more than two doors and be called a sports car. I agree with that rule. I also have a family member that drove Opel GTs most of his life, and his sports car criteria was if you have to lean over to open the passenger door for someone, it's not a sports car. I agree with that rule as well. Let's put is this way: if you can put your hand on the ground to help you get out of the car, then it's probably a sports car.

It has to be a manual to be considered a sports car. No cheater automatics or paddle shifters. If Sean Connery as James Bond would drive it, then it should be considered a sports car. If you can see yourself in this vehicle zipping through the super narrow streets, mountains or countryside roads like a Tour de France bicyclist anywhere in Europe, it can be considered a sports car.

What's Old is New

The new 2019 Toyota 86 GT takes its current styling cues from its legendary cousin the 1968 Toyota 2000 GT which is the same car that James Bond drove in the 1967 movie classic You Only Live Twice. You can see the resemblance to the 2000GT in the 86's sleek low profile with front fenders that flow from the front fender-mounted vortex generators. Just like the GT, the 86 is a hardtop sports car that would look great even as a convertible.

Fun Car to Drive

The 86 offers a six-speed automatic transmission or a short-throw six-speed manual transmission for the true sports car purists. Even if your daily commute is a lot of stop and go, you will still want to look at the six-speed manual because Toyota engineers have developed a triple-cone mesh synchromesh for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears and a ball-bearing-mounted shift linkage that provides one of most durable and smooth six speeds on the market. Couple that with Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) to keep the car from rolling backwards, and it is very forgiving for someone just learning to drive a manual six speed.

Power-to-Weight Ratio

There is nothing worse than having a car that has plenty of horse power but handles and corners like a pig due to the bigger engine block. That is not the case with the 86 because it has a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed aluminum Boxer engine that allows the 86 to weigh in at a svelte 2,776 lbs making it one of the lightest sports cars currently on the market.

The other nightmare sports car scenario is where your car runs on a rail through the corners but then it takes you a good mile to get up to Interstate speeds if you are not running downhill with a tail wind so you find yourself giving 'point bys' your whole day. That is not the scenario for the 86 either because it is considered a high reviving engine that is capable of producing 100 horsepower per liter of displacement. Toyota has designed the D-4S Dual Injection system that combines direct-injection and port-injection technologies. This unique design provides a cooling effect in the cylinders, which allows the engine to create a very high (12.5:1) compression ratio for maximum power. The 2.0-liter Boxer engine will produce a very capable 205 hp and 156 lb.-ft. of peak torque. So the 86 will be very responsive no matter if you are touring through the hill country or needing on-ramp speed for your daily commute.

Technology for Performance Geeks

The engineers at Toyota have thrown a bone to performance purists. There is also included on the 86 GT a TFT Multi-Information Display (MID) with vehicle data screens which will show essential race track data like G-force meter and stopwatch, horsepower, and torque curves to go along with the standard engine coolant, oil temperatures, and fuel consumption.

Technology for Connectivity

The 86 comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display that fits in tastefully with the overall sports car theme that has been created by the engineers. It is large enough to easily navigate whatever your technology need is from using the back up camera to using the GPS to navigate winding roads. There is also an eight-speaker Pioneer audio system that includes Bluetooth for hands-free phone capability and music streaming.

STAR Safety System

The 2019 Toyota 86 comes standard with the STAR Safety System which features an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TRAC), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Smart Stop Technology (SST). The supplemental restraint system includes driver and front passenger dual-stage advanced airbags, driver and front passenger outboard seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags.

There are some vehicles that I know what I'm getting before I get them, and there are those that I look forward too. In this new world of disappearing cars for the utilitarian CUV/SUV, the 86 GT is a breath of fresh air. I for one am glad there are auto manufacturers still building cars for pure enjoyment. If you are looking for a change in the way you commute to work every day and don't want to put kids in a 'sports car' back seat, you will want to go out and test drive the new 86. Who knows? You might even start asking for your ice tea to be shaken and not stirred.

Vehicle Details:

Toyota 86 2-Door Coupe GT

Color: Ablaze Red

MSRP: $ 28,585

6-Speed Manual Transmission

For additional information, stop by a local dealership or visit online at:

Toyota | 86