Toyota unveiled the “Toyota GR86 Rally Legacy Concept” special machine, equipped with the GR Corolla’s 300 horsepower engine and all-wheel drive system, on November 4, 2024 (local time) in preparation for the SEMA Show, one of North America’s largest custom car events.
The heart of the GR Corolla was transplanted into the GR86, making it an AWD model.
The red, white, and green livery, a must-have for rally fans of the past, pays homage to the Toyota Celica GT-Four, which competed in the WRC (World Rally Championship). Toyota says that this concept car demonstrates its passion for performance, heritage, and the future of rally racing.
Despite the significant structural differences between the base vehicles, with the GR Corolla having a transversely mounted engine and the GR86 having a longitudinally mounted engine, Toyota’s engineering team managed to fit the GR Corolla’s 1.6-liter turbo engine into the GR86’s engine bay. Furthermore, advanced technology was used, including the creation of a special subframe to connect the front driveshaft.
With this powertrain, the GR86 is equipped with the same 1.6-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine as the GR Corolla, producing a maximum output of 300 horsepower and a maximum torque of 370 Nm. This powerful engine is paired with the GR Corolla’s all-wheel drive system. Toyota has also hinted at the possibility of further tuning, and upgrades such as a high-performance intercooler and a race-specific ECU could lead to even more power.
The exterior design is reminiscent of Toyota rally cars from the 1980s and 1990s, with attention to detail including red and green stripes on the halo white body, red mud flaps, and a Celica GT-Four style rear spoiler that will captivate fans of the past.
The interior is simple, with racing seats and six-point harnesses, and is designed to be functional as a rally car.
“We built this car for fans of GR and Toyota Rally,” said Toyota Marketing Director Mike Tripp. “It’s a fantasy car made real, and it’s our way of celebrating our past achievements and the possibility of the World Rally Championship returning to the United States.”
A word from the editorial department
This concept car is not just a show model, but an important model that suggests the type of sports cars Toyota will develop in the future. The GR86 concept car, which hints at the return of the classic Celica GT-Four, is sure to be a highlight of the SEMA show.
This concept car may suggest that Toyota is considering reviving the Celica. Anticipation is building for the return of this classic car.
Toyota News Release
