The Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition celebrates one of the brand’s most beloved classics. Here’s everything you need to know about the AE86 reincarnation.
With the 2024 model year just around the corner, Toyota has revealed several special editions of its GR performance range, including this rather nostalgic iteration of the coveted GR86 coupe. We’re pretty sure the modified and tuning community will enjoy this one…
Born In the ’80s
Anyone who loves Japanese car culture will immediately recognize where that two-tone panda color scheme has taken inspiration from. A product of the 1980s, the AE86 Sprinter Trueno was a sporting variant of Toyota’s humble Corolla grocery-getter, equipped with a pokey 1.6-liter twin cam four-pot that sang all the way to 7500rpm. What’s more, it was rear-wheel drive, weighed just 2300lbs (1043kg), and had a limited-slip diff as standard. As you can imagine, that recipe quickly earned the AE86 plaudits within tuning circles, and in fact, its fanbase is still thriving today around forty years later. I mean, check out this immaculate feature car we showcased not too long ago…
Anyway, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the beloved AE86, so what better way to celebrate the occasion than with a special tribute edition of its closest descendent? That’s exactly what the Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition is, and I gotta say, it’s won plenty of fans within the FC office already. So, let’s take a closer look at what the Trueno package actually includes…
Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition Specs
Aesthetics & Ergonomics
The most eye-catching element of the Trueno Edition is the livery, of course. The black decals (which span the hood and lower side profile of the car) can be optioned alongside a base paint coat of either red or white, and there are plenty of other Trueno touches scattered around the place too.
For instance, you can find Trueno lettering embedded in the black decals towards the front of the door, while there are also Trueno badges on the front bumper and the trunk. There are some nice touches on the inside too, such as a retro-style Trueno gear knob and Ultrasuede seats accented with red leather.
However, this special edition GR86 isn’t just about show…
Suspension & Braking Upgrades
Performance-wise, the 2.4-liter FA24 powertrain in the Trueno Edition is identical to that of a regular GR86, but frankly that’s no bad thing. In stock form that engine packs 228hp and 184lb ft of torque – figures which completely overshadow the old AE86’s outputs, and serve as a welcome boost compared to the old GT86 model.
Instead the focus was on refining the way that the car handles. To achieve that goal, Toyota has added some ZF Sachs dampers and Brembo brakes, which will come as standard with the Trueno Edition but only be available as an option on regular GR86s.
The nitrogen-filled dampers are tuned to blend good levels of driver feedback with comfort for regular street driving. Meanwhile, the larger-than-standard Brembo rotors (also seen on the Subaru BRZ tS) have four-piston calipers at the front, two-piston at the rear. Combined with the GR86’s already renowned chassis and perky engine, these additions simply add to what is already one of the best value for money performance platforms on the market. Though, admittedly, with just 860 examples coming to the US, expect dealer mark-ups to be rather high…
Regardless, if you want to channel your inner Takumi Fujiwara, this thing will be more than capable.
