2017 Toyota 86 limited edition on sale in Australia

Toyota Australia has expanded its sports car range with the launch of the 2017 Toyota 86 Limited Edition, which is limited to just 60 units and priced from $41,490 plus on-road costs.

The 86 Limited Edition is based on the top-spec 86 GTS manual with the $4,550 premium adding items such as bright Solar Orange paintwork, ventilated Brembo disc brakes and Sachs dampers. It’s not the first time Toyota has launched a limited edition 86, with the Blackline arriving in showrooms in 2016.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the performance package is ideally suited to the car’s balanced chassis, low centre of gravity and its front-engine/rear-wheel-drive configuration.

“Whether driven on the open road or on the track, the combination of beefier brakes and uprated suspension involving two renowned performance brands is designed to further distinguish Toyota’s lightweight coupe as an authentic driver’s car,” Mr Cramb said.

The Brembo discs measure 326mm at the front, and 316mm at the rear, a marked size different from the standard 86 GTS’ 294mm and 290mm respectively. The Sachs dampers were developed specifically for the 86, aimed at improving the car’s stability and overall agility.

The 86 Limited Edition’s exterior features Solar Orange paintwork, which is both lighter and brighter than the standard model’s Velocity Orange. The paintwork is accompanied by new 17-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels, while a metallic black rear spoiler and door mirror covers further distinguish the Limited Edition from its other 86 siblings.

Inside the 86 Limited Edition, the orange theme continues with contrasting stitching featuring on the seats, steering wheel, doors, dashboard and gearknob. The dashboard fascia is also covered in suede-like ‘Grandlux’ material, with an orange 86 logo sitting on the left side of the dashboard.

The 86 Limited Edition carries no upgrades to the car’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine, which in facelifted form produces 152kW of power and 212Nm of torque, at 7,000rpm and 6,400rpm respectively – up slightly on pre-facelift cars. The power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual only.

Otherwise, the 86 Limited Edition carries over standard equipment from the 86 GTS, including automatic LED head- and tailights, a 6.1-inch touchscreen with inbuilt satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a 4.2-inch driver’s multifunction information screen, front and rear foglamps and electric-folding mirrors. The facelifted 86 (and its Subaru BRZ sibling) was launched last year with updated styling, slightly more power for manual variants, retuned suspension and a new track mode for the stability control.

Toyota Australia, whose 86 sales are down a further 20 percent in 2017 to just 821 units, will no doubt be looking forward to the 86 Limited Edition creating some reborn interest in the brand. Ford is enjoying the same success that Toyota had in 2012 with the 86, with 3,772 sales of the Mustang so far in 2017 placing it as the number one selling sports car in Australia.

The 2017 Toyota 86 Limited Edition is available from Toyota dealerships now. With only 60 examples available, you’d better be quick.

2017 Toyota 86 pricing (plus on-road costs):
86 GT: $30,790 (m) $33,090 (a)
86 GTS: $36,490 (m) $38,790 (a)
86 Limited Edition: $41,490 (manual-only)