Tired of the Rocket Bunny kit? Can’t really tell how someone can get bored of that rough bolt-on pack, but if you live in Japan here’s a TRD alternative - the GT 86 14R60 limited edition which costs... three times more than the basic 86 there.
Toyota Racing Development (TRD) recently revealed a limited edition Toyota GT 86 14R60 model which puts the design of the stock car on the upper level by drawing inspiration from the Griffon Project. The exterior is adorned with a more aggressive bumper, side fins, redesigned side skirts, a sportier rear bumper with air diffuser and mid-mounted exhausts, a carbon fiber roof and shark fin antenna as well as a rear wing.
Finally, to complete the black on white looks, the GT 86 14R60 (yeah, that’s a lot of numbers; maybe the McLaren nomenclature disease is spreading...) comes with a set of 18-inch forged magnesium wheels finished in matte black.
Maybe more of those crankshaft horses will reach the rear wheels now. In some cases, dyno runs showed that only around 150 hp were actually spinning them. Handling also gets honed a bit by using a strut tower brace, a V-brace in the trunk and an adjustable suspension with retuned bushings as well as bigger brakes and a limited slip differential.
Under the skin and in between all the metal you also get the cockpit which received lightweight sport seats, carbon fiber trimmings, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel as well as TRD branded sills, floor mats and orange stitching. You won’t find rear seats or an infotainment system here. It’s a driver’s car and the engine noise should suffice.
The huge price difference in Japan comes from the fact that the basic GT 86 costs about ¥2,000,000 ($18,400/€14,600) - we have to explain this model makes due with many super-basic features, because true drivers might not be bothered by stuff like 16-inch steel rims, non-color-coded bumpers, basic sound system and the lack of air conditioning.
Finally, to complete the black on white looks, the GT 86 14R60 (yeah, that’s a lot of numbers; maybe the McLaren nomenclature disease is spreading...) comes with a set of 18-inch forged magnesium wheels finished in matte black.
Under the shell
Although the engine is said to give the same puny but fun 200 horses, the pack adds a TRD intake with high-flow air filter and an auxiliary oil cooler. The six-speed manual gearbox is mated through a lightweight flywheel, a high-performance clutch and a quick short-shifter.Maybe more of those crankshaft horses will reach the rear wheels now. In some cases, dyno runs showed that only around 150 hp were actually spinning them. Handling also gets honed a bit by using a strut tower brace, a V-brace in the trunk and an adjustable suspension with retuned bushings as well as bigger brakes and a limited slip differential.
Under the skin and in between all the metal you also get the cockpit which received lightweight sport seats, carbon fiber trimmings, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel as well as TRD branded sills, floor mats and orange stitching. You won’t find rear seats or an infotainment system here. It’s a driver’s car and the engine noise should suffice.
The down side
For some, the pack might sound better than the good ol’ Rocket Bunny, especially because it still looks good without having to cut the metal. But TRD said the GT 86 14R60 will be made in a limited 100-unit run and sold in Japan with pricing set to begin at ¥6,300,000, roughly translating into $58,000 or €46,000.The huge price difference in Japan comes from the fact that the basic GT 86 costs about ¥2,000,000 ($18,400/€14,600) - we have to explain this model makes due with many super-basic features, because true drivers might not be bothered by stuff like 16-inch steel rims, non-color-coded bumpers, basic sound system and the lack of air conditioning.