autoevolution
 

2020 Toyota 86 Welcomes Hakone Edition, Costs More Than Mustang EcoBoost

Toyota and Subaru haven’t modified much since the 86 and BRZ were introduced eons ago, but both automakers have an appetite for special editions. The Hakone serves as the latest, and at $29,630 from the get-go, it’s more expensive than the Ford Mustang EcoBoost in Performance specification.
2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition 15 photos
Photo: Toyota
2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition
A six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter comes standard, but as ever, Toyota offers a six-speed automatic transmission that doesn’t complement the sporty nature of the boxer-engined coupe. A 2.0-liter plant with four cylinders is good enough for 205 horsepower and 211 Nm (156 pound-feet) of torque, translating to more suck-squeeze-bang-blow than the ever-popular Mazda MX-5.

Cars Direct reports the 86 in entry-level configuration is $27,850 in the United States. The question is, what else do you get until $30,825 including destination charge? The list of improvements kicks off with Alcantara seats in black, tan accents and contrast stitching, deep green paintwork for the exterior, 17-inch wheels in bronze, and a lil’ lip spoiler to bring the point home.

Read what you will into that, but there’s no denying the Hakone Edition is an apperance package first and foremost. A tough sell by modern standards at this price point, the 86 in this specification doesn’t make a lot of sense. On the other hand, people in the market for a sports car aren’t driven by value for money as much as they’re influenced by their very own emotions.

Taking its name from the AE86 of the Corolla Leving and Sprinter Trueno, the 86 series that Toyota offers these days is manufactured in Japan by Subaru exclusively with rear wheel drive and a fixed-head roof. When Scion was still around, the boxer-engined duo used to be a trio thanks to the FR-S.

Ever since production began in January 2012 for the 2012 model year, customers and enthusiasts begged Toyota for a turbo or anything that would translate to more horsepower and torque. But on the other hand, the 86 is good enough as is thanks to the standard choice of tires, low center of gravity, and near-perfect weight distribution of 53-percent front and 47 percent at the rear.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories