Gazoo Racing production vehicles come in three flavors. GR Sport refers to a slightly hotter version than standard, GR means hot, and GRMN stands for spicy. As far as the boxer-engined 86 is concerned, Toyota did offer a GRMN-branded 86 back in 2016.
Exclusive to the Japanese automaker's home market, the 86GRMN launched in January 2016 with a sticker price of 6,480,000 yen. At current exchange rates, that would be 45,160 freedom eagles. Also worthy of note, the 2024 model year Toyota GR86 retails at 2,916,000 yen or $20,325 at press time.
According to Magazine X via Car Sensor, the 86GRMN could return sometime in 2025 as the GRMN86, flaunting a lower curb weight than the most spartan 86 available today. The cited publication speculates carbon fiber for the roof and hood, aero trickery (think extended splitter up front and a tall wing out back), and a central exhaust.
The carbon-fiber theme is expected to carry over to the trunk lid and rear wing, thus mirroring the design of the 86GRMN. However, don't get your hopes up prematurely because the Japanese automaker hasn't been spied testing any prototypes of the GRMN86. If the GRMN86 does happen, prospective customers should also look forward to lightweight windows, a stiffer chassis, a set of lightweight wheels, and performance suspension. Toyota could also squeeze a few more ponies and pound-feet from the 2.4L boxer of the 86, but not with forced induction.
Low-tension piston rings, lighter pistons, low-friction crankshaft bearings, and a less restrictive exhaust system should be more than enough. A stripped-out interior should be considered as well, along with revised ratios for the manual tranny.
Photo: Toyota
Turning our attention back to the original, Toyota further sweetened the deal with six-piston brake calipers at the front and four-piston brake calipers at the rear. Every corner of the 86GRMN sports Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires, with the fronts measuring 215/40 R17x7.5J as opposed to 235/40 R17x8.5J for the rears. The Japanese automaker further saved weight by removing the rear seats in favor of a two-seat setup. Body-hugging Recaro bucket seats, that is!
As you're well aware, the previous-gen 86 and current-gen GR86 are manufactured by Subaru at the Gunma plant in Ota. The GRMN86 would also start life at the Gunma production facility, but final assembly would take place at the GR Factory within the Motomachi plant. Motomachi is also the stomping ground of the GR Corolla and GR Yaris, as well as the Century, Crown, and bZ4X crossover.
Not exactly a commercial success, which can be said about many sports cars in this day and age, the GR86 moved 8,737 units in the first three quarters of 2023 in the United States market. That's 10.2 percent worse than January 2022 to September 2022, and way worse in comparison to the Camry and Corolla. For the time being, the RAV4 is Toyota's best-selling model.
Twinned with the Subaru BRZ, the Toyota GR86 is available to configure at $28,400 (sans destination charge). For reference, the GR Corolla all-wheel-drive hot hatchback carries an MSRP of $36,100, whereas the GR Supra starts at $45,540 for the 2.0-liter turbo and eight-speed automatic transmission.
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
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