Otaku Alert: Toyota GT86 Initial D Concept Is Definitely Sugoi

Shuichi Shigeno, the man who created Initial D and its touge racing-packed universe, happens to own the same car as the one owned and raced by the main character of the manga and anime series. The car in question is the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. Simply put, it’s the stuff of dreams among JDM heads.

Because the Toyota GT86 is the spiritual successor of the AE86, the Japanese carmaker seized the occasion and modded a 2017 model year GT86 in such a way that it would resemble the hero car from Initial D.

Created by the manufacturer’s special projects department in the United Kingdom, the Toyota GT86 Initial D Concept prides itself on a lot of custom bits and bobs. These include the panda-style black and white paint job, kanji on the right door which translates to “Fujiwara Tofu Shop (Private),” RS Watanabe wheels, Fujitsubo exhaust, carbon fiber for the hood and mirrors caps, yellow-tinted fog lights, and mud flaps.

Joe Clifford from the special projects team is pretty proud of what his team managed to create: “Right from the start, the Toyota GT86 was developed as a car that would appeal to enthusiasts, whether in standard trim or as an exploitable base for further modifications. With this Initial D concept we not only acknowledge how important the AE86 was in influencing Toyota’s modern approach to sports cars but also demonstrate how the GT86 can be aesthetically and dynamically improved with relatively simple aftermarket accessories."

"But perhaps most of all, we just thought it was an achingly cool idea,” he concluded.