Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributors of Toyota in the UAE, has launched the all new Toyota 86, a compact rear-wheel drive sports car at an event held at Yas Marina Abu Dhabi.

The event hosted chief engineer Tetsuya Tada who shared with the press the development history of the car and the challenges he and his team found in creating this car, while Simon Firth, managing director Al-Futtaim Motors took the audience through a brief history of Toyota’s sports car heritage and discussed the cars that mostly inspired the creation of the Toyota 86.

The Toyota 86 is Toyota’s new definition of an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with exceptionally balanced performance and handling, compelling style, flexible utility and surprising fuel economy, a statement said.

The entirely driver-oriented vehicle is based on a new platform featuring the highly advanced aerodynamic body shell stretched over the engineering hard points, making it the world’s most compact four-seat sport car design, it added.

“Adding this new car to our lineup provides us the opportunity to expand the ranks of our customers and reaching out to a somehow forgotten target market, passionate about driving true sports cars. Toyota 86 will reignite this passion,” said Firth.

“Unlike other sports car the Toyota 86 is not just designed for the rich but will be accessible by many, because what fun is a sports car if you can’t afford to buy one.”

The Toyota 86 is designed to achieve an exceptional balance. The balance begins with the strategic use of the world’s only flat Boxer engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration.

The Toyota 86’s 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine is mounted as low as possible within the chassis and closer to its center, the boxer’s inherent advantages of low center of gravity, lightweight, and compact size are maximized.

The new engine develops 200 hp/147 kW at 7000 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6600 rpm, giving the 86 brisk, and a top speed of 230 km/hr.

The flat engine mates with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick, precise shifts with a short-throw; while the automatic transmission features aggressive up shifts and sporty rev-matched down shifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The Toyota 86 comes in 4 variants, one manual and 3 automatic, with price ranging from Dh95,000 ($25,863) to Dh125,000.

The car will be available across all the UAE showrooms starting June 1 in 7 different colours: Lightning Red, Orange Metallic, Galaxy Blue, Satin White Pearl, Crystal Black, Dark Gray Metallic and Sterling Silver Metallic.

All Toyota Race Development (TRD) accessories kits will be available in August, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service