The most highly anticipated car in years, the GT 86, or Scion FR-S as it will be called in North America, is without a doubt our number one car of the Tokyo Motor Show. Some might prefer the looks of the Subaru BRZ, and while we’ll admit the rear spoiler is an improvement, the more angular design of the Toyota front end is a winner. Regardless of styling, the “86” as it’s called in Japan might be the most significant car Toyota has launched in a very long time, serving as a rebranding effort for a car company often accused of making appliances.
Significant to this goal, the GT 86 isn’t a flagship performance machine. Rather, it’s a return to basics, with a front-engine rear-wheel drive layout, powered by a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine making 200-hp. Weighing just around 2,700 it will not only offer an impressive power to weight ratio, but also delivers a 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution and is billed to have the lowest center of gravity of any production car in the world. And perhaps most significant is that it is expected to cost under $30,000, bringing an incredible driving machine to the masses.
