Toyota FT-86 Get Production Name GT-86

We finally have official specs and details about the production model of Toyota's FT-86 small sports car, one of which is its new name: the Toyota GT 86.

At least, it will be known as the GT 86 in the European market. In the Japanese market, it may be simply known as the Toyota 86 or Hachiroku in the Japanese tongue. And when the model reaches U.S. shores next year, it may do so wearing a Scion badge with an FR-S or similar nameplate.

We already knew that Toyota's small sports car would be motivated by a Subaru-developed 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine that sends power to the rear wheels by way of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, but now we have an officially quoted output of 197 horsepower. The D-4S engine, as it is called, makes use of a combination of direct and port injection to generate 151 pound-feet of torque. That torque is then split between the rear wheels by way of a limited-slip differential.

That's not a ton of power, but Toyota thinks it will be plenty for sporty acceleration, thanks to the 86's emphasis on low weight and low center of gravity. Toyota hasn't officially unveiled the curb weight, but rumblings around the Internet indicate that the coupe will tip the scales at about 2,600 pounds. This means that the each of the 86's ponies has to pull about 13.2 pounds of car, that's a weight-to-power ratio that, on paper, translates to acceleration that is slightly better than a 2012 Mazda Miata or a 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T. Toyota also makes it a point to note that the horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is mounted low and aft in the engine bay to promote a lower center of gravity and a 53:47 weight balance between the front and rear axles.

In the cabin, the compact GT 86 is revealed to be a 2+2 with an actual rear seat, although exactly how useful the back seat will be in a vehicle that's actually about an inch shorter than the Nissan 370Z, but if Toyota figured out how to fit 3-plus adults in an iQ, it should be able to work similar magic here as well.

Source;

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57332107-48/toyotas-ft-86-gets-production-specs-new-gt-86-moniker/