It’s been quite a while and finally the Toyota 86 has been given a facelift. We’ll get to see it at the upcoming New York International Auto Show from 25 March to 3 April with the car featuring a more aggressive styling that includes a larger grille, emphasising the car’s low, wide stance.
The LED headlamps have been reconfigured that includes new indicators, sitting above redesigned fog lamp bezels and a revised bumper. At the rear, there are sports LED tail lamps and a new bumper.
The alloy wheel design has been refreshed, and the 86 logo has shifted to a stand-alone badge on the front fender, as well as inside the front headlamps.
In the cabin, there’s a new soft-feel material Toyota calls ‘Grandlux’ on the instrument panel surround and door trims (for the high-grade GTS trim). The seats are wrapped with a new material as well while the steering wheel is integrated with audio controls.
The updated 86 comes with revised spring rates and shock absorber.
Underneath the bonnet is the same four-cylinder powerplant but with a power increase of 5 hp and 9 Nm. Hill Start Assist is a standard feature now; and the manual variant offers a different gear ratio.
We don’t know when it will be made available for buyers in Malaysia but Australians will see it in showrooms by the fourth quarter this year. The modern-day Hachi Roku will also be available in the US as a replacement for the FR-S, from the North America market-specific Scion brand that has been ceased.
