Click to Enlarge.
The 2027 Toyota GR86 (NYSE: Toyota Motor) sports car debuts on June 13th in the San Francisco Bay area at FuelFest where the performance enthusiast community gathers at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. The 2027 Toyota GR86 is expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in summer 2026. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing and specs will come later this year.*
“Toyota GR86 returns with a series of focused enhancements designed to deepen the connection between driver, car and road. Built for enthusiasts and engineered with input shaped by motorsports, the GR86 continues to deliver the kind of lightweight, rear-wheel-drive fun that has made it a favorite among sports car purists around the world,” Toyota claimed in a release.
“The GR86 benefits from several thoughtful updates aimed at elevating both control and confidence. Engineers refined throttle calibration for a smoother, more linear response and improved fifth-to-fourth downshift feel for an even more seamless and natural connection during spirited driving. Inside, updated interior treatments further amplify the GR86’s focused, driver-centric cockpit, while expanded active safety and convenience technologies help provide added confidence across a wider range of everyday driving situations,” Toyota said.
Toyota GR86 at a Glance
- There is a new exterior color for 2027: Thunder. This new solid gray color shifts depending on the light, accentuating the sculpted body of the GR86.
- Powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 228 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2027 GR86 will be offered in GR86 (base) and GR86 Premium grades. Both grades will be available with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
- With the 6-speed manual transmission a push of a button engages Track mode or switch off Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). On the automatic transmission GR86, additional clutch discs and a high-capacity torque converter allow for “smooth delivery” of the 2.4-liter engine’s higher power and torque.
- For 2027, a Performance Package is optional on the GR86 and GR86 Premium grades, which includes Brembo® Brakes and SACHS® Dampers. The SACHS Dampers are filled with high-pressure nitrogen and oil and are designed to absorb vibrations across a wide range of speeds, maximize ground contact, and support firm, stable steering, while also balancing road feedback and ride comfort.
- The red-painted Brembo 4-piston front and 2-piston rear brake calipers clamp down on smooth surfaced 12.8 x 1.3-in front rotors, with 12.4 x .79-in. rotors in the rear.
- GR86’s chassis is made from a combination of high-strength steel, hot-stamped steel and aluminum. Up front, it uses diagonal cross members and high-strength fasteners to join the front suspension and frame together. At the rear, a full ring structure and high-strength fasteners connect the frame and suspension mounts. For additional reinforcement, structural adhesive has been added throughout the underbody.
- A new optional Cockpit Red interior adds bold contrast to the cabin with black Ultrasuede® and red leather accents on the side bolsters, red floor mats and red door accents. A black interior option is also available, featuring black Ultrasuede® and black leather-trimmed upholstery, black stitching and an all-black cabin treatment. Premium models also receive a cast iron black finish on several interior touchpoints, including the switches, knobs and shifter, for a more cohesive appearance. The base grade comes equipped with six-way adjustable black GR-embossed fabric seats with sport fabric side bolsters.
- Weighing in at 2811 pounds for the manual transmission equipped base grade model, and at 2851 pounds for the automatic transmission model, the GR86 is one of the lightest sports cars that Toyota develops. An aluminum hood, front fenders, and roof panel help keep the weight down on the body. The use of structural adhesives in the frame and seats that are over six pounds lighter than the prior generation 86.
- Standard on all models, Toyota’s Star Safety System™ includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Smart Stop Technology® (SST), Track Mode and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) round out the suite of active safety systems. Additional safety features include LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) with lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats and a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Seven airbags are standard on all models, including a driver’s knee airbag.
- The GR86’s Connected Services** trials, including a one-year trial subscription to Safety Connect* with Emergency Assistance Button and Enhanced Roadside Assistance; a one-year trial of Service Connect, which includes receiving personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports; and a one-year trial of Remote Connect so owners can remotely interact with their vehicle through the Toyota app via a compatible smartphone and/or smartwatch. Remote activities enabled by the app include locking/unlocking doors, starting and stopping the vehicle, locating the last parked location, checking vehicle status, and monitoring guest drivers. **4G network-dependent.
“Track testing played a key role in shaping these updates, with every lap helping engineers further refine the vehicle’s response and feel. To improve control, engineers refined the relationship between accelerator input and torque delivery to help create a smoother, more linear response. They also widened the chamfer of the shifter interlock between 4th and 5th gear by approximately 0.02 inches to help deliver a smoother shift feel,” Toyota said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
FuelFest – 2027 Toyota GR86 Sports Car Debuts
Click to Enlarge.
The 2027 Toyota GR86 (NYSE: Toyota Motor) sports car debuts on June 13th in the San Francisco Bay area at FuelFest where the performance enthusiast community gathers at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. The 2027 Toyota GR86 is expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in summer 2026. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing and specs will come later this year.*
“Toyota GR86 returns with a series of focused enhancements designed to deepen the connection between driver, car and road. Built for enthusiasts and engineered with input shaped by motorsports, the GR86 continues to deliver the kind of lightweight, rear-wheel-drive fun that has made it a favorite among sports car purists around the world,” Toyota claimed in a release.
“The GR86 benefits from several thoughtful updates aimed at elevating both control and confidence. Engineers refined throttle calibration for a smoother, more linear response and improved fifth-to-fourth downshift feel for an even more seamless and natural connection during spirited driving. Inside, updated interior treatments further amplify the GR86’s focused, driver-centric cockpit, while expanded active safety and convenience technologies help provide added confidence across a wider range of everyday driving situations,” Toyota said.
Toyota GR86 at a Glance
“Track testing played a key role in shaping these updates, with every lap helping engineers further refine the vehicle’s response and feel. To improve control, engineers refined the relationship between accelerator input and torque delivery to help create a smoother, more linear response. They also widened the chamfer of the shifter interlock between 4th and 5th gear by approximately 0.02 inches to help deliver a smoother shift feel,” Toyota said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.