Cars and media have always been inexorably linked. The survival and success of Aston Martin can be attributed to James Bond, the Ferrari 328 and Testarossa are known for Magnum PI and Miami Vice more than anything else, and despite every 1958 Plymouth Fury being painted white in the factory, we picture them as being a deep lipstick red because of Christine.
One of the most powerful influences on the world of cars as a whole comes from the Japanese anime show Initial D. It’s credited with not only cementing the old Toyota Sprinter Trueno — known among most enthusiasts the AE86 — as a legend among cars, but also popularizing the entire concept of drifting. To put it lightly, it’s kind of a big deal, and the 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition pays respect to that.
The Sprinter Trueno was never officially sold here, but we did get the Corolla GT-S, which was pretty much the same car, save for the name. It’s a fun nod that Toyota has recognized the cultural impact of that show and resurrected it for this GR86, which with its rear-drive architecture and emphasis on fabulous handling above all else, was always meant to be the spiritual successor to that AE86. It’s literally in the name.
The Trueno Edition is available in only two colors: red, as shown on our tester, or white, as should be shown. All cars get a graphics package meant to ape the “panda” style of the car in the show, with black side graphics and a black hood, as well as a black duckbill spoiler and front air dam for fun. The interior gets a two-tone red-and-black colour treatment as well to spice things up.
This special edition is more than just a style package, though. The team at Gazoo Racing behind this car hasn’t changed all that much, but the changes they have made are meaningful. This Trueno features new Sachs shock absorbers, as well as Brembo brakes with larger rotors all around, four-piston calipers up front, and two-piston units in the rear. That’s it, just brakes and shocks.
They haven’t had a transformative effect on the GR86, but then again, this car didn’t need transformation. Toyota says the Sachs dampers were never intended to make the car razor-sharp, just “more stable.” Regardless of what they say, the effect is one of the very best-handling cars you can buy right now, at any price. Initial D was all about showing the Trueno drifting, and this Trueno can drift.
Not only can it drift beautifully, it can teach you how to drift. It’s so approachable; what Toyota has done here is set up a car that has fantastic balance and can carry a lot of speed through a corner if you’re trying to go fast, and can also rotate very naturally into a beautiful sideways slide if you’re trying to have fun. I don’t think I’ve encountered a single other new car that more effectively telegraphs what the front and rear ends of the car are doing, and the encourages you to experiment more than this does.
Go fast and keep a tight line? No sweat. Trail-brake and let the back end swing out? Easy, and it’ll do it gently. Powerslide through the exit? Yup, same deal. It’s one of those rare cars that’s seemingly dialed-in for every situation, leaning on its impeccable balance to let the driver choose their own adventure. I feel like with every safety net disengaged, it’s mechanically biased towards slight oversteer. It’s perfect for a fast car that’s supposed to be fun, and the safety nets reign it in if you’re not entirely sure of yourself just yet — but spend enough time with this car, and you will be.
The big Brembo brakes are fantastic, providing a reassuring feel that’s progressive and firm, with just enough dead travel to facilitate smooth heel-toe downshifts. The brakes were the only real weakness against the track readiness of a showroom-stock GR86, and this should fix that with their added stopping power and cooling capacity. They make it all the more easy to consistently dive on the front into a corner and unload the rear end, beginning either a subtle four-wheel yaw or a fat hairy powerslide.
This is not all to say I think this GR86 Trueno is a perfect sports car. I can’t stand Toyota’s throttle mapping. They’ve incorporated so much artificial throttle smoothing that I find it makes the car almost impossible to drive smoothly and naturally if you’re not sending the absolute snot out of it. I don’t know why some car makers insist on this. I don’t know why Toyota (and Subaru) have kept up this forced disconnect in what’s supposed to be a connected driver’s car, but they have, and it takes away from the rest of magnificence here.
I also loathe the fake engine noise piped in through the speakers. It’s all the more disappointing given that the GR86 is trying to be authentic and this obnoxious fake bwuuhhh is the antithesis of that, and if you do go out of your way to disable the fake noise, it’s so much better. The 228-horsepower Boxer four-cylinder engine from Subaru has such a distinct character, and I wish both Toyota and Subaru would get out of the way and let it sing its own characterful song on its own time, without interfering with phony acoustics or disjointed responses.
Those are my only real gripes with the 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition. The engine has good power, the transmission is well-suited to the car and shifts beautifully, it’s reasonably practical with its vestigial back seats and surprisingly commodious trunk, the infotainment is easy to use with its physical controls, and the chassis is a straight-up work of art. For $39,550, this is a lot of performance car for the money. It can be a surprisingly quick car that punches well above its weight, and it can also just be a normal car, like you might use for commuting to work — or delivering tofu.
