6'2" here, I fit with a little headroom to spare as well. Ironically I don't fit in the Miata which on paper has 0.3" more headroom than the 86. Go figure . . .

 

5'9 and a half; I can sit in there with a top hat on T__T

 

Hey Chris! I'm considering getting the GR86 when it lands on Spain. I'm 6'3 and I was wondering if I would fit in the car? That's my only concern right now.

 

You should, unless you have an unusually-long torso (even longer than mine). I'm 6'4", with 32" inseam on my pants (quite short legs with long torso) and I fit well.

 

Chris I think you're in MotorTrend's latest GR86 article!

 

I'm kinda hard to miss, eh?

 

I’m sure the aftermarket tuning folk will be coming up with lots of variations on the factory duckbill 🤔

 

I'm curious if you could find out if the ducktail/bill on the premium model is bolted or glued on?

 

Fairly certain it's bolted on. The back of the trunk on all the BRZs and 86s has a plastic piece affixed on top. It makes the top of the trunk.

 

any helmet brands you recommend?

 

There's an old adage in racing - I can't recall the specific saying, but it goes something like "A twenty dollar brain is worth a twenty dollar helmet."

Now, you can't get a $20 helmet these days of course - anything that would be suitable for track or autocross use is going to be $75 minimum for a Snell M2015 motorcycle helmet, or $100+ for an SA2015 racing helmet. The difference comes down primarily to fire resistance, if I recall - as being engulfed in flames is generally the least of your worries in a motorcycle accident.

I'm not a racer, though I've plenty of friends who are. I bought a GForce helmet for about $120 a while back when it became clear I'd be doing more track events and doing the occasional pit crew - I've crewed for friends in SCCA endurance racing, where it's a VERY good idea to have a helmet when going over the wall.

GForce tends to be a recommended name for inexpensive helmets - better brands like Simpson, Bell, Sparco, Stilo, etc often give additional features and lighter weight - losing a few ounces atop your skull will make your neck happier if you're pulling 1.0 gs or more all day long. But for my needs..the less-expensive stuff is fine.

If you're going to be doing any autocrossing or track days, check with your local sanctioning bodies for their helmet requirements before investing the cash.

 

BTW Chris Tonn, Fantstic beard there sir, you can hide a Miata under that thing, does it bother you when you wear helmets? im assuming they made you wear one in the car with Gushi.

 

Yes, they make everyone wear a helmet on track - it's pretty standard at just about any track event mostly for insurance purposes. They were sanitizing the helmets between users.

I have a full-face helmet of my own, but didn't feel like bringing it on the plane. The beard does tend to stick out from even a full-face helmet

 

How wide are the OEM wheels 17 and 18 inch?

 

Still no word - hoping to get answers before the first drive event in August, but I'm not sure I'll hear anything before then.

 

Please be gentle - this is my first YouTube video, so I'm not fully equipped for this. Hopefully you'll hear the engine note.

 

AYYY This is the content we want right here, can't wait for the rest man. Keep doing your thing. and that tustve been a crazy experience seeing that in the mirror hahaha, never been around drifting only seen videos, I image the smell of the rubber is what heaven smells like.

 

@Chris Tonn Can you ask about the width of the premium forged rims? I would like to fit Bridgestone Potenza Sport in size 225/40/R18 - eight inch rim is optimal.

 

If they didn't drift the car during the unveiling, Im glad I didn't go. They must have tho, right?

 

Not that I saw..nor did it drift during my ridealong.

Townsend Bell, however, was hooning the IS500 (lightly modded with aftermarket wheels and possibly a lowered suspension) which I saw from the passenger mirror of an RC-F driven by Scott Pruett. We'd slowed way down for the last corner since we'd be going into the pits when all of a sudden I hear squealing and look in the mirror to see the SIDE of the yellow/black IS500 coming at me.

 

Thanks for the updates. I was wondering about the wheels, as I have parts I could move from my Hakone. Still curious about exhaust header and suspension...

 

Hi @Chris Tonn. Thanks for great photos. Can you confirm that white is perlescent and red is a solid colour?

 

The Track bRed here looks a bit metallic to me, while the white seems a touch pearlescent - but cannot confirm at this point.

 

Impressive, did not see at first the difference between the premium version of the spoiler (extra layer above the camera) and the base version which is still very large by European standards! which one you like most?

 

looks like base model also has normal pedals instead of metal ones.

 

Aha - more photos!

Sometime after I hopped on a shuttle bus to head home, Toyota rolled out a base-trim GR 86 to check out. Figured you'd want to see the base wheels. All five of the below photos in this particular post are courtesy Paul Sogard and Toyota. Note the cloth trim, lack of spoiler - though the trunklid does indeed form a bit of a duckbill. The base wheels aren't awful, all things considered.

 

Aha - more photos!

Sometime after I hopped on a shuttle bus to head home, Toyota rolled out a base-trim GR 86 to check out. Figured you'd want to see the base wheels. All five of the below photos in this particular post are courtesy Paul Sogard and Toyota. Note the cloth trim, lack of spoiler - though the trunklid does indeed form a bit of a duckbill. The base wheels aren't awful, all things considered.

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As far as a base model goes those wheels are still solid. I'm glad the seats are bolstered like the top trim model.

 

FINALLY. Lightroom decided that it needed to update the moment I slipped the memory card into the laptop.

I've added the best photos into an album which should attach below.

 

These are amazing Chris - thankyou so much for sharing.

 

Some details I’ve been asked for elsewhere: the final drive ratio on the 6AT should be the same as the existing car. They seem uncertain, however, as every spec I‘m seeing shows the existing car at 4.1:1, and they mentioned 4.3:1. I don’t have a redline number, either.

Clearly, I’ve been asked for these numbers by autocrossers, where the top speed in second gear is critical.

I’ve asked for more technical details - it might be August (which will likely be the timing of the first media drives) before I can get these numbers.

 

Some details I’ve been asked for elsewhere: the final drive ratio on the 6AT should be the same as the existing car. They seem uncertain, however, as every spec I‘m seeing shows the existing car at 4.1:1, and they mentioned 4.3:1. I don’t have a redline number, either.

Clearly, I’ve been asked for these numbers by autocrossers, where the top speed in second gear is critical.

I’ve asked for more technical details - it might be August (which will likely be the timing of the first media drives) before I can get these numbers.

The original 86/FRS/BRZ was a 4.1:1, the post 2016 model update (and the current outgoing one) is 4.3:1.

So yes, if they are saying the gearing is the same as the outgoing one, and they mentioned a final drive of 4.3:1 then it is actually all the same as the outgoing model.

 

Photos are processing - there will be a nice dump of images coming shortly.

I’m going to quote-reply each of the questions that I’ve been able to answer below.

 

FYI, I’m back at Toyota HQ this morning. I type this from a picnic table in sight of the GR 86, waiting for a film crew to finish a few shots.

I’ve noted all of the above unanswered questions, and will be investigating shortly. Stay tuned.

 

Hey Chris,

Could you ask if there will be interior color options? I remember seeing some press photos a few months ago with a car that had red floor mats/carpet. Was wondering if that'd be an option or some sort of package on the USDM cars.

Thanks!

 

Black. That’s it.

Fire up the aftermarket seat cover mills.

 

Will it have some OEM parts in option (i see the "wing", who is limited to the premium version ? Us Market ?). I saw on the BRZ that it will have a new wing who look like the one on the 992 GT3.
One type of rims ?
What change between the japan version ? (less hp ?)
Wich one will coming in Europe (US version or JP version ?)

 

The duckbill spoiler shown in any photo I post is the standard spoiler fitted to the Premium trim. The base trim still has a bit of a duckbill profile on the sheetmetal trunklid, just not as pronounced.

 

Anyone know the wheel specs? Bolt pattern? Is it still 5x100?

 

Bolt pattern remains 5x100. Toyota promises more details - unsure if they can’t or just won’t give me the wheel width and offset.

My guess, based on the 215 section width of the tire, is either 7 or 7.5 inches. They don’t look stretched like a narrow PS4 would on an 8” wide rim.

 

Hey @Chris Tonn, just out of curiosity, Have you heard what the name of the Red is that Toyota is using for the GR86? Is it the same Red Mica Metallic in the GR Yaris?

 

Hey @Chris Tonn, just out of curiosity, Have you heard what the name of the Red is that Toyota is using for the GR86? Is it the same Red Mica Metallic in the GR Yaris?


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This color is known as Track bRed. No, I’m not joking about that capitalization.

Other colors announced - a couple of which I’ve seen and you’ll see glimpses of:
Trueno Blue
Neptune Blue - looking forward to these blues, but haven’t seen them
Halo White - most of the photos I’ll post today will be of this Halo White, which seems to have some pearlescent effect.
Steel Grey
Pavement Grey
Raven Black