By: IOL Motoring Staff
We've always had a soft spot for this little coupé with its back-to-basics approach to rear-wheel drive motoring. Thankfully none of those basic ingredients have changed in its first true makeover - yep, it's been around for four years already.
The US-spec 2017-model-year Toyota 86 that you see here has been revealed ahead of its debut at the New York Motor Show next Wednesday, and global versions are expected to be rolled out towards the end of this year.
While most of those that love this vehicle know that it's not a robot-to-robot racer, there has been a general outcry for more power. Toyota has responded by shoe-horning a twin-turbo V8 into the engine bay. Sorry, just kidding. You'll have to make do with a minor upgrade to the familiar 2-litre normally aspirated flat-four, bringing power up from 147kW to 153kW and torque from 205Nm to 212Nm. If the 86 continues to evolve along that trajectory, it will make 200kW by the 2049 model year.
The 86 also gains some suspension tweaks, in the form of revised shock tuning and a change to the spring rate.
The rest of this midlife makeover is cosmetic, with the 86 sporting a new front bumper, reconfigured LED headlights and it's a similar story at the back, which gains new LED taillights and a revised bumper.
Cabin changes are relatively minor, coming in the form of a new material called 'Grandlux' finding its way onto the instrument panel surround and door trims, and new seat material with silver stitching.