Introduction
Toyota was the show-stealer of the SEMA show. Amongst a sea of 4Runners, they showcased a Toyota GR86 that draws inspiration from their rich rallying history and has a heart from the GR Corolla! It is known as the Toyota GR86 Rally Legacy. It has various touches to signify its offroad nature. It has some crucial upgrades which make us drool at the possibility of Toyota, or some independent shop, making it a reality.
The most important aspect of this GR86 is the styling based on a rally car. The design takes inspiration from the Celica GT Four and other Toyota Rally cars from the era. The Halo White Paint Job and the Green and Red Stripes pay homage to the Castrol Livery of Toyota in the WRC!
Exterior Upgrades
Various Structural changes were required for this design like modifying the chassis to fit the taller, transversely mounted G16E-GTS 3-cylinder. This was done thanks to a custom subframe, and engine mounts. The All-Wheel Drive was also possible with the addition of GR Corolla’s hubs, spindles, and axles. Concerning suspension, Toyota also added custom-built coilover dampers and control arms. There is also the use of a reworked steering rack. Not to mention, the rear end has incorporated the use of differential and axles from GR Corolla.
Mechanical Changes
The regular GR86 is a competent sportscar with a 2.4 Litre Flat Four and rear wheel drive. However, the GR86 Rally Legacy has the 1.6-litre 3 Cylinder with All Wheel Drive! The Rally Legacy matches the GR Corolla and makes 300hp and 370Nm of torque. Whilst, Toyota hasn’t mentioned the transmission choice, it is safe to assume that it is a sequential automatic gearbox from the photos. The 1.6-Litre has a slue of upgrades such as an oil cooler, performance intercooler, as well as race-spec ECU which is utilized for improved fuel delivery, spark timing and boost control. The most impressive aspect of this powertrain is that Toyota can cram even more power out of this high-compression beast!
Conclusion
Whilst Toyota hasn’t made it clear as to whether they will be making a production version of this Rally Legacy Concept, they have also remained tight-lipped about the possibility of the Turbo 3 Cylinder with a manual gearbox in the GR86. Why else would they conveniently mention that there would be the potential to make more power? Whilst the Flat Four is a fan favourite, no one can deny that high compression engines are the norm and this addition will future-proof this platform considerably!
