Toyota FT-86 (2009)

The Toyota FT-86 Concept, unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, marked the rebirth of a long-dormant spirit within Toyota: the return of the affordable, rear-wheel-drive sports car. Developed in partnership with Subaru, the FT-86 (short for Future Toyota 86) previewed what would eventually become the Toyota GT86, also known globally as the 86 and the Scion FR-S. With its lightweight design, balanced chassis, and classic coupé silhouette, the FT-86 Concept reconnected the brand with driving purity, echoing icons like the AE86 Sprinter Trueno.

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History

Throughout the early 2000s, Toyota’s lineup leaned heavily toward practical sedans, crossovers, and hybrids. The brand’s once-celebrated sports car heritage — including the Celica, MR2, and Supra — had faded from showrooms. The FT-86 Concept was created as a symbolic and strategic return to enthusiast vehicles, driven by Akio Toyoda’s desire to make Toyota cars “more fun to drive.”

Development began as a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru. Toyota would lead the design, while Subaru provided its flat-four boxer engine and engineering input. The idea was to create a car that prioritized balance, feedback, and affordability over raw power — a rare philosophy in an era dominated by turbocharged performance.

The FT-86 Concept was the first public glimpse of this effort, and its enthusiastic reception confirmed that there was a global appetite for a lightweight, driver-focused Toyota coupé once again.

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Design Features

Styled by Toyota’s ED2 design studio in France, the FT-86 Concept combined clean coupé proportions with sharp, modern surfacing. Its long hood, low roofline, and short overhangs conveyed classic sports car cues, while its aggressive detailing — including large air intakes, swept-back headlamps, and pronounced rear haunches — added a distinctly contemporary edge.

The car’s stance was low and wide, with a planted appearance and a prominent character line running along the flanks. The front fascia featured a hexagonal grille and sharp LED lighting, while the rear included a diffuser-style bumper, twin exhaust outlets, and subtle hints of a ducktail spoiler.

Finished in a bold red called Shoujyouhi Red, the concept stood out not just in form, but in tone — evoking energy, passion, and speed. The cabin, though not revealed in full detail at the concept stage, was imagined to follow a minimalist, driver-centric layout with low seating, a short-throw shifter, and analog instrumentation.

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Specs

Although Toyota did not confirm all mechanical details at the time of the concept’s reveal, the FT-86 was built around a clear technical vision:

• Front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout

• 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Subaru flat-four (boxer) engine

• Lightweight construction for agile handling

• 6-speed manual transmission (automatic also planned for production)

• Near 50:50 weight distribution

• Low center of gravity due to boxer engine placement

While the FT-86 Concept was not a working prototype, it accurately reflected the key dimensions and engineering goals of the eventual production car. Its target weight was just under 1,200 kg, with performance tuned for balance rather than brute speed.

Estimated performance goals:

• 0–100 km/h in under 7 seconds

• Top speed around 225 km/h (140 mph)

Suspension setup was MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear — a classic combination for ride and handling balance.

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Production Status

The FT-86 Concept was never intended for production in its original form, but it directly previewed what would become the Toyota GT86, launched in 2012. Before that, Toyota revealed two further iterations: the FT-86 G Sports Concept (2010) and the more refined FT-86 II Concept (2011) — each progressively closer to the final road car.

The production version retained nearly all of the FT-86’s design DNA, with slightly toned-down details and a refined interior. The collaboration with Subaru resulted in a near-identical twin: the Subaru BRZ, differing mainly in branding and suspension tuning.

The Toyota 86 went on to achieve commercial success and critical acclaim, praised for its handling precision, driver engagement, and accessible price point. It also spawned motorsport versions, tuning culture variants, and a second-generation model (GR86) released in 2021.

The FT-86 Concept is now remembered as the starting point of Toyota’s sports car revival, which later included the return of the Supra and an expanded Gazoo Racing performance lineup.