The DNA Test

The one area the new 86 can’t live up to the legend

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HE TOYOTA 86 has a very different DNA to its spiritual forebear, the AE86 Sprinter, if you ask me. What would I know? I own one – a 1984 Trueno GT-APEX with the revered 1.6-litre inline-4 4A-GE, the engine Toyota built that very closely resembled the legendary Ford Cosworth BDA 1.6-litre inline-4 of the time. With the same bore and stroke (81 x 77mm) and similar head designs, both engines, in race trim, would produce similar outputs at similar rpms. In road trim, in this car, thanks to 16 valves, twin cams and EFI, you’re talking 96kW at 6600rpm. Not too shabby for 1984.

And it’s the spirit of this engine the new Toyota 86 can’t quite live up to. The most underwhelming thing about the new generation 86 (and Subaru BRZ) is exactly that, its 2.0-litre FA20 boxer-four engine. Don’t get us wrong, with 152kW/212Nm it more than does the job, but in a more functional than emotional manner. The sound in particular will hardly raise the hairs on the back of your neck.