Many of us may remember the original AE86 Toyota that was a RWD Corolla coupe in the 1980's. Best Car Plus magazine has revealed that Toyota is working on a new AE86 type car that will be in showrooms by the winter of 2008.
The article goes into detail about the specs of the future care. It will be under 4m long and 1.7m wide. It will also weigh less than 1,000kgs. The new car will be powered by a 1.5L 2NZ-FE 4-cyl that will put out about 120 horsepower. The RWD drivetrain will come from Toyota's newest partner Fuji Heavy Industries, also known as Subaru.
The best news is that the car will start below 1.5 million Yen, which is about $12,300 USD. It will be interesting to see how it fits into Toyota's US lineup. Will it be badged as a Scion? Maybe a replacement for the tC?
Just in case you don't remember what the 1980's Corolla looked like here you go
Full Story: Autoblog
Comments (35)
Interesting, isn't Subaru owned by GM now? I ask this because Toyota and GM seem to be having more and more dealings with each other lately. For example Matrix = Vibe and now GM "Subaru" will be supplying the trannies for these.
I think this could be very interesting to see how far this cooperation goes.
Posted by Jeff | August 1, 2007 4:05 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 16:05
No, GM no longer has an interest in Subaru. They sold it.
Posted by zippy | August 1, 2007 4:13 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 16:13
A great looking car at a low price; what a great combo. It would appeal to many people; those looking for styel and those looking for a low price and those looking for good mpg.
Posted by TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy | August 1, 2007 4:14 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 16:14
Toyota and GM have been working together for years on cars, however, it has always been a one way relationship where GM rebadges and sells a Toyota. I am sure there is something going the other way too but not that consumers see. The funny thing is many GM dealers say the Vibe is their most reliable car and see few returning for repairs or warranty work.
I think this is an excellent idea AE86 and I really look forward to it. The 86 corrolla was a rocket with their DOHC 4. We often took that engine well past its 7500rpm red line to 9000rpm without any problems when racing around town. This is the same engine used in Toyota Atlantic Race cars. No wonder.
Posted by zigzag | August 1, 2007 4:57 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 16:57
If the car looks anything like the drawing above the article, I like it. Too bad they can't put a bigger motor in. Then again, the Scion Tc even gets a TRD supercharger made for it. I wish they'd do that for the new Camry V6.
Posted by Mike M | August 1, 2007 5:04 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 17:04
The AE86 was a fun car to drive but I certainly would not call it a rocket. It was just simply too heavy for the little 4A-GE engine to pull around. I test drove one a few times back in the 80's and kept walking away without buying due to the lack of power.
I wound up buying an MR2 instead. The 300 less pounds made a huge difference in the performance. I still drive MR2's to this day.
Posted by Mark H | August 1, 2007 5:22 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 17:22
Thats gonna be one cramped car.
Posted by David | August 1, 2007 5:26 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 17:26
What made the Sprinter Corolla famous was that it had a great spirit, like the Pugeot 106 it was fun to drive even though it was under powered. That and the fact that it made a competent racer. This new concept looks like a Scion Tc and a 350Z spawned a kid. For that I don't like it. It should have a distinctive shape that doesn't blend in to the crowd at a stop light, but instead carry the attitude and oldschool feel of a classic.
Posted by J Williams | August 1, 2007 5:34 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 17:34
there were several reasons Toyota bought the interest in fuji heavy industries. 1 was its battery technology, all-wheel drive experience. and it fits better than it did with G.M.
Posted by KARL | August 1, 2007 5:44 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 17:44
I agree that GM and Subaru didn't really fit, I never thought it was that great of an idea. I had not heard that GM sold its stock in Subaru, but am glad to hear it as GM really needs to lower its competition from within (too many models competing with each other, i.e. Malibu vs. G6).
Posted by Jeff | August 1, 2007 6:15 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 18:15
To be exact and to dispel any ignorance the alliance between GM and Subaru ended back in 2005.
Posted by Tanooki2003 | August 1, 2007 7:59 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 19:59
I wish that toyota would stop screwing around with economy this and that. add more sex to their cars and bring out the FTHS Exactly how it looks like in the concept.
Posted by R | August 1, 2007 8:17 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 20:17
Wow! I've wanted someone to build a lightweight RWD coupe for so long. I'll be sold if they keep that weight target, it'll be such a fun car. Hopefully the aftermarket has something to say about that 120hp, a factory supercharger ala tC would be even better...
Posted by Andy | August 1, 2007 9:34 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 21:34
Bring back the 3S-GTE
Posted by Chris | August 1, 2007 10:09 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 22:09
it will perform well for a 1.5 liter engine.
since it will weigh less than 1000 Kilograms, as light and perform like the soluna vios in thailand or just vios in other countries.
turbocharging it will get 150 to 160 + horsepower,
which will get 7.8 to 8 seconds of 0 to 100Kph.
Posted by adrian | August 2, 2007 7:12 AM
Posted on August 2, 2007 07:12
Seems that the Commitee of Interesting cars realised that there has been a gap decade with no real sports cars. (if u exclude the S15 Silvia) After the 1993 launch of Supra and GT-Rs no real sport cars were developed. The AE111 which I used to own (as a turbo) had no potential 370BHP I moded that car.. the gearbox was breaking all the time.. U NEED RWD to trully say u hav a sports car... and here we are...
The old jap philosophy is returning... lightweight compact sports car.
The power ? ? ? Nothing to worrry about. The japs always had this modifying potential on all of their models. The supra the GT-R my own S15 silvia are having their engines almost ready to sleep at 300~bhp and 250 bhp for S15.
I'm sure they will come up with a turbo kit or something. Don't worry as long as they apply the old phoilosophy they will surpise us, I'm sure.
And for Mark H. U haven't driven the TRD AE86 revinng up to 14,000rpm that's why u think it lacks power.. or even with the 4A-GE 20valve engine of the AE111 black top engine. The car is actually a rocket.
I'm glad the Japs realised that the sports cars category was near to extinction. Now u just wait because on everything they wroked on they really made the difference.
Posted by Pavlos Constantinou | August 2, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 12:19
if this car is made, i'm buying it.
and i don't think toyota had to buy fuji heavy for their awd experience. toyota did fine in wrc and with the alltrac/gt-four cars. whereas subies are known for the "glass transmission"
i don't mind the low power. i had an ae86 and found it fun to drive. a little modding and it'll be fine :)
now if they'd just make another awd turbo car :(
Posted by bryan | August 2, 2007 12:48 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 12:48
if this car is made, i'm buying it.
and i don't think toyota had to buy fuji heavy for their awd experience. toyota did fine in wrc and with the alltrac/gt-four cars. whereas subies are known for the "glass transmission"
i don't mind the low power. i had an ae86 and found it fun to drive. a little modding and it'll be fine :)
now if they'd just make another awd turbo car :( yes, of course with the 3sgte :D
Posted by bryan | August 2, 2007 12:53 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 12:53
I also had an AE86, and I loved the compact nibbleness of the car.
I would love to see a REAL compact class car that looks good. Yaris and Fits are ugly. Im tired of Civics, tC's and Corollas benching in at 2600 lbs+ and FWD gets boring quickly.
Use the Scion TC 2AZ-FE with option of TRD supercharger in higher models and we are talking a really popular car to fit the "sporty coupe" category that so many manufacturers have dropped nowadays. And RWD + Compact Sedan have not been in the same sentence for ages in the US.
This new design does embrace the 350z and Scion tC, but it looks very good. I like it.
Posted by turbo4ag | August 2, 2007 5:02 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 17:02
If they can keep the weight down as promised, this will be a sweet tuner car. Light, RWD... I would definitely buy one and strap a turbo on it. Especially if its only $12k.
Posted by gm0n3y | August 2, 2007 5:09 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 17:09
I would expect it will get a bit more power and a lot more cost for the US market (still prolly well <20k), but I will be *furious* if US nanny-state safety standards slap 200lbs onto it.
Posted by Andy | August 2, 2007 7:49 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 19:49
Man, I wouldn't care if it only has 100hp, just keep the RWD and 12k price tag and I'd jump on this. Although I suspect that Toyota might use this to try to beat the Miata (hardtop convertible in the works?)
Posted by Eddie | August 3, 2007 2:31 PM
Posted on August 3, 2007 14:31
I'm definitely interested in it if they build it.
BTW, "japs" is a racial slur like the n word. Please try not to use it if you didn't know before.
Posted by JC | August 3, 2007 2:55 PM
Posted on August 3, 2007 14:55
BUILD it !!!!!!!BUILD it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! But agressive up the styling a bit and bung in an altezza 3S-GE with a 6-speed and sell it for US $ 20,000 and they would not be able to build enough of them.
By the way, the 1st gen MR2 was a LOT heavier than the ae86 and the subaru gearbox is no longer made of plasticene... COMPLETELY redesigned.
Posted by martin atwell | August 4, 2007 5:37 PM
Posted on August 4, 2007 17:37
I just want the new supra
Posted by P4iN | August 5, 2007 3:44 PM
Posted on August 5, 2007 15:44
build it!
Posted by tim | August 7, 2007 10:53 PM
Posted on August 7, 2007 22:53
I will buy one, good feelings after having 2 hachi roku's in the 80's and my is 250 is boring to drive. No other car is driving like the ae86, or it must be my other owned car the aw 16 mr2 sc, can they reincarnate the old mr2 too?
Posted by ron | August 16, 2007 5:07 PM
Posted on August 16, 2007 17:07
Nice I got a mate with an AE86 great little car for it's age. Would be nice to see TRD do some work on this car when it comes out.
And TRD has just released a supercharged V6 Aurion (241kw / 400nm) in Australia, the Aurion is basically a V6 Camry as all of our Camry's in Australia now are 4cyl only.
Posted by Mick | August 20, 2007 9:29 PM
Posted on August 20, 2007 21:29
Looks alot like a Civic SI. Fun little zippy car when driven over 6k rpm.
Posted by Acetheone | November 26, 2007 10:58 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 22:58
Crank up the Eurobeat, and get a cup of water for the cupholder. it's going to be Initial D style down the Japanese Toge again.
Posted by Bubba | February 4, 2008 2:44 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 14:44
that corolla should come out with a tacoma engine. 2.7 3rf-ze, or something like that. i think is going to be a cool car because you can use it for drifting or drag racing. also, toyota should make a 4 cylinder turbo car. nobody can afford the evo or a subaru.
Posted by Javier | March 19, 2008 9:12 AM
Posted on March 19, 2008 09:12
hmm...nice.
after so long waiting for a legend to be rebuilt..
RWD is the real thing. it's more fun compared to FWD.
I think we in Malaysia would really appreciate if Toyota can build this one and sell it at a reasonable price.
ugh, but the problem here in Malaysia is it's tax structure.
so uncool...
Posted by Pk Lo | April 15, 2008 12:05 AM
Posted on April 15, 2008 00:05
we, the younger generation malaysian people supports toyota's plan to build a car that inherit the spirits shown us by the legendary hachiroku.
it's so long since a small sports coupe like this been manufactured by carmakers.
hopefully the price would be just right.
but down here in malaysia, what really bugs is is the malaysia tax structure.
Posted by Pk Lo | April 15, 2008 12:53 AM
Posted on April 15, 2008 00:53
Toyota has left its sporting roots in the history books. The last true Toyota sports car was the Supra, that died over 10 years ago. Toyota denied the US shores all the goodies they kept overseas. If they bring back anything, they might also want to bring back the vaunted 3S-GE "Beams" engine. Truly one of the greatest engines of all time.
Posted by KP | April 24, 2008 7:04 AM
Posted on April 24, 2008 07:04
I own an ae86,great car,Toyota should bring out this new one
with a 3sge Beams engine as another option to the 1.5.
ie sell two versions,give people a choice,wakey wakey Toyota.
Posted by bruce paddock | August 10, 2008 7:21 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 07:21