New Toyota GR 86 now here later in 2022

Aussie sports car fans will get their first in-the-metal look at the new 2022 Toyota GR 86 next month when the second-generation coupe makes its local debut at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

A pre-production version of the new GR 86 will be on display at the Great Race Festival accompanying Australia’s premier Supercars event.

However, those hoping to secure the more powerful, bigger-engined and more expensive sports car will be disappointed to hear that first deliveries will not take place until the second half of 2022.

This follows Toyota’s earlier advice that it hoped to launch either late 2021 or into the New Year.

A casualty of the global production delays crippling the industry, the rain check means the mechanically related 2022 Subaru BRZ will have at least a six-month sales head start given its first deliveries are scheduled to start in late January, with order books well and truly open.

Asked to clarify when the order book would open for the new GR 86, and whether the company was concerned that it would lose customers to Subaru with the latest delay, a spokesperson said: “Toyota Australia is confident that the launch of the GR 86 will be highly successful.

“We believe the new Toyota GR86 will benefit from the additional development time which was used to make it a slightly more focused vehicle on track.

“We believe this difference will ensure that a good number of our interested customers will wait to experience the difference for themselves, before deciding which vehicle is best suited to their needs.

“At this stage, we have no further announcements on any order taking for the GR 86, announcements of any plans for pre-ordering of this vehicle will be made in due course.”

In the meantime, Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations vice-president Sean Hanley said Bathurst was the ideal place to debut the new GR 86 given its affinity for spirited driving.

“Bathurst is the spiritual home of Australian motorsport and as the third model in our growing GR brand performance car line-up, the GR 86 is right at home on the racetrack,” he said.

“Far more than simply an evolution of the 86, the new GR 86 takes the lessons from our motorsport activities and uses them to deliver a thrilling and exciting drive experience – whether that’s competing on the track or enjoying a weekend away.”

Those motorsport activities will be on full display as Mount Panorama plays host to round five of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia 86 Series as part of the broader racing festivities.