TMG Toyota 86 surfaces
Toyota's German-based performance arm, TMG, is offering a new race-ready version of the 86 sports coupeToyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is continuing its push into production and racing markets - first with a production model, the 500kW twin turbo Lexus LS - and now a race car, a track-ready version of the 86 sports coupe, the TMG GT86 CS-V3.
Offered for sale in Europe for €38,500 (A$45,888), the stripped-out GT86 CS-V3 has been designed to compete in the VLN race series at the Nurburgring, a 10-race amateur championship. Development of the Toyota 86 race car follows TMG's successful tilt at the gruelling Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Together with team partner GAZOO Racing it scored a class win at the 'Ring.
Based on the regular Toyota 86, the TMG version has been fitted with a roll cage to meet racing safety regulations, an OMP sports bucket seat is also included and the chassis has been reinforced to cope with the rigours of racing. Other changes include "optimised weight distribution" and upgrades to the suspension and brakes. A racing exhaust has also been added, but TMG makes no mention of a power increase, simply referring to the "200hp [147kW] car".
"We want to share the passion of motorsport with as many people as possible and this car is the result," explained Yoshiaki Kinoshita, TMG President.
"It is already race-proven, having won the V3 class in the Nürburgring 24 Hours and we hope to see many more of these cars competing in the coming months.
"The GT86 is a perfect car for production-based motorsport. It already looks fantastic and has superb handling, so with further performance and safety upgrades we have created a really exciting and competitive car which is extremely cost effective," said Mr Kinoshita.
When motoring.com.au talked to Mr Kinoshita at TMG's headquarters in Cologne in mid 2012, he revealed that Toyota's official performance arm was working on its first ever production model, a twin turbocharged Lexus LS460 outputting around 500kW.
The new TMG Lexus LS460 concept car will be revealed before the end of 2012, possibly at the Essen Motor Show in Germany in December, and is expected to go into low-volume production in 2013.
TMG hinted that a more powerful version of the 86 is on the cards too, stating that a GT86 Cup car is "under consideration" but no mention of a road-legal TMG-badged 86 has been mooted thus far.
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