Our coverage on the production version of what we came to know as the FT-86 in concept form but which Toyota decided to name GT 86 for the European region and simply '86' in its home market of Japan, continues with two fresh videos that depict the rear-wheel drive sports car in action. The first clip is from a quick spin around the Fuji Speedway racetrack, while the second video includes a more comprehensive test drive from a Japanese car magazine that provides us with a more in-depth look at the sights and sounds of the 86 as well as in a wider palette of colors. 
Toyota is highly optimistic about the '86', which it describes as an "entirely driver-focused sports car, designed to recapture the fundamental joys of motoring".The Japanese firm's recipe includes a 200HP naturally-aspirated engine mounted up front matched to a six-speed manual (or 6sp automatic) and a limited slip differential driving the rear wheels, and a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution. By now you already know that the '86' will give birth to the global Subaru BRZ and the North American market-only, Scion FR-S. For those of you thirsty for more information on the '86', you can check out our comprehensive post that includes all the initial specs and details along with the first pictures of both the European and Japanese market models.
When Honda CEO Takanobu Ito confirmed the NSX replacement, it made sense that the new sports car would be revealed at the Japanese company's home turf. However, Honda displayed the compact EV-STER concept instead, a small RWD roadster that resembles the 1990’s Beat. There’s no reason for disappointment though as British publication Autocar is reporting that Honda plans to debut a new concept called 'Super Sports' at the Detroit Motor Show in mid-January. According to Yoshikazu Kigoshi, Honda’s general manager for research and design center, the Super Sports study is described as “a halo model that will be a successor to the NSX.” Kigoshi added that the production version of the concept would be sold under the Acura brand in North America and as a Honda in the rest of the world. The three concepts that are currently on display at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show may have already given us a glimpse to the new NSX’s front design. That’s because Honda’s creative director, Toshinubu Minami, who is also responsible for the Super Sports concept design, admitted that the Detroit concept “will wear the same Honda face as the Tokyo models, because of course there must be consistency, but they won’t be the same.” The Super Sports will most likely by powered by a new, top-of-the-line hybrid propulsion system that is part of Honda's “Earth Dreams Technology” plan unveiled yesterday during the Tokyo Motor Show. According to Honda's official announcement, the so-called "high output electric SH-AWD hybrid system" combines a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with a built-in, 30kW (40HP) electric motor, two independent 20kW (27HP) electric motors on both sides for the rear wheels, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a high performance lithium-ion battery. Honda says that this is a newly developed version of its acclaimed SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system which adjusts torque distribution not only between the front and rear axle, but also between the rear wheels. It also claims that it will provide “incredible tight cornering, just like driving on rails”, while at the same time improving overall consumption by 10% and total output by 5%.PHOTO GALLERY
After the unveiling of the Toyota 86 (GT 86 in Europe) on Saturday, it's time for Subaru to take center stage with the presentation of its version of the jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports coupe in production guise. The new BRZ was revealed today less than two weeks after Subaru exhibited the STI-badged concept model at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and just before the sports coupe makes its first public outing under the spotlight at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday, November 30. 
To the surprise of no one, the production BRZ loses the concept’s neat aero-kit with the large rear wing and carbon-fiber parts, but no need to worry as it's almost certain that Subaru's STI division will offer either the same or similar components as an option in due time. Even though we knew from day one that the Subaru BRZ, the Toyota 86 and the upcoming Scion FR-S were all jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, we had some hope that the cars might differ in appearance and flavor. As you can see for yourself, this never happened – at least with the BRZ and the 86. From this first set of pictures, we see that the exterior styling changes between the BRZ and 86 are limited only to the re-sculptured front bumper, the alloy wheel designs, the fender trims and the tail lamp graphics (even the shape remains the same). We don't have any photos of the interior yet, but we’re willing to bet that there won't be any noticeable differences between the two cars. The same goes for the mechanical hardware with the BRZ and the 86 sharing Subaru's 2.0-liter flat-four engine with Toyota’s “D-4S” direct injection and port injection technology, which is rated at 200-horsepower and 205Nm (151 lb-ft) of peak torque. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox with a short stroke shift lever or an optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel, while the BRZ also gets a specially tuned electronic stability control. The basic model will ride on 17-inch wheels wrapped around 215/45R17 rubber. We could go on with the dimensions and the suspension setup but we'd be practically repeating what we said about the 86. In fact, come to think of it, we could have just swapped the words "Toyota" with "Subaru" and "86" with "BRZ" and be done with it. Too late now
Toyota is highly optimistic about the '86', which it describes as an "entirely driver-focused sports car, designed to recapture the fundamental joys of motoring".
