Toyota revived the 86 nameplate in 2012 as a modern, compact rear-wheel-drive sports coupe developed with Subaru. The car was created as an enthusiast-focused driver’s machine, with a low center of gravity, a front-engine/rear-drive layout, and styling that nodded to Toyota’s earlier sports-car heritage while aiming for approachable, balanced handling. Toyota positioned it as an affordable performance car that could serve both road drivers and grassroots motorsport participants, and it quickly became a favorite for track days, autocross, drifting, and one-make racing.
The 86 name itself was a deliberate homage to Toyota’s AE86 Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno of the 1980s, a car that became an icon among driving enthusiasts. Toyota also used the model to rebuild a stronger sports-car identity during the 2010s, and the car was sold in several markets under slightly different branding arrangements before settling into the Toyota lineup globally. In 2016, Toyota applied a mild redesign to sharpen the car’s driving character and keep it fresh.
The original 86 nameplate ran through the 2021 model year before being superseded by the GR86, which carried the same basic concept into a new generation under Toyota Gazoo Racing branding. As a result, the 86 stands as a distinct modern-era chapter in Toyota’s sports-car history: a revival nameplate that connected contemporary buyers to one of Toyota’s most celebrated enthusiast-bred legends.