The “86” and “BRZ” jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru have the same basic parts such as the body and powertrain, but there are some differences. What are the differences with the sister cars, or brother cars but what are the differences?
Simple Answer is
Difference between 86 and BRZ suspension.
The front wheels of the 86 suspension is designed to be soft. This suspension is suitable for drifting. On the other hand, BRZ has been developed to have designed the rear wheels to be softer, means anyone car with confidence and smooth.
SUBARU “BRZ”
The Subaru BRZ, where B is the Boxer Engine, R is the rear wheel drive, and Z is the Zenith, was launched in March 2012 with the twin 86 Toyota. A small, lightweight, low center of gravity FR sports car developed jointly by Subaru and Toyota. Both cars are manufactured at the Fuji Heavy Industries (SUBARU) Gunma Factory main plant.
The engine is based on the FB20 type developed by Fuji Heavy Industries(SUBARU), and is equipped with a newly developed FA20 type that combines Toyota’s direct injection technology “D-4S”.
Let’s look at both cars in detail.
What kind of car is the “86” or “BRZ” jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru?
The Toyota “86 (Hachiroku)” and the Subaru “BRZ” are sister cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru that have a common basic vehicle structure such as the engine, body, and suspension. Both cars appeared in 2012 and have undergone minor changes in 2016. From April 2018 to March 2019, in Japan the sales volume for one year is approximately 5000 cars for 86 and 1281 cars for BRZ, and even after 7 years have passed since the launch, it is strongly supported by certain drivers.
- TOYOTA 86
When you hear “86” many people think of “Sprinter Trueno / Corolla Levin (AE86).” The AE86 is a car model that is well-recognized even if you don’t like cars because of the popularity of the cartoon “Initial D”. The 86 of the current model is sometimes described as a revival of the AE86, but the body size and displacement are larger than the AE86, and it is also evaluated as a completely new car.
- SUBARU BRZ
on the other hand, has the concept of small size, light weight, and low center of gravity, and the vehicle names are the initials of Boxer Engine, Rear wheel drive, and Zenith. This is Subaru’s first mass-produced rear-wheel drive vehicle, and it is said that it was developed with the aim of becoming a sports car that is relatively easy for young people to get involved with. and in my opinion the interior of BRZ is better than 86. BRZ has more luxury whereas 86 looks more cheap.
At first glance, the two cars do not seem to make such a big difference. However, each has its own characteristics. What kind of characters they have?
BODYSIZE
Body size is the same for both cars, total length 4240 mm x total width 1775 mm x total height 1320 mm (including antenna). The number of passengers is 2 + 2 for 4 people.
POWER
The powertrain is also common, equipped with a 2-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine, and 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT are available. The maximum output of the MT vehicle is 207 horsepower and the maximum torque is 212 Nm, and the maximum output of the AT vehicle is 200 horsepower and the maximum torque is 205 Nm.
The fuel economy (WLTC mode) is almost the same as 11.8km / L to 12.8km / L for 86 and 11.6km / L to 12.8km / L for BRZ.
PRICE RANGE
For 86 is about $24,000 to $46,000, whereas BRZ is about $22,000 to $40,000.
Although the basic parts such as the engine are common, there are differences in the external design. In addition to the different shapes of the front grille, headlamps and fog lights, the lineup of interiors, options and body colors are also different.
Furthermore, the biggest difference in determining the character of both cars is that the goal of their drive a car is different. In the standard model, all parts related to driving, such as engine, suspension, and transmission, are common. I think that if the parts are the same, the running will be the same, but the part called “spring hardness in suspension” is very different.
The 86 suspension has a hard front and soft rear. This makes it easy to slide the tail and enjoy drifting. The BRZ suspension, on the other hand, has a softer front and a harder rear than the 86, which is said to improve driving stability.
Therefore, 86 is recommended for users who want to drift on circuits and BRZ is recommended for users who want stable driving in everyday use. In addition to this, It is said that Toyota and Subaru are jointly developing next-generation GT86 and BRZ models.
This model, which is expected to undergo major upgrades in performance and design, will be launched in 2021.If you want to read about new model please check next page.