The death of Scion isn’t killing the beloved FR-S. The popular sport coupe now has a new home and a new name—and a little more power, too.
Starting this fall, the FR-S will be rebadged as the Toyota 86. This move also comes with some other bonuses like suspension and powertrain upgrades including revised shock tuning and a spring rate …
That all sounds good except for the actual name. A car called 86? Really? Toyota needs to bring back the folks who created their iconic car names like Celica, Camry and Corolla.
Danny Shields wrote: That all sounds good except for the actual name. A car called 86? Really? Toyota needs to bring back the folks who created their iconic car names like Celica, Camry and Corolla.
The 86 name is a tribute to the AE86 chassis Corolla.
Only the nerds know this 
Surprised they didn't just call it the GT86 like the JDM model, I mean the badges are already in production...
86 in restaurant terms = get rid of something is prob what the OP is referring to, the allusion back to the AE86 is cool though.
Well, it's not "eighty-six", as in "eighty-six that," it is "eight-six" as in "The eight-six is the king of the downhill on mount Akina."
Dr. Hess wrote: Well, it's not "eighty-six", as in "eighty-six that," it is "eight-six" as in "The eight-six is the king of the downhill on mount Akina."
Only about five people will call it an eight-six unless Toyota does a very good job of educating the masses.
You're forgetting about the Pontiac GOOOLE and the Ford FISO 
Hey, the Fiat x-nineteen was a popular name.
Saw a white one in D.C. on Sat. I think. Looked pretty nice had a rear window sticker 86club.com mid-atlantic. Might put up some photos later.
Keith Tanner wrote:Dr. Hess wrote: Well, it's not "eighty-six", as in "eighty-six that," it is "eight-six" as in "The eight-six is the king of the downhill on mount Akina."Only about five people will call it an eight-six unless Toyota does a very good job of educating the masses.
Only about 95% will believe it's a predecessor unless Toyota changes it. Great car, absolutely ZERO in common with the name that built it. I can deal with the boxer motor, and I like the IRS, but dammit, it was a weird, clunky, origami shaped wedge and THATS what I wanted! Bring back the flip up headlights! Give me a squared hatchback!
I wonder what an ACTUA! Modern 80's restyle of a car would look like? How successful are the throwback camaro and mustang and challenger? Compared to the charger? Charger sells to families. Not hot rod enthusiasts.
I can't quite believe Toyota isn't going to start the 86 run with a black and white car with a Trueno badge. The opportunity is HUGE. Are they so conservative they don't want to be somehow shown as supporting Street racing? Car commercials do stupid things all the time. Shoot a commercial with an 86 drifting down a mountain road. Boom, instant hype. And get Netflix to put the show back on dammit.
It's a terrible name, but you guys have already figured that out.
Interesting that in the early Initial D episodes, Takami did not know what an Eight-Six was .. and he drove one!
So this should work out just fine for Toyota.
GameboyRMH wrote: Surprised they didn't just call it the GT86 like the JDM model, I mean the badges are already in production...
That's what I was expecting, too.
Anything is better than being a Scion.
Dr. Hess wrote: Hey, the Fiat x-nineteen was a popular name.
At least they wrote it X1/9. Maybe this should be the 8-6.
David S. Wallens wrote:GameboyRMH wrote: Surprised they didn't just call it the GT86 like the JDM model, I mean the badges are already in production...That's what I was expecting, too.
Or badge it as a Trueno and then change it to 86 after the first season?
The AE86 was never called the AE86 except by the sort of guys who read VIN tags, right? It had a normal name in the US, Corolla or something. I think it may have been called the Sprinter in Australia, but that name is taken now.
^^ it was the Corolla GTS. It was also a forgotten car until the Initial-D cartoons came out. We had the cleanest one in the world around the GRM offices when I first came on board in 2002. It was fun, in a slow, quirky, 80s Japanese car kind of way.
I actually competed in a very early drifting competition at the very first Hyperfest. (in Charlotte) That was fun, but the little GTS didn't have enough power. I ended up fitting the smallest tires I could to the back, and it worked ok---- until those tires came apart!
Of course the Toyota 86 (or Frisbee twins) are far, far superior cars in nearly every way compared to the old Corolla GTS. They look way better to my eyes as well---- but if this board has taught me one thing, it's we all have vastly different ideas of what looks good.....and what doesn't.
Keith Tanner wrote: The AE86 was never called the AE86 except by the sort of guys who read VIN tags, right? It had a normal name in the US, Corolla or something. I think it may have been called the Sprinter in Australia, but that name is taken now.
AE86 was the chassis code, much like NA6 (Miata), FC3S (RX-7), SW20 (MR2), etc. Corolla GT-S in the USA, Sprinter Trueno in Japan, but you could also get it there with fixed headlights as the Corolla Levin.
They are cool but I'm not sure I'd be able to have much fun in one without a 20v or 4AGZE swap.
In reply to pointofdeparture:
Just make sure you get a new tach if your dad slaps a hot motor in there.
Like I said, only used by the sort of guys that read VIN tags. Unless you're one of those nerds, you have no idea what AE86 means. Heck, I have to google the engine code for my BMW every time I want to access the nerd forums, and if you started using SW20 around me you'd just get a blank stare. And I am pro car guy.
We only just started using the Nx nomenclature on our website because most people still call them 1990 Miatas, not NA6s.
So Toyota trying to use 8-6 to bring back memories of the AE86 (which I call an A-E-Eighty-Six because I've never spoken to a Toyota nerd in person) is trying a bit hard. GT86 would have made some sense because, well, it sounds cooler.
The Corolla GTS was a great Locost donor.
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