BY DANIEL DEGASPERI | 28th Nov 2018
THEY say competition improves the breed, but in the case of the Toyota 86 there has been little need to rush through substantial change in the six years since it launched.
Sure, the Ford Mustang has since toppled it on the sales charts, and the Mazda MX-5 switched to a new generation along with an accompanying price drop, but neither are really true competitors for this compact coupe.
Like a slow-drip tap, then, the natural tick of time has slowly brought greater changes culminating in this GT Performance Package that lobbed late last year. It followed the 2016 mid-life facelift of the Toyota (and Subaru BRZ) sportscar that delivered a small lift in cabin quality, a minor power hike, a stronger body, softer suspension and a new electronic stability control (ESC).
Such tweaks made for an incrementally better rear-wheel drive, two-door model, but now the 86 Performance Pack makes its greatest step forward in value-for-money terms since this generation lobbed back in 2012 for a scarcely believable $30K plus on-road costs.
The ‘PP’ brings with it 17-inch alloy wheels (up from 16s), Brembo brakes and Sachs suspension that were previously reserved for a $40K-plus limited-edition model grade available only in searing orange paint. Now, the mechanical upgrades are served up for less than before. Much less, in fact.