IF IT was not for the arrival of the funky CH-R small SUV, the facelifted Toyota 86 would still be positioned on a remote island in the Japanese car-maker’s line-up.

It has taken five years, since the 86’s local release in 2012, both for Toyota to come up with another interesting model and also tweak its original affordable rear-wheel-drive sportscar comeback kid.

Prices are up by less than $1000 while the exterior and interior tweaks – on the GTS tested here limited to an added rear spoiler, new alloy wheels, LED-lit revised front and rear fascia, a smaller steering wheel, a colour trip computer screen and altered dashboard trim – are similarly minor.

However, under-skin changes are more extensive, with additional under-bonnet and spot-weld body bracing to improve rigidity, softer rear/firmer front suspension, and an overhauled electronic stability control (ESC) calibration working in concert with a slight lift in power and torque.

But is it a case of minor styling changes hiding a greater whole with this Toyota 86 GTS?

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