GR86 demand strong, supply tight

TOYOTA Australia looks to have another winner on its hands with the newly introduced GR86.

But with supply of the sporty new model restricted for the 2023 calendar year, the Japanese importer says it will change the way in which dealerships source customer vehicles, employing an allocation and EOI (expression of interest) system until such time as supply returns to normal.

Speaking to GoAuto News at the Australian launch of the GR86 this week, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said that once stock of the highly anticipated sports coupe recovers, dealerships will return to ordering customer vehicles as per the usual format.

“Our first calendar year (2023) supply is around 1100 cars – I think our demand will exceed our supply – and this is based on the fact that we’ve already had over 10,000 expressions of interest in the car on our website,” said Mr Hanley.

“I think the initial 1100 cars will be taken care of pretty quickly. Our supply situation at the moment is still somewhat restricted because of various reasons, although it is improving. I expect we’ll do a little better from year three onwards (with the GR86), and of course, if we can do better in year one, we will try.

“What’s most important is how we manage customer expectation on this car. We’ll be applying a slightly different allocation process to the dealer network where we’ll give them a finite number, so they know exactly how many cars they’re getting. Once they’ve sold that amount, they’ll take expressions of interest (and that’s) to ensure the customer is kept fully informed,” he explained.

Mr Hanley said the supply of certain models within the Australian portfolio was improving, as was the diversification of its Toyota’s sportier GR brand. With GR86, GR Corolla, GR Supra and GR Yaris already established – and the number of GR enhanced derivatives expanding – Toyota was well placed to offer GR customers options should supplies of other lines remain closed.

“The GR brand is maturing in the Australian market. Now that we have a few models to offer – and more coming – the interest for these cars is growing as well. As the brand becomes even more mature, I think we will see ‘GR’ become an established performance brand in Australia,” said Mr Hanley.

“But I don’t think that diversification will hurt GR86 sales. There will be some crossover, but this is a fun car whether as a daily driver or on the track, and it’s able to offer what the customer wants – which is the great thing about the growing GR brand.

“It’s all about what the customer wants from a performance car. If they want a performance car that they’re going to have a great time with on the track, and that’s primarily what they want to do, we have that car. If they want the sort of performance that they can drive to work and still have fun on the weekend, we have that car. And if they want to take the family along, and still have lots of fun, we have that car too.”

The second-generation ‘86’ arrives a decade after the original, a model which sold almost 22,000 examples Down Under. It retains the horizontally-opposed engine design of its predecessor, as well as the familiar front-engine/rear-drive configuration favoured by sports car fans.

Toyota says the model’s improved dynamics, technology and styling set the benchmark in value-for-money sports cars, despite the model’s price increase of $11,060 over the outgoing entry point to the range – and $2950 premium over the twin-under-the-skin Subaru BRZ.

The Toyota GR86 is again offered locally in GT and GTS grades with manual and automatic variants identically priced.

Available from $43,240 plus on-road costs, the second-generation ‘86’ offers a larger 2.4-litre engine (+400cc) developing 174kW (+22kW) and 250Nm (+38Nm), the latter now available from an earlier 3700rpm.

The figures equate to 135kW/tonne with the GT and GTS grades weighing from 1287 to 1291kg respectively when equipped with a manual transmission. Both variants are equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential.

Like all Toyota passenger models, the GR86 is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. The engine and driveline is warranted for seven years. Capped price servicing is offered for the first five years or 75,000km of ownership with each 12-month/15,000km service capped to $280.