Australian Toyota GR 86 buyers will need to have their fingers ready as Toyota has another sell-out hero on its hands.
If sales of the new Toyota GR 86 in the UK are anything to go by, Toyota Australian will have no problem selling out its new model.
While the car has not yet gone up for sale in Australia with local buyers only able to register interest on Toyota’s website, it had numerous issues with allocating an influx of buyers for the new Landcruiser 300 Series. Toyota Australia also had buyers quickly snap-up allocations of the Yaris GR and Supra.
In the UK, every example of long-awaited sports car was snapped up on the same day, with the buy now button disappearing after 90 minutes. However, a spokesperson said that the entire market allocation is spoken for within 40 minutes of orders being opened.
Sales of the much-anticipated Toyota GT 86 successor opened earlier this month, with a starting price of £29,995 (which is similar to the previous generation and indicates a local price under $35,000) making it one of the most affordable sports coupes on sale.
In less than an hour and a half, the Toyota closed down the UK ordering platform as the limit was hit.
Production of the Toyota GR 86 is only set to run for two years, and bosses have warned: “When they’re gone, they’re gone.” This is due to the car not readily complying with incoming crash regulations (in Europe).
While the official allocation figure has not been given by Toyota, it is understood to be around 400 units in the UK for this year.
Yet all is not lost for those who missed out. Toyota says they have all been offered a place on a waiting list, in case any orders are cancelled. This, Toyota adds, will be operated in a chronological order against the time customers tried to order – similar to how lists are handled in Australia.
Following the speedy sellout, a Toyota spokesman said: “The rush to secure a car reflects the hugely enthusiastic reception given to early prototypes (you can read out Toyota 86 prototype review here).”
UK deliveries of the GR 86 are set to begin in July, but the Toyota GR 86 might not arrive in Australia until 2023.
The car’s low starting price is a big factor in its appeal and it is immediately a close rival for the Mazda MX-5.
This simple pricing structure overseas sees the GR 86 offered in just one trim level which brings 10-spoke 18-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin PS4 tyres, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, a reversing camera and blind-spot monitor, LED adaptive headlights and a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster.
Buyers were also able to opt for an automatic transmission. Local Australian pricing and specifications are yet to be confirmed.
The rear-drive four-seater was revealed last year alongside the new second-generation Subaru BRZ, with which it was jointly developed and made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year.
The change of name from GT86 to GR 86 brings the coupe in line with the rest of Toyota’s current GR performance line, joining the GR Supra coupe and GR Yaris hot hatch.
James Attwood