At last - a Toyota with some excitement

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Two higher specced versions, a manual and a six-speed automatic with paddle shift, will go on sale later in July with s Standard equipment which includes keyless entry, leather/alcantara upholstery, fully automatic climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels. The 86 manual will retail for R329 400 while the 86 High 6-speed Auto will carry a sticker price of just R346 500.

All 86 models come with a four-year/60 000km service plan as standard.

The powerplant

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All 86 models are powered by a newly developed Subaru 2-litre, four-cylinder boxer engine. This is the world's first horizontally opposed engine with Toyota's revolutionary direct injection 4-stroke petrol system (D-4S). For a normally aspirated powerplant the muscle-power is quite impressive, albeit at high revs, at 147kW at 7000rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 6400-6600rpm.

Toyota has not yet released any sprint times, top speed or emissions and fuel usage figures

According to Toyota South Africa the arrival of the 86 signals a completely new direction for the brand which is good news for Toyota fans who have for far too long been exposed to the brand's rather bland offerings.