Monthly Archives: October 2009

More FT-86 Details!

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7TUNE has more saliva inducing details on the gorgeous new FT-86 (Future Toyota 86), and by the looks of things, Toyota designers may have gone a little crazy with the carbon fibre! The attention to detail on this car, coupled with Toyota’s apparent (and somewhat surprising) enthusiasm towards it, make me believe this is one concept we just might see on showroom floors! My sentiments on this car are summed up pretty damn accurately in this quote from the article:

After looking at these pics for the best part of an hour, I really do feel like I am looking at an AE86. They have taken the lines, soul, and concept behind the AE86, thrown it in a blender with a 2011 calendar and this is the result.

The car may not scream ‘I’m a neo-retro remake!!’ like GM’s new Camaro and so many other recent ‘retro’ models do, but it does however give you that subtle feeling of familiarity and attitude that you are really looking at the next-generation of thinking and design that made the original ’86 so damn good. I think this concept really does try to push boundaries with both exterior design and what most people consider ‘normal’ in terms of in-cabin equipment (for example the capacitive touch CD player controls and hexagonal airconditioning vents) but all without getting absolutely outragous or gaudy in the process.

Whatever the outcome of this concept, at the least I hope it gives Toyota a re-invigorated passion to make exciting and groundbreaking sportscars, as well all know it’s been a long time coming for something this radical from the automaker who has brought us so many iconic machines of yesteryear.

Image: Toyota / Car@Nifty


New Hachiroku Shirt @ IB

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Our friends over at Import Bible have a brand new series of shirts out and this time ’86 owners are lucky enough to have one designed featuring our most favorite car.  Not only does the shirt come with a delicious kouki Trueno on the back, but on the front is written ‘Old School’ with a few of the letters sustituted with somethings I think you might all recognise.

So head on over to Import Bible and check it out and get your orders moving.


Craziest Engine Swap Ever?

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Just when you thought you had seen every possible engine swap so far, here we are to prove you totally wrong! MasCor, a new member at AEU86, is a Turkish AE86 owner who did one of the craziest swaps I’ve seen so far. Can you tell what this hachi is hiding under its hood? Hit the jump to see the answer!

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FT-86 Concept Already In Gran Turismo 5!

FT-86 concept in Gran Turismo 5 (AE86 cameo)

Now, how much more can Toyota do with their marketing campaign of the FT-86? They already stirred up things good by giving us very detailed photos of the FT-86 concept and only half a day later they present us with a video showing the FT-86 concept is already in Gran Turismo 5!  How did they hide that fact so well then?

Make sure to hit that HD button! As you can see the AE86 also makes a cameo at the end of the video and surprisingly it can keep up with the FT-86! Is the boxer-powered FT-86 that slow, or is the FT-86 driver just a bad drifter?


086A Update: The FT-86 Concept

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Just one look at this image over at TMR and I knew, at that very moment, I wanted one. TMR writes:

Offering the best look yet at Toyota’s plans for its upcoming entry-level rear-wheel-drive sportscar, the Japanese carmaker has revealed the FT-86 concept ahead of its Tokyo Motor Show debut.

Borrowing styling cues from both the FT-HS concept and the upcoming Lexus LF-A, the FT-86 is likely powered by the same Subaru-sourced 2.0 litre four-cylinder boxer engine expected to power the upcoming ‘O86A’.

Seriously, if the 086A comes out looking identical to this, I’ll have no problems with scooting down to the showroom and driving away in Toyota’s re-emergence into the world of sporty passenger vehicles. Even the super-experimental gundam-esque interior trimmings get the tick of approval in my opinion – zips and all!

Read the rest (including specs!!) over at The Motor Report. Oh, and make sure to make your desires known to Toyota – it’s up to enthusiasts like us to get this project off the ‘maybe’ list and into showrooms!

Heres a quick chop done by HR Blogger (and legit graphic designer) Harley. It looks so awesome with its 18″ Watanabes and ‘panda bumpers’!

ft86-chop


AE86 Annual Time – Only 3 Weeks To Go!

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Don’t forget! The HR AE86 Annual is only 3 weeks away on the 24th and 25th of October in Sydney!!

If you have been to the last few, you know what goes on! If you haven’t been before, now’s the chance to find out what all the fun is about!

We are having a track day at Marulan on the Saturday with both grip and drift sessions available, so what ever your action – being slideways, finding the fastest way through a corner or both – come on down! At only $120 dollars for the day, its the cheapest action your going to get without visiting Kings Cross!

There will be BBQ lunch on hand and drinks available, and spectactors will be free. So if you’re not driving, bring your camera and shoot all the action you can!  Sunday will be the usual BBQ lunch, talk shop and hard parking. After that its the secret touge route and then to the pub! Anything in between that can and does happen (and I do mean anything) and will be up to you to decide!

To register for the track day, visit our forums here. HOPE WE SEE YOU THERE!!


The Top Step

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Just like Sebastian Vettel at this weekends Japanese Grand Prix, Mark Rogers stood atop the winners podium having taken out the win at the fourth round of the Specialised Performance Garage Tasmanian Drift Series. Everyone here at HR congratulates you Mark, and are super proud to see that distinctive icon adorn the bonnet of your 3S-powered beast!


Only The Best

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Complete bare metal restoration with a rebuild from mostly new genuine parts!  Not only that but an AE111 20 valve swap and enough Cusco and Greddy suspension parts to send you broke three times over!

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Crazier Than Crazy: Twincharged 2JZ AE86

Remember Soara’s amazing hachi powered by a 2JZ? Well he’s been at it again: Thinking the car didn’t have enough power, he created a new modified exhaust header himself to go with a bigger Garrett 45 turbo.. check the jump for more insanity! We love it!

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