Toyota GR86 Gains Subtle Handling Tweaks With Mid-Life Update
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Toyota has also introduced a new limited Ridge Green Limited edition of this updated GR86 for Japan.
Toyota has recently revealed a minor update for its GR86, and the changes it has made this time round primarily revolves around helping the affordable rear-drive sports car be that little bit more fun to drive than it already is.
Now among the handling tweaks that has been made to the 2025 model year GR86 includes improvements to its shock absorber damping characteristics, for which Toyota states will now provide ‘better sense of contact with the ground while maintaining the direct handling response typical of a sports car’. This update has since brought with it a revised electric power steering (EPS) control as well, that is touted by its maker to result in ‘agile response performance without jeopardizing steering stability’ and ‘an improved steering sensation at the upper limits of performance’.
For cars equipped with a manual gearbox, Toyota has also updated the engine torque control to facilitate easier blipping. The throttle control has been altered slightly too, in order to provide a more direct response between one’s foot and the unchanged 2.4-litre boxer four under its hood.
To those who prefer only two pedals with their GR86s on the other hand, Toyota has in turn expanded the engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting and widened the torque band for more oomph on demand. Elsewhere, this Japanese sports car further gains new daytime running lights and a tire pressure warning system from this mid-life update.
Aside from announcing these updates, Toyota has also recently unveiled a new Ridge Green Limited version of its GR86 exclusively for the Japanese domestic market. The exclusive dark green hue of this special edition is to be complemented on the outside by bronze-painted 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels, which behind it hide Brembo brakes and Sachs shock absorbers.
As for what is custom inside the Ridge Green Limited GR86s, its seats come in perforated black ultrasuede with tan leather accents and tan stitching. The traditionally silver-painted trim pieces are now black instead, with there being an embroidered panel by the shoulder area of the door pad.
The Japanese automaker officially states that it only intends to produce 200 units of this Ridge Green Limited GR86s for sale in its home market, with it currently even holding a lottery for the allocations. Though interestingly enough, there have since been reports that state for apparently 850 units of exactly the same special edition cars will be bound for North America, bearing the Hakone Special Edition branding.
Prices for these updated GR86 starts at ¥3,195,000 (RM 95,000) for the six-speed manual and ¥3,293,000 (RM 98,000) for the self-shifter with the same number of ratios. The “Ridge Green Limited” edition comes in at a premium of ¥3,897,000 (RM 116,000) for the stick-shift and ¥3,995,000 (RM 119,000) for the automatic, with the lottery application for one of these to be made at GR Garage locations from between July 12th and 18th.