Toyota GR86 is back on sale: new UK allocation announced
Toyota sold its entire two-year allocation of the GR86 coupe in 90 mins in 2022 but new cars have been found.
Back in the summer of 2022, Toyota took just 90 minutes to sell-out the complete UK allocation for its GR86 coupe. Since then we've been able to confirm on numerous occasions that the mad rush to secure one of these cars was fully justified. The GR86 is a stunning piece of work from the Japanese brand, something that a few more lucky UK punters are about to find out first-hand. Yes, Toyota UK has secured some more cars.
Toyota has confirmed that an unspecified number of additional GR86 coupes are on their way to the UK and it's particularly good news for those who were disappointed the first time around. Toyota says that ‘in the spirit of fairness’ it plans to continue with the online ordering process set up for the first batch of GR86 models, so those who signed up for the waiting list but didn't get a car will now be offered the chance to buy one, in chronological order.
Toyota anticipates another sell-out for this second batch of GR86 models, but the waiting list is open and the firm says it will continue to operate the same process for any further allocations that come the UK's way in future. Anyone yearning for one of the finest affordable sports cars in recent memory should probably get their name down on the Toyota website.
The Toyota GR86 comes in just one high specification starting at £32,495, an increase on the original £29,990 price for the launch cars. Standard equipment on UK examples includes an 18-inch wheel design wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber, as well as half-leather interior trim, an 8-inch infotainment system including smartphone mirroring, a reversing camera, climate control and adaptive LED headlights.
Regardless of the number of cars that ultimately make it to the UK, production of the GR86 is still scheduled to end in 2024. The short lifespan is, in large part, due to tighter safety regulations arriving that would have forced the GR86's roof design to be totally re-engineered.
One of the key reasons for this issue with homologation is the relative age of the GR86, which despite looking all-new is instead a substantial update on the 10-year old GT86. To dramatically change this key part of the structure would ensue prohibitive costs and compromise that Toyota, understandably, was unable to overlook.
> Toyota GR86 review – new coupe takes the challenge to Porsche’s Cayman 2.0
This is a similar issue to that which other Japanese sports cars have had in European markets, with challenges in passing emissions regulations for models more heavily biased towards American and Pacific markets. The new Nissan 400Z and Subaru WRX, for example, are not homologated for Europe at all.
Given the difficulty and expense of ensuring overseas models such as these meet European and British regulations for both emissions and safety, it’s not surprising to see them being kept off the price lists, especially with their limited sales potential. However, we still think this might be something of a presumptuous move as the market transitions to electrification, and that's something Toyota is proving with its well deserved successes, including the GR86 and GR Yaris hot hatch.
