We’re had the limited-run Toyota GR86 Hakone Edition booked in to drive for a while. So here’s the thing: now it’s in our garage… it’s sold out. We’re going to tell you how awesome it is, but you can’t actually buy one. Sorry.
So that’s the bad news. For the record, the Hakone (it’s named after a whizzy road in Japan) comes in a stunning Ridge Green colour, with bronze alloys, Ultrasuede/tan leather upholstery on the front seats and some really cool factory badging – including a little emblem on the gearknob.
And now the good news. While all 16 are spoken for (15 plus this one, which Toyota New Zealand is keeping for now), mechanically the Hakone is no different to the Kiwi-specification GR86. It’s better than your average GR86 in the suspension and brake departments, but we don’t get the average ones here; our standard cars already have the serious stuff installed.
So while you can’t have the visual thrills of the Hakone, you can still have all the others and save $2000.
Another round in a GR86 is a further reminder of what a stunning little sportster this is. The new 2.4-litre engine overcomes all the weird torque delivery of the previous 2.0-litre and adds an entertainingly growly soundtrack. The steering and chassis are just-so. The whole car is just-so.
The good news: while all 16 Hakones are spoken, mechanically the Hakone is no different to the Kiwi-specification GR86.
Our test car is automatic, which didn’t seem entirely up to scratch when we drove it on-track earlier this year, in company with the new GR Yaris and GR Corolla – both of which have a fancy new “Direct Shift” two-pedal gearbox, unlike the GR86.
But know what? On the road and in the real world, the conventional automatic is a pretty sweet companion for that boxer engine: lively and responsive. It’s certainly a valid alternative to the last manual-transmission GR86 we drove, which was in fact not a Toyota... but the Subaru BRZ.
The manual will always appeal to the purists, but the automatic doesn’t diminish the GR86’s super-sporty character. And it’s awesome in any colour.
