Autoblog

Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving"

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, UK

A ban has reportedly been issued on a UK commercial for the Toyota GT86 (know as the Scion FR-S here in the US) that supposedly might "encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly," because it "condoned dangerous driving."

The commercial, known as "The Real Deal," in question has very clearly made an effort to distance itself from any kind of illicit real-world driving, as Toyota is fully aware that British laws forbids that kind of advertising. Toyota reportedly told Britain's Advertising Standards Authority that it did not, in fact, condone unsafe or irresponsible driving, and that its commercial - which features a digital man in a sort of Dystopian "video game" world - is impossible to reproduce under real-world conditions.

Toyota UK has not, as of this writing, felt compelled to remove the advertisement from its YouTube page, meaning you are at liberty to watch it for yourself below. At least here in The States, we consider it extremely "safe for work" - just don't try this on the road, hotshot.

Does banning a commercial from television serve to make it more popular on the internet? Give us your thoughts in Comments.

Continue reading Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving"

Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota GT86 to make British motorsport debut in Britcar 24 Hours wearing AE86 livery [w/video]

George Kennedy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Toyota, UK, Design/Style

If you liked the Martini Racing Porsche 918 Spyder we just brought you, then you ought to dig this, too. Toyota is bringing back its Team Toyota GB livery for the GT 86 entry into the Britcar 24 Hours. Unlike the the classically decorated 918, we can confirm that the so-hot-right-now Toyota coupe will actually be racing.

The livery harkens back to the AE86 of the raging 80s for the Japanese-British race team. Successfully campaigned by Tiff Needell and others, it took on the likes of an Atari-sponsored Mitsubishi Starion. How's that for getting your 80s fix?

Team Toyota GB ran with great success in the British Touring Car and British Rally Championships in the 80s and early 90s. The rendering released by Toyota, seen above, boasts the livery of that heyday in lightweight Japanese racing.

This will not be the first time that Toyota has entered a GT 86 in competition. The Japanese automaker ran it at the Nürburgring 24 hours, but Toyota has now decided to pull at the heartstrings of nostalgic race fans.

We can't wait to see what this throwback racer will look like for real when it runs at the Britcar 24 at Silverstone, on September 22 and 23. Click below to watch a video of Tiff Needell carving it up in an original AE86.

Continue reading Toyota GT86 to make British motorsport debut in Britcar 24 Hours wearing AE86 livery [w/video]

Toyota GT86 to make British motorsport debut in Britcar 24 Hours wearing AE86 livery [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota launches Emirates drift team with new 86 video

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Scion, Toyota, Middle East

Toyota drifted an FT-86 all over United Arab Emirates roads when the coupe was launched there last month, and now it's doing it again. 27-year-old Ahmed Omran Al-Amri is the two-time drift championship winner as part of the Emirates Drift Team in his native UAE, and he has used a turbocharged, 570-horsepower Toyota Soarer (our Lexus SC) as his ride to those titles.

Rewarding his team for its winning ways and Toyota love, the Japanese company has taken over to form the Toyota Emirates Drifting Team and provided it with Toyota 86 hatchbacks (our Scion FR-S) to campaign. Al-Amri has already won this year's title, but check out the video below of testing the new cars at Yas Marina Circuit for his thoughts on the new car and, of course, beaucoup tire smoke.

Continue reading Toyota launches Emirates drift team with new 86 video

Toyota launches Emirates drift team with new 86 video originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Zach Bowman — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Toyota, Middle East

Toyota has officially launched the company's GT 86 sportscar in the United Arab Emirates. The Japanese automaker rolled out the rear-drive hero with a fancy new video shot in the hills around Fujairah. With plenty of drifting, tire smoke and slow motion, the clip serves as a proper introduction to the lightweight coupe. Judging by the quick video, there are a few market-specific changes to the UAE Toyota GT 86, including the availability of one very massive rear wing. The piece has more than a passing resemblance to the exaggerated aero work found on the lusty Subaru WRX STI sedan.

Will the Toyota GT 86 find favor in the UAE? We certainly think it's got a shot. If there's a more car-obsessed culture on this planet than the one found in the U.S., it lies in the well-funded Middle East. You can check out the launch video for yourself by scrolling below, or head over to the Toyota UAE Facebook page for a little more information.

Continue reading Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota GT 86 sports car revealed [w/video]

Alex Nunez — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:25:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota

It's no secret that the Toyota FT-86 will finally make its production-spec debut next week at the Tokyo Motor Show, and ahead of that, the automaker's UK office has released the first official photos and some initial specs. In Europe, the car will officially be called the Toyota GT 86. In Japan, however, the car will simply be called 86.

Cutting right to the chase, here are the specs that are now official, from the Toyota UK announcement. Obviously, there's more to come:

2.0-liter boxer with D4-S injection (direct and port injected)
197 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) @6,600 rpm
6-speed manual or automatic transmissions
17-inch wheel/tire package standard
4,240mm (167 in.) long, 1285mm (50.6 in.) high, 2,570mm (101 in.) wide
53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution
475mm (18.7 in.) center of gravity

As demonstrated in the photos, everything is basically in line with what we've seen so far in the various leaked materials. So, start getting excited. In addition to the sharp styling outside, the interior looks the business, and the "86" fender logo is just plain cool. The GT 86 goes on sale in the UK next June.

We'll be on hand in Tokyo for the official reveal at the end of the coming week, with plenty more then. In the meantime, peruse the photo gallery, then hit the jump for a video and the full press release.

Continue reading Toyota GT 86 sports car revealed [w/video]

Toyota GT 86 sports car revealed [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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