Toyota Australia has unveiled a global first – a dramatic new “Shooting Brake” concept version of the 86 sports car.
The prototype was conceived and developed by Toyota Australia’s Product Design team and hand-built in Japan under the direction of the global sports car division. It was unveiled by the Toyota 86 global chief engineer Tetsuya Tada.
Tada-san said he was inspired to support the project when shown a one-quarter scale clay model during a visit to Australia in November 2014.
“I was totally surprised – and I liked it so much I arranged for my expert takumi prototype craftsmen to hand-build the Shooting Brake concept based on the Australian design,” Tada-san said.
“The concept car is a fully functional, driveable vehicle that has been put through its paces on Toyota test tracks.
Tada-san said Toyota wanted to gauge reaction to the concept, although it was conceived as an internal design study and there were no plans for production.
“While we never say never, and I would love this concept to become a production reality, it is very much a concept that demonstrates the passion within Toyota for cars that are fun to drive.”
Toyota Australia’s design chief Nicolas Hogios said his Australian design team engaged in enthusiastic debate about the extent to which they should make changes to the 86 coupe, eventually remodelling only the rear quarter and roof.
“Like kids in a lolly shop, we thought about restyling more of the car; however, like a good parent saying ‘no’ to too many sweets, we made the conscious decision to keep as much of the original 86 as possible, only changing what was absolutely necessary.
