Why is this limited edition GR86 Hakone Edition not in right hand drive
Toyota engineers in Japan are paying tribute to the Hakone Turnpike in Japan but we wonder why only in left hand drive and with limited units.
The famous turnpike is located not far from Tokyo, yet there is NO right hand drive versions for this GR86 Hakone special edition.
Born to hit the streets in style, the GR86 Hakone special edition is sure to turn heads with its bold Ridge Green exterior color.
Built off the GR86 Premium grade, the Hakone special edition will have a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and will be powered by a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder boxer engine generating 228 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. The special edition will feature 18-inch satin bronze-finished wheels, a color-keyed duck-tail spoiler, black accents and a Hakone badge.
On the inside, customers will find Ultrasuede sport seats with tan leather trim and stitching. A Hakone special edition shift knob with bronze accents sits front and center and a GR special edition plaque adds to the unique look and feel.
Brembo Brakes and SACHS Dampers come standard on the Hakone special edition providing a stellar driving experience with industry-leading features.
There will only be 860 units produced for the U.S. market for 2025. Customers can expect the Hakone special edition and all GR86 grades to arrive at American Toyota dealerships in the Fall of 2024 and it will probably be sold out even before it is driven on to the RO-RO ship in Japan.
By the way, if you were wondering, this car weighs in at just 2,811 pounds for the manual transmission equipped Base grade model and at 2,851 pounds for the automatic version, the GR86 is among the lightest sports cars on the market.
An aluminum hood, front fenders and roof panel help keep the weight down on the body. While details such as the use of structural adhesives in the frame and seats that are over six pounds lighter than the prior generation 86, help save precious ounces in the name of maximum control.
The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter FA-24 engine delivers 228 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and is tuned so that peak torque arrives at 3,700 RPM, resulting in a responsive and powerful driving experience.
Zero-to-60 acceleration comes in at 6.1 seconds for the 6-speed manual transmission, and 6.6 seconds for the available six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i). With either transmission, the GR86 comes equipped with a Torsen limited-slip rear differential for enhanced traction while cornering.
Sports car purists will love GR86’s 6-speed manual transmission. With the push of a button, drivers can engage Track mode or switch off Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). And on the automatic transmission GR86, additional clutch discs and a high-capacity torque converter allow for smooth delivery of the 2.4-liter engine’s higher power and torque.
Meanwhile, for the right hand drive markets, Toyota has the GR86 ‘Ridge Green’ Limited Edition version.
