Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.

TOYOTA Motor Philippines officially announces the full specs and availability of the new GR86. The second-generation GR86 was developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing, hence its GR nomenclature.

This hot rod is essentially the Toyota twin of the Subaru BRZ, and there will only be two variants to be sold. The main distinguishing factor between the two variants is the transmission; the base version comes with a 6-speed manual, while the top trim version comes with a 6-speed automatic. The good news is that, even if you get the automatic, a Torsen limited-slip differential now comes as standard.

As for features, there are a few differences between the two when it comes to the exterior. Both feature light-emitting diode (LED) headlights with LED daytime running lights, black mirror caps, and LED taillights. The main differentiating factor, meanwhile, is the wheels. The manual comes with 17-inch tire shods while the automatic gets 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.

Moving inside, the two variants come with an 8-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, and dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. The base manual, however, gets fabric seats and faux leather on the doors, while the automatic benefits from Ultrasuede and leather upholstery and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The main reason for the lower variants having fewer creature comforts is because the manual version is also the most heavily-modified variant of them all. Under the hood of the GR86 is the same new 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine found in the BRZ, which means it is now significantly more powerful than the previous model at 237 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Apart from the obvious design differences from the BRZ, the Toyota GR86 has a more playful tuning to its suspension. Therefore, expect the GR86 to be easier to drift compared to the grippier BRZ.

In terms of safety, all variants come with a reverse camera on top of the usual plethora of airbags, as well as traction and stability control. The automatic variant, however, gets a suite of advanced driver-assistance tech derived from the Subaru EyeSight suite of features taken from the BRZ. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.

Pricing for the 2023 Toyota GR86 starts at P2,328,000 for the manual while the automatic starts at P2,499,000.