BREAKING: Toyota Working on Four-Door Coupe Sedan of FT-86!

*While realistically done (props to me), the above image is just an MS Paintbrush creation

[Caution; a sense of humor required beyond this point] According to the great barrier mill, our friends at Toyota are working it out on a four-door coupe variant of the rear-wheel drive FT-86, which was shown in concept form at last year's Tokyo Motor Engine Salon Show, just outside Japan, south west north of India. The four-door sport saloon will most likely be called WTF-86.

Since we don't take everything we read for granted, we wrote to our man on the other side of the telephone, and he not only confirmed the 2+2 door version, but his mother-in-law also tipped us off about a crossover-convertible variant with a retractable sunroof that will be followed by an extended wheeliebase limousine with seven seats, two chairs, a twin-bed and a hydronuclear suspension sourced from Toyota's European collaborator, Citroen.

Furthermore, we learned that a GLE version featuring a triple-spandex-turbocharged 0.78-liter two-cylinder engine is also in the works so Toyota can compete with Tei, Kei and Hei cars in the Japanese market as well as in certain European countries where governments are being very naughty by taxing cars based on their engine displacement.

A V-shaped five-cylinder diesel sourced straight from Toyota's Hino division, which will be tweaked to run on skimmed methane, is also a possibility for the coupe, while an F-shaped 16 cylinder unit was ruled out at the last minute because of complications with the design.

Re-confirming previously denied rumors, highly placed sources said Toyota will indeed rework the styling of the FT-86 from scratch bringing its design language closer to the upscale European market Aygo, while adding a third, suicide-style door, on the passengers' side for increased visibility and multifuncionality.

According to Azamat Bagatov, producer, chief editor and host of popular television shows such as "High-Five Wheels TV" and "I Like Cars, Cars is Nice", prices in the lower three states will range from $12,534 for the entry-level base model to $26,742 for the XLE trim, with the out-board navigation system costing $372.02.

Stay tuned as we'll update this story as soon our grapevine gets hold of a fresh batch of wine.

By John Halas

Sources: Carguide and FT-86

Rumor of the Day: Toyota Planning Baby FT-86 RWD Coupe

We'll take this one with a grain of salt, but let's take it nonetheless. The folks over at Road & Track are claiming that Toyota is working on a new rear-wheel drive sports coupe that will be less pricey but smaller in size and with a much less powerful engine compared to the production version of the forthcoming FT-86 RWD coupe.

Question 1: Why? According to the report, the mounting development costs of the FT-86 are pushing the sports car's market price over instead of under $20,000 that Toyota originally aimed at, so the Japanese automaker decided to create a second small RWD coupe priced about $5,000 less.

Question 2: The magazine's source? Unknown, with the author of the article stating the vaguer-than-vague "we hear Toyota is also working on milder sports car" - whatever that means...

The article goes on to say that the small coupe will measure about 150-in. or 3,810 mm in length (FT-86 study: 163.7-in. or 4,160mm) and it will feature a front-engine/rear drive layout with power coming from the company's 3SZ-VE engine, a 1.5-liter four-pot that delivers 109HP.

It is also claimed that this model will make its debut sometime in 2012, which sounds a bit too optimistic, but hey, it's just a rumor...

Any thoughts?

Source: R&T (Via: FT86)

Toyota FT-86 Gallery

Japanese Mag Speculates on Hardcore Toyota FT-86 "F" Variant

Another edition of Best Car, another rendered speculation. In its latest edition, the Japanese magazine features a story on a more hardcore version of Toyota's forthcoming rear-wheel drive sports coupe which it names the "FT-86F".

Being that the article was written in Japanese, details are limited, but we assume that the magazine suggests the "F" version would fit between the standard FT-86 and the track-ready "G" model that was previewed in concept form at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon in January.

The speculative renderings show a more aggressive outfit for the FT-86 "F" with a new hood, massive air-intakes on either side of the new front bumper, side air vents, a large rear wing and center-mounted exhaust tail pipes.

Via: Best Car

Tokyo 2010: Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept with 2.0-liter Turbo Engine [Updated Photo Gallery]

[Updated with high-res photos from the motor show] The first day of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 saw Toyota announcing its plans to roll out a new series of modified cars under the "G Sports" name for the Japanese market this summer. These special variants will be developed in cooperation with Toyota's tuning and racing partner, GAZOO, and will benefit from a series of performance upgrades.

And what a better way to grasp the attention of buyers and petrol heads alike for the new G Sports models than to reveal a specially modified version of the FT-86 concept that previews Toyota's upcoming rear-wheel drive compact coupe.

The FT-86 G-Sports Concept that made its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon boasts an array of upgrades the most important being the turbocharging of the Subaru-sourced, 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine.

Neither Toyota or Gazoo disclosed any further details on the mechanical improvements or performance figures.

As you can see from the photos, the FT-86 G Sports Concept boasts a wide body aero kit with blistered wheel arches, a carbon-fiber hood with air-vents, redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as jumbo-size rear wing.

The concept model's exterior mods are rounded off by a new set of 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Potenza RE050 tires size 245/40 R19 up front and 275/35 R19 at the rear.

The only interior upgrade that is mentioned by Gazoo is the addition of a pair of Recaro bucket seats.

Photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron