They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. However, that doesn't apply to the many hot rides gracing the SEMA Show each year. Speaking of that, one extremely cool project is currently in the making, and it wears Toyota's and Evasive Motorsports' signature all over it.
But what exactly is the tuner doing with what used to be a fine 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Special Edition? Well, it's adding the running gear of the GR Corolla hot hatch, complete with the all-wheel drive system for improved traction. Thus, you can consider the upcoming model as the iconic Celica GT-Four's unofficial successor for the modern era.
Like the regular 2024 GR86, the Trueno does 0-60 mph (0-97 kph) in 6.1 seconds and tops out at 140 mph (225 kph). It uses the same 184 hp (187 ps/137 kW) and 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) of torque 2.4L four-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels through a manual 'box and features a cleverer multi-link rear suspension with Sachs dampers (standard ones make do without the Sachs).
Its performance and the straight-line specs of its predecessor are still criticized, as one really needs to work the engine to enjoy the best of it. However, that's about to change on this one-off build, as it already dropped the 2.4L unit and will soon get the same engine as the GR Corolla. But what does that mean? Well, more power, for starters, joined by an all-wheel drive system.
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Larry Chen
The compact hot hatch, which guns for the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R, uses a smaller 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine. However, the turbocharging and other clever tech enable it to produce 300 horsepower (304 ps/224 kW) and 273 pound-foot (370 Nm) of torque. The peak thrust is available between 3,000 and 5,500 rpm, and the output at 6,500 rpm.
Toyota quotes 4.99 seconds required to sprint to 60 mph and a 143 mph (230 kph) limited top speed. The GR Corolla's engine can be revved up to 7,200 rpm, and this model uses a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching. More importantly, it boasts an all-wheel drive system, and this gizmo will also make its way in the bespoke GR86 that's being prepped for SEMA.
This unique project recently became the focus of a video that you can watch below. The footage is almost 40 minutes long and reveals some interesting aspects about the upcoming ride and the standard GR86 and GR Corolla that had to be partially disassembled to create it. So, if you were looking for an excuse to take a long break, then this is it. Before hitting the play button, let us know what you think of this project and if Toyota should do a similar machine.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News