Why the Toyota GT86 is worth a look

As sports cars get ever-more complex, so enthusiasts more vocally rail against this. Back to basics is best, simplicity is everything and what the world’s crying out for are straightforward models rather than overblown turbocharged machines packed with a multitude of driving modes and complexity.

So why isn’t the world buying a brand new car that embraces all this, the Toyota GT86? It has a non-turbo flat-four engine, driving the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential. The manual gearbox is gorgeous and handling has been set up not to go pummeling circuit lap records, but serving up top-notch thrills on twisting British B-roads.

It’s the answer to everyone’s grumbles about the complexity of modern cars. Yet sells in mere handfuls. Which we think is bizarre. But we don’t think the facelifted one Toyota’s recently rolled out will do much to change that. It doesn’t have any more engine power. Performance is identical. All the complaints from those who cry it doesn’t have enough muscle have… not been answered.

Thankfully so, too. It means no more complexity has been added to this gloriously purist machine. There are no endless driver models or other things to sidetrack you. Because it’s all about you and the car alone: the more you put in, the more you get out. The better you drive it, the better it handles. If you foul up, the car will cry foul. If you drive it brilliantly, the car will make you feel like a hero.

It’s not hard to do this. The GT86 is geared around the driver, from its super-low driving position to its perfect engineering layout that places all the mechanical weight similarly low for a perfect centre of gravity. Controls are placed perfectly as well, for the sort of togetherness you normally only get with racing cars.

Toyota’s applied a racing-like tuning of the suspension – there have been tiny adjustments to the softness of the damping, the setup of the anti-roll bars plus some specific stiffening of particular areas of the bodyshell to improve rigidity. All of which makes it drive even better than ever, handle even more gloriously. This thing is divine, one of the most rewarding driver’s cars on sale. It’s even more of a breath of fresh air.