Toyota GT-86/Subaru BRZ Finally Enters Production

Auto enthusiasts got their first taste of the Toyota FT-86 in October, 2009, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Since then, it seems like either Toyota or later Subaru had a version of the car on display. Today, all of that teasing finally comes to an end. The first full production examples of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, as they are known in Japan, have rolled off the assembly line at Subaru's Gunma factory. Toyota and Subaru began their collaboration on this car began in April 2008, nearly four years ago. 

Toyota President Akio Toyoda was in attendance as the first cars were finished to commemorate the project. 

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the ceaseless efforts of all FHI people and staff who were involved in the development, production and preparations for both models. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 not have been successfully developed without collaboration between FHI and TMC. We started the alliance for mutual growth in 2005. Now I’m delighted to see this moment that our alliance surely bore fruit,” said Toyoda.

The President of Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga also attended the start of production. 

"The start of production today made a huge step for us, but it is not our goal. By constantly refining both models, TMC and FHI hope to nourish each model to be loved by customers all over the world for a long time to come,” said Yoshinaga. 

The Gunma factory had been used to build kei cars by Subaru, but it has been reworked recently to build the 86 and BRZ. It will also build the new Impreza for Japan starting next March. 

Enthusiasts in Europe and North America will have to wait a little longer to get their cars, but they should be on sale later this year. Subaru of America has not announced the price yet, but one of its PR people just told me, "pricing is due shortly, but not immediately." Toyota has revealed a price of £24,995 for the UK. 

The 86 produces 200hp, 151lb-ft of torque and Toyota of Europe claims that it uses "around 6.9l/100km" in the combined cycle, or 34.1 miles per US gallon.