2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition celebrates 1980s icon in the US

Toyota has released a new special-edition GR86 to celebrate its spiritual 1980s predecessor – the Sprinter Trueno coupe – made famous in the Initial D Japanese comic series.

Fans of the Japanese street-racing comic Initial D in the US can now show their love for the series with the new limited-edition 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition.

The black decals on the white GR86 are a throw-back to the ‘AE86’ Toyota Sprinter Trueno of the 1980s, arguably made famous by the Initial D “manga” (comic) in Japan, which was later turned into an animated series for television and a live-action film.

Buyers in the US can also opt for red paint with black decals, which add GT stripes down the side, a black bonnet stripe, black door handles, and a black rear lip spoiler.

Along with Trueno badging on the rear, the limited edition Toyota GR86 comes with a retro Trueno gear knob and a special build plate.

While Australia never received the Trueno version of the AE86 – notable for its pop-up headlights – its twin, the Corolla Levin, was sold locally in the 1980s, with unique fixed headlights but tail-lights from the Trueno.

The latest Trueno Edition is limited to just 860 vehicles in the US (as a nod to the AE86 and GR86), and also features 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, Ultrasuede sports seats with red leather, and the new GR86 Performance Package.

Introduced for the 2024 model-year, the package includes Brembo brakes and nitrogen-filled ZF Sachs shock absorbers, both of which have been tuned by Toyota Gazoo Racing.

No changes have been made to the 2.4-litre flat-four engine, which sends 174kW and 250Nm to the rear wheels through a choice of six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.

“We are always looking at ways to improve our local GR86 product offering, but have no plans to bring the GR86 Trueno Edition to our market,” a spokesperson for Toyota Australia told Drive.

While the 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition has been ruled out for Australia, unconfirmed reports continue to come out of Japan suggesting the next GR86 is already in development for 2025 with hybrid power, using a turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

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