TOYOTA

GR86 Hakone Special Edition

A blast from the past is returning for the 2025 model year. In honor of the Hakone Turnpike in Japan, not far from Tokyo, Toyota is reintroducing the Hakone Special Edition for the GR86. Born to take to the streets in style, the special edition is sure to turn heads with its bold Ridge Green exterior color.

Built from the GR86 Premium version, the Hakone special edition will have the option of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission and will be powered by a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder boxer engine, generating 228 hp of power and 250 Nm of torque. The special edition will feature 18-inch wheels with a satin bronze finish, a colored ducktail spoiler, black accents and a Hakone emblem.

Inside, customers will find Ultrasuede sports seats finished and stitched in beige leather. A special edition Hakone shift knob with bronze accents sits front and center and a special edition GR license plate adds to the unique appearance.

Brembo brakes and Sachs shocks are standard on the Hakone special edition, providing a stellar driving experience with industry-leading features.

Only 860 units will be produced for the US market in 2025. Customers can expect the Hakone Special Edition and all versions of the GR86 to arrive at Toyota dealerships in the last quarter of 2024. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the GR86 Hakone Special Edition is as follows: as for the full 2025 GR86 lineup will be announced later this year.

The GR engineering team is always looking to extract learnings from the track and include them in GR cars. For 2025, GR86 shocks have been tuned to help improve handling response and ground feel. Revised throttle mapping to increase the ease of 'blipping', an action commonly used when performing downshifts in a motorsport environment. Additionally, engine torque control has been adopted to provide more direct throttle response and linearity, which in turn improves ease of control at all speeds. The Electric Power Steering has also been tuned to provide a more responsive handling feel and an improved sense of direct contact with the road.

The Toyota GR86 Hakone Special Edition comes standard with Sachs shock absorbers and Brembo brakes. A performance package is also available as an option on other versions of the 2025 GR86 that also include these features. Sachs shock absorbers are filled with nitrogen and high-pressure oil and are designed to absorb vibrations over a wide range of speeds, maximize ground contact and support a firm, stable ride while balancing road feedback and driving comfort. Red-painted 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo brake calipers clamp onto 12.8 x 1.3 smooth surface front discs, with 12.4 x 0.79 on the rear discs. The brake pad area is 11.6 inches in the front and 4.9 inches in the rear.

The shock absorbers and brakes complement the GR86's chassis, which is known for its firm, responsive feel. Crafted from a combination of high-strength steel, hot-stamped steel and aluminum, each frame material is strategically placed to provide drivers with a balance of roll and pitch that maximizes control. At the front, it uses diagonal braces and high-strength fasteners to join the front suspension and frame. At the rear, a high-strength frame and fasteners connect the frame and suspension brackets. For additional reinforcement, structural adhesive was added to the entire underbody. Altogether, creating a cohesive and connected structure.

Light and fun...All GR86 models bring modern engineering, technology and convenience - while maintaining their lightweight sports car roots.

Weighing just 1,275 kilograms for the base model equipped with manual transmission and 1,293 kilograms for the automatic version, the GR86 is among the lightest sports cars on the market. The aluminum hood, front fenders and roof panel help keep weight low on the body. Although details like the use of stickers on the frame and seats, which are more than six kilos lighter than the previous generation GR86, help save precious grams in the name of maximum control.

The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter FA-24 engine delivers 228 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque and is tuned so that maximum torque arrives at 3,700 rpm, resulting in a responsive and powerful driving experience. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph comes in 6.1 seconds for the 6-speed manual transmission and 6.6 seconds for the available 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i). With either transmission, the GR86 comes equipped with a Torsen limited-slip rear differential for increased cornering traction.

                                        The boxer engine naturally aspirated 2.4L(image above)

Sports car purists will love the GR86's 6-speed manual transmission. With the push of a button, drivers can activate Track mode or turn off Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). And in the GR86's automatic transmission, additional clutch discs and a high-capacity torque converter enable the smooth delivery of increased power and torque to the 2.4-liter engine.

Inside the GR86, drivers will experience a low-slung, driver-focused cabin with a digital instrument cluster, push-button start, HVAC system with LED displays and piano key switches, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls for the audio system. For the 6-speed automatic transmission, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters offer enthusiasts a dynamic driving experience. The manual downshift mode also increased a maximum of 1,600 rpm to allow for a higher rpm downshift. Drivers can choose between Normal, Sport or Snow modes. When in Sport mode, the transmission detects brake and accelerator operation and vehicle behavior to automatically select the optimal gear, giving drivers the control they desire.

An 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with six-speaker audio system is standard on the base version, and an eight-speaker system is standard on the Hakone special edition and Premium version. For seats, the Premium version comes with Ultrasuede and leather trim with black stitching, six-way adjustable front seats with two-level heating. The base version has six-way adjustable black fabric with G relief and side reinforcements in sports fabric. The rear seats feature an Ultrasuede finish in the Premium version and sports fabric in the base version.

Safety & Connected Services...All Toyota GR86 models come standard with an Active Safety Suite. On automatic transmission models, this suite includes pre-collision braking system, pre-collision acceleration management, adaptive cruise control, front vehicle departure alert, lane departure warning with sway warning and automatic high beams. Manual transmission models include pre-collision braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure and sway warning, vehicle departure warning in front and rear sonar warning. An anti-theft system with engine immobilizer and alarm is also standard.

The Toyota Star Safety System is also standard on all models, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). It also includes Smart Stop Technology (SST), Track Mode and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC). Additional safety features include LATCH (Lower Anchorage and Tethers for Children) with lower anchors on the outboard rear seats and anchors on all rear seats and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Seven airbags are standard on all models, including an airbag for the driver's knees.

Experience convenience and peace of mind with GR86's connected services, including a one-year trial subscription to Safety Connect with emergency assistance button and enhanced roadside assistance; a one-year trial of Service Connect that includes receiving personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports; and a one-year trial of Remote Connect so you can remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch, allowing you to lock/unlock doors, start and stop the vehicle, locate your last parked location, check status of the vehicle and monitor guest drivers.

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