Modern legends
Toyota has presented two very special cars. It has converted two copies of the Toyota Corolla AE86. One gets a ‘regular’ electric powertrain, the other likes hydrogen!
Toyotas such as the MR2, Celica and Supra often appeal to the imagination of enthusiasts, but if one sporty Toyota has acquired legendary status, it is the Corolla AE86. The AE86 enjoys a considerable status, especially in its home country of Japan. The AE86 is the designation for the coupé version of the Corolla that was delivered between 1983 and 1987. Where the hatchbacks and sedans were just front-wheel drive, the AE86s were rear-wheel drive. Toyota brings two very special technically modernized AE86s to the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Fully electric and with a combustion engine on hydrogen
Toyota used to supply both a two-door and a three-door version of the AE86. In addition, there were two versions of both body styles, each with a different front. The Levin had conventional rectangular headlights while the Trueno received pop-up headlights. The AE86 Levin that Toyota is bringing to Tokyo has been converted to EV. Toyota does not share extensive technical specifications, although we do see that the back seat has had to make way for the battery pack and other hardware of the electric powertrain. The battery pack comes from the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the electric motor from the hybrid version of Toyota’s large pick-up: the Tundra. Striking: it has a manual gearbox!
Toyota Tokyo Auto Salon AE86 Trueno H2 Concept
The second converted AE86 is the Trueno variant. So with binoculars. This one simply has a combustion engine, but one that runs on hydrogen! In the back are the two hydrogen tanks from the Mirai. The injectors, fuel hoses and spark plugs, among other things, have been adjusted, but the adjustments are otherwise quite minimal.
Toyota has also brought additional potent GR Yaris concept cars to Tokyo: the Sébastien Ogier Edition Concept and the Kalle Rovanperä Edition Concept. These are both variants with more torque (390 Nm) than the regular GR Yaris and each with special decals. Toyota is also introducing GR perks for the GR86 and a GR Yaris overloaded with extra GR parts. It also lifts the Yrais Rally2 Concept to the podium in Tokyo.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl