About the 86 / BRZ
The Toyota 86 (now GR86) and Subaru BRZ carry on the AE86 name. They are 2+2 rear-wheel-drive sports coupes co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, with Subaru’s signature boxer engine mounted low in the chassis. They were built to let anyone enjoy the pleasure of driving, and both are produced at Subaru’s Gunma plant in Japan.
Where the names come from
“86” (pronounced Hachiroku in Japanese) comes from the Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno of the 1980s, chassis code AE86. “BRZ” is said to stand for Boxer engine, Rear-wheel drive and Zenith.
The original Hachiroku — AE86
AE86 is the chassis code of the Toyota Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno launched in 1983. While most of the Corolla range moved to front-wheel drive, the Levin and Trueno stayed rear-wheel drive and won fans as fun-to-drive cars thanks to their light bodies and high-revving engines.
Levin and Trueno
Sister cars told apart by their front ends: the Corolla Levin had fixed headlights, while the Sprinter Trueno had retractable pop-up headlights.
4A-GEU engine
A 1.6-litre inline-four DOHC 16-valve engine. Combined with the light body, it made the AE86 a long-time favourite in rally, racing and drifting.
Production ended in 1987, but the car is still loved in tuning and motorsport, and comics and other media have kept it popular to this day. The “Hachiroku” name and the idea of an affordable, fun rear-drive sports car were passed on to the 86 / BRZ of 2012.
1983 AE86 debuts — Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno
A light rear-drive sports car with the 1.6L DOHC “4A-GEU” engine. Built until 1987, it earned the nickname “Hachiroku”.
2012 First generation — 86 (ZN6) / BRZ (ZC6) / Scion FR-S
The 2.0L flat-four “FA20” engine, combined with Toyota’s direct- and port-injection “D-4S” technology, produced 200 PS. Its bore and stroke are both 86.0 mm — a square design whose coincidence with the name became a talking point.
2016 Facelift / the FR-S becomes the Toyota 86
A major update refreshed the styling and suspension, and manual cars gained power to 207 PS. The car became a go-to base for motorsport and customizing. In North America the Scion brand was discontinued, and the FR-S was renamed the Toyota 86 from the 2017 model year.
2021 Second generation — GR86 (ZN8) / BRZ (ZD8)
Displacement grew to 2.4L with the “FA24” engine, producing 235 PS. Toyota’s version gained the GAZOO Racing “GR” badge as the GR86. Along with a stiffer body, each brand tuned its own suspension to give the two cars clearer personalities.
The North American sibling — Scion FR-S
In North America the first-generation 86 (ZN6) was sold as the FR-S under Scion, Toyota’s youth-oriented brand. FR-S stands for “Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport”. It went on sale in 2012 as a 2013 model and is essentially the same car as the Japanese 86, with the same 2.0L flat-four “FA20” engine and rear-drive layout.
How to tell it apart
The most obvious sign is the Scion badge instead of the Toyota emblem. It is left-hand drive, with North American lighting and a speedometer in miles.
Becoming the Toyota 86
When the Scion brand was discontinued in 2016, the FR-S was sold in North America as the “Toyota 86” from the 2017 model year.
In Japan, some owners enjoy imported FR-S cars or give their 86 a “US-spec” look with Scion badges.
How the siblings differ
86 / GR86
A light, eager setup that turns in keenly — fun for drivers who enjoy a lively rear end.
BRZ
A setup focused on stability and grip, with a calm and refined ride.
* Specifications are typical of Japanese-market cars and vary by grade and model year.
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