The legendary Toyota Corolla Trueno AE86 was made famous by the Initial D manga/anime series in which 17-year old Takumi Fujiwara used the panda-themed coupe to own the mountain roads of Japan.
Toyota feels that it’s just about time to pay tribute to this series by speccing its spiritual successor, the Toyota 86, in an identical trim. Meet the Toyota 86 Initial D Concept.
Visual updates include the panda-style monochrome livery seen on the Trueno as well as additional carbon-fibre door handle protectors and mirror covers, mud flaps, removal of the boot-lid spoiler and tinted taillamps. Other cues include the yellow-tinted foglamps (a hint to the Cibié spotlights fitted to improve Takumi’s night-vision) and the silver-painted engine cover, a nod to the high-revving 20-valve “Silver Top” 4A-GE engine installed during the series.
The Initial D 86 also makes use of various performance enhancements, in effect upgrades of the parts used in Takumi’s car in the series. These include custom-made RS Watanabe alloy wheels, a TRD suspension, Fujitsubo exhaust system, Cusco strut brace and a carbon-fibre bonnet.
The Initial D edition is just a concept and Toyota has failed to provide any information regarding the performance figures, but let’s hope, for the Initial D fans out there, that this package becomes a reality. It will be attending motoring events around Britain throughout the summer.
