Toyota has a new coupe that'll make Need for Speed fans happy
- This limited-edition Toyota GR86 draws inspiration from a fruit
- Despite being inspired by Japan, it’s only available in North America
- Production is limited to less than 1,000
Published on Apr 07, 2025 at 6:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Apr 08, 2025 at 10:44 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The new limited-edition Toyota GR86 looks like it came out of the latest Need for Speed video game.
It’s yellow with black wheels, and it looks like the sort of thing we’d have driven in Need for Speed 20 years ago.
Toyota calls it the ‘Yuzu Edition’.
Ironically, even though it’s inspired by Japan, it is actually not available over there.
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This new Toyota is inspired by Japan, but only available somewhere else
Yuzu is actually just a citrus fruit used in Japanese cuisine.
But, according to Toyota, the citrus-inspired coupe is also a tribute to the Scion FR-S, which is confusing because the Scion FR-S is basically the Toyota GR86 sold under a different name.
Still, the Yuzu Edition features a black-and-yellow theme throughout, with yellow body panels and black wheels.
The interior follows the same motif, with black upholstery and yellow stitching.
The engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer unit with 224bhp and 184lb-ft of torque.
The good news is that it’s also available with a manual gearbox.
Only 860 will be made, and – despite its Japanese name – this car will only be available in the United States.
Are Japanese sports cars ready for a comeback?
Japanese sports cars used to give you a lot for not a lot of cash but, unfortunately, things changed.
Automakers need to shift units, so they end up building what people want, and people want SUVs, not sports cars.
Several iconic cars succumbed to this trend, including the Supra.
But there’s a silver lining to this particular cloud.
Some Japanese automakers are apparently considering going back to their roots with more sports cars.
For example, Ivan Espinosa, the newly-appointed CEO of Nissan, said he wants to bring back both the Skyline and the Silvia.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
