Australia is Toyota 86’s third largest market in the world

According to Toyota Australia, Aussies snap up almost one out of every 10 Toyota 86 coupé (Cup Edition shown above) sold worldwide. With 10,363 customers since local sales began in June 2012, Australia is the biggest market for the 86 outside Japan (39,000 sales) and the United States (35,000).

In a remarkable double, the 10,000th Toyota 86 has just been sold in Australia at virtually the same time as the compact and dynamic sports car has passed 100,000 sales globally.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the 86 was Australia’s best-selling sports car due to its style, performance, balance, handling and affordability.

“The Toyota 86 has become a halo car that demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to designing and engineering cars that really get your heart pumping,” Mr Cramb said.

“Importantly, the passion inside Toyota that led to the 86 is also resulting in more emotional styling and greater driving enjoyment in other Toyota vehicles such as the latest generations of RAV4, Corolla and Kluger.”

Mr Cramb said 80 per cent of Australian 86 sales were to private buyers, a significant proportion of whom were new to Toyota including first-time car buyers.

“The 86 has helped rejuvenate the company’s brand with an influx of young new customers who may never previously have considered a Toyota.

“Achieving 10,000 sales in less than two years demonstrates the love Australians have for sports cars and the strong appeal of the Toyota brand.”

Mr Cramb said that, in addition to the ability of the 86 to delight driving enthusiasts, the manual GT variant of the four-seat sports car remains at its launch price of $29,990.*

“Even so, it’s the more expensive GTS grade that has been in hottest demand, accounting for two-thirds of sales.

“Almost 40 per cent of customers have opted for the GTS manual while the GTS auto has found homes with more than one-quarter of all 86 buyers, and both are out-selling the lower-priced GT variants.”

The 86 sales performance – including 6,706 sold in 2013 – is a powerful reminder of Toyota’s sports-car heritage.

The last time a Toyota sports car sold more than 6,700 in a year was in 1980 with Celica. The highest Supra sales were 707 in 1984 and the best year for MR2 was 483 sales in 1990.

The 86 is powered by a front-mounted, free-revving, horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ petrol engine and rear-wheel drive.

The unique powertrain is combined with a compact design, light weight and a low centre of gravity to provide lively, accessible performance and highly engaging dynamic abilities with minimal electronic intrusion.