GR86 Rally Legacy Concept Channels Toyota’s WRC Roots with Turbo AWD Power at SEMA Show

• Toyota debuts GR86 Rally Legacy Concept at SEMA 2024 in Las Vegas.

• Concept car inspired by Toyota’s iconic Celica GT-Four rally heritage.

• Turbocharged engine, AWD system, and rally-inspired design highlight Toyota’s motorsport commitment.

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Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen, Didier Auriol, Hannu Mikkola—we can imagine them thrashing their Celicas or Corollas flat out on special stages! At least, we saw this when we saw Toyota’s epic GR86 Rally Legacy Concept at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The brand’s deep-rooted motorsports heritage inspires the livery and the car’s presence. This dynamic concept, built on the GR86 platform and featuring a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive system, is another extraordinary concept teaser that potentially hints at future possibilities in motorsports.

The GR86 Rally Legacy Concept stems from a desire to celebrate Toyota’s motorsport history amid interest in the World Rally Championship’s (WRC) potential return to the U.S. Designed with inspiration from the ST185 and ST205 Celica GT-Four, this new concept incorporates the 3-cylinder, turbocharged engine and GR-FOUR AWD drivetrain from the GR Corolla (and rally-winning GR Yaris). Paul Doleshal, general manager of Motorsports and Assets at Toyota Motor North America, explained the concept aimed to evoke memories of iconic rally cars, saying, “That idea led to a formative conversation about how cool it would be to create a modern interpretation of such an iconic car.”

Adapting the GR86 to include the GR Corolla’s taller, transverse-mounted G16E-GTS engine and all-wheel-drive system involved extensive fabrication. Toyota’s engineers had to modify the GR86’s chassis, adding a custom subframe and control arms to accommodate the new drivetrain and ensure optimal suspension functionality. Changes also included custom coil-over dampers, hubs, and spindles borrowed from the GR Corolla, allowing the GR86 to channel power to the front wheels—a first for the rear-wheel-drive GR86.

Additional upgrades include a performance intercooler, oil cooler, and a race ECU for precise fuel management, spark timing, and boost control. Although the concept retains the GR Corolla’s output of 300 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft of torque, Toyota noted the potential for tuning modifications.

Stylistically, the GR86 Rally Legacy Concept combines a Halo White exterior with red and green heritage accents and Gazoo Racing and Toyota logos. Large rally mudflaps, a custom exhaust, and a Celica GT-Four-inspired rear spoiler complete the look. Inside, the concept has a full white-painted roll cage, racing seats, and red 6-point harnesses, which align with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s traditional colour scheme.

Reflecting on Toyota’s rally heritage, Mike Tripp, Toyota Marketing group vice president, remarked that the GR86 Rally Legacy Concept was built for Toyota’s rally enthusiasts and fans of its GR models. “It’s a fantasy car come to life, our way of celebrating our past achievements and the possibility of the World Rally Championship returning to the United States,” said Tripp.