Exploring the concepts that car manufacturers opt not to pursue always evokes mixed emotions. On one side, they showcase glimpses of truly distinctive, sometimes brilliant ideas before facing regulations and safety limitations. On another side, they serve as a reminder of the possibilities we missed out on. One prime instance is this Toyota 86 shooting brake concept that remained at the mockup stage in the early years of the previous decade and remained undisclosed to the public until just last week.
The 86 and Subaru BRZ captivated enthusiasts worldwide with an immensely enjoyable, drift-friendly rear-wheel-drive sports car at a cost attainable for the general public. It stood as the sports car for the common man, but more than that, it epitomized enjoyment. Esteemed personalities in the automotive sphere, like Jeremy Clarkson, lauded its attributes. Given its acclaim, Toyota aimed to explore further possibilities for the 86 platform and sought the expertise of its Calty Design Research (CALTY) team in California. The outcome was a sleek, chic, and more pragmatic iteration: a four-door shooting brake known as the X86D.
Toyota
Equipped with rear doors and a hatchback physique, the 86 shooting brake could comfortably accommodate a quartet of passengers along with their belongings in the trunk. Beyond that, CALTY combined the car’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with all-wheel-drive, replacing the standard rear-wheel-drive layout. While this change, combined with the increased weight of this variant, might have lessened some of its exuberant, tail-sliding fun, it would have also enhanced the 86’s usability throughout the year, especially in regions with snowy conditions.
The design crafted by CALTY was striking, featuring rear-focused hatchback proportions, pronounced rear wheel arches, and sleek front and rear aesthetics. I particularly admire the cohesive appearance created by tinting the windows and darkening the A-pillars to make the windows and windshield seem like a single, continuous piece of glass.
Toyota
Why Toyota opted to halt the X86D shooting brake project rather than proceeding with production remains undisclosed. While the automaker has not provided explicit reasoning, one can speculate that, as with many enthusiast-oriented concepts, market research and financial considerations led to the decision that there wasn’t a viable market for such a vehicle, ultimately deeming it unworthy of development. It’s truly disappointing because, with its distinctive appearance, all-wheel-drive setup, hatchback design, and hopefully manual transmission, the X86D could have stood out as one of the most unique, exhilarating cars available for purchase. Like an affordable Ferrari FF with a manual transmission.
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