Toyota 86 convertible confirmed: report
A convertible version of the Toyota 86 will become a production reality, according to international reports.
Car and Driver reports long-standing rumours of a drop-top model based on the Toyota/Subaru platform has been confirmed and is expected to reach the public in late 2013 or early 2014.
An open-top Toyota 86 would keep the same award-winning underpinnings as the hardtop as well as the 147kW/205Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' power plant, but would no doubt come at a price premium.
The closest thing we've seen to what a lidless Toyota 86/Scion FR-S would look like is the show car (pictured) built by California-based Cartel Customs that was used to help launch the Toyota-sponsored IndyCar Long Beach Grand Prix in April. Toyota would likely keep the rear seats for its production model and avoid the concept's extreme chopped-down windscreen. The addition of an open-air 86 could also potentially lead to a Toyota 86 TRD convertible in the future.
Whether Subaru would follow suit with its sister Subaru BRZ remains unknown.
The sub-$38,990 Toyota 86 launches in Australia on June 4, 2012.
Click here to read CarAdvice's review of the Toyota 86.
Click here to read CarAdvice's review of the Subaru BRZ.