There’s a handful of elite vehicles that are as awesome as they are memorable. Whether they are badass movie cars, super cars or drift vehicles, everyone’s got a favorite. The Batmobile, or the time traveling Delorean are classic examples. For fans of anime and Japanese cars, Toyota just paid homage to the classic AE86 Sprinter Trueno with this incredible Initial D GT86 concept.
With a matching panda color scheme and incredibly animated cartoon panels, the Initial D GT86 concept looks great. The color scheme looks at home on the recently renamed FR-S, and the cartoon panels harken back to black and white anime comics of yesteryear. After all, nostalgia for these vehicles is that much sweeter when it’s recreated in your mind isn’t it?
There’s always that one race or chase that makes the cars really stand out in our mind. To drive home this point, some of the panels in which the Initial D GT86 are featured are direct panels taken from the original anime.
Hiring UK manga artist Sonia Leong, Toyota’s extra attention to detail is what really makes the Initial D GT86 concept work. In addition to the paint job, the GT86 sports a Fujitsubo catback exhaust system and some classic Watanabe F8 wheels.
It’s the right way to do homage, and Toyota knocked it out of the park with the Initial D GT86 concept. There’s a ton of detail and the care for the work is evident. In fact some of the panels are so details, some really small details and nods to the original are harder to see.
It’s a positive sign for the GT86, formerly known as the artist FR-S. Sales numbers have tapered off, cooling some of the initial excitement over the sport compact, but Toyota seems committed. As Toyota continues to close up shop on their recently closed sub brand, the GT86 will have a lot to say about their performance stable.
Toyota will also be selling some of the parts as an available upgrade from the factory. This Initial D GT86 concept will also be making it’s rounds in the show circuit, set to appear across the pond in the UK this summer.
Amid the confirmation of the Supra’s return, what do you think of the new Initial D GT86 concept? Leave us a comment below and let us know!