Toyota 86 British Green Limited: Another Japan-only Special Edition

Despite Toyota claiming that the 86 will stick around for a while, everything points to the car being on its last legs. Fortunately, this is usually the point where a manufacturer starts rolling out special editions to retake the public’s interest. Normally, these cars aren’t much to write home about, but every so often one crops up, grabs you by the eyeballs, and never lets go.

Over the next few months, Toyota plans to sell the 86 British Green Limited in Japan and we’re more than a little miffed it isn’t coming our way.

While we doubt sending this particular Toyota to North America would help the 86’s sales in the region, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have a more appetizing variant. Granted, this author has spot so soft for dark green paint and gold wheels that it could only be compared to a lover’s whisper. But Toyota is offering more than just a basic exterior upgrade.

Like the 86 TRD Special Edition, the 86 British Green Limited receives upgraded Brembo brakes and a sport suspension with Sachs dampers. While it doesn’t appear to receive the TRD’s performance exhaust system, Toyota did give it a raised spoiler, the aforementioned lightweight 17-inch wheels, and a new underbody cover.

Sadly, the 86’s powertrain continues to go untouched. While we continue to believe the model’s 2.0-liter flat-four engine — rated for 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque — provides sufficient driving enjoyment, many criticise the car for being underpowered.

Inside the limited edition 86, the automaker has seen fit to replace the standard seats with handsome, two-tone Alcantara jobs with matching stitching throughout. Even the special badging is color coordinated. However, a few things are missing. The green 86 forgoes the faux-chrome trim pieces for black plastic and is missing the U.S. model’s standard touch screen — though that’s due to the Japanese market not offering the central display as standard equipment.

Toyota doesn’t appear to have any intention of selling the model in the United States. A shame, as this is one of the more interesting variants of the 86. North America always seems to go ignored when it comes to limited-edition vehicles that do more than impose black cladding in an attempt to recapture the visual magic of the Buick GNX. We like a menacing car as much as the next person, but we need more.

Converted from yen, Toyota Japan wants just a hair under $30,000, which would probably make the vehicle a non-starter in the U.S. without some improvements made to the engine.

Meanwhile, Japanese buyers have until May 31st to make up their mind. After that, Toyota plans to put the 86 British Green Limited to bed.

[Images: Toyota]