Toyota Motor seeks to revamp image with FT86 sports coupe

TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. introduced its new 86 coupe on Sunday, betting that the 200-horsepower sports car will widen the Japanese automaker's appeal beyond its best- selling Camry sedan and Prius hybrid. The rear-wheel-drive 86 will be available in the northern hemisphere spring next year, according to the Toyota City, Japan-based company. Pricing details will be released closer to the sale date.

Toyota, poised to lose the title of world's largest automaker to General Motors Co., is renewing a push for sports cars under Akio Toyoda, who became president in June 2009. The carmaker is hoping the new model will burnish its image that's been battered by recalls and production interrupted by the nation's record earthquake and flooding in Thailand.

“Toyota's cars are traditionally seen as not fun,” said Takayuki Kinoshita, a racing enthusiast and author of Akio Toyoda's Character: The Rebirth of Toyota. “It's good that Toyota could introduce this car under Akio's direction. It may change Toyota's image among drivers.”

The model features Toyota's smallest steering wheel at 365 millimeters (14.4 inches) in diameter, a front design that evokes a “predator about to pounce” and fuel efficiency to match that of a 2-liter-engine sedan, according to the company.