Toyota is celebrating the pure fun of sports car driving with a limited-edition GR86 for 2023.

The second-generation GR86, introduced for 2022, made headlines with a significant jump in power over the first-gen model, along with a more stirring design and tighter handling, all while keeping weight low and the price affordable.

GR matte-black 18-inch wheels with black center caps and black lug nuts with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, a black GR C-pillar graphic and Ultrasuede/leather trimmed interior with GR special edition badge accent the striking color.

The 2023 GR86 Special Edition will be limited to just 860 units. It makes this limited-run appearance just as Toyota expands its GR sports car line, which also includes the acclaimed GR Supra, the first-ever 300-horsepower and rally-bred All-Wheel-Drive GR Corolla hot hatch – all of which will offer a manual transmission.

“GR” stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsports and performance division. Built on the GR86 Premium grade, the 2023 GR86 Special Edition will leave an unforgettable visual impression with its Solar Shift orange paint color, which is exclusive to this model.

A GR cat-back performance exhaust system with stainless steel pipes, black chrome tips and debossed GR logo ensures that the GR86 Special Edition will leave a deep, growling auditory signature in its wake.

The special edition adds a third choice to GR86’s two grade lineup. The GR86 Premium grade rides on standard 18-inch, 10-spoke black aluminum alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.

To all the standard model’s equipment, the Premium adds a duckbill rear spoiler that sweeps up from the rear deck. Inside, black and silver accented six-way adjustable front seats feature two-level heating and perforated UltraSuede upholstery with leather side bolsters.

Black and silver accents continue to the leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter boot and parking brake handle. The GR86 base grade sits on 17-inch, 10-spoke machined-finish aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Primacy HP tires. Interior features include six-way adjustable black GR-embossed fabric with sport fabric side bolsters, along with textured vinyl and sport fabric trim on the dash and doors.

Dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with six-speakers and an anti-theft system with engine immobilizer and alarm are also standard. The Premium grade is upgraded to an 8-speaker audio system with an amplifier and features aluminum sport pedals and footrest.

For those who want even more bass, a dealer or factory-installed 10-inch, 200W subwoofer is available for either grade. While the Solar Shift paint is restricted to the 2023 GR86 Special Edition, the other models offer a palette of seven dynamic colors: Track bRED, Halo White, Steel Silver, Pavement Grey, Raven Black, Neptune and Trueno Blue.

The second-gen GR86 built on the considerable cred of the first-gen, amping up affordable sports car fun with a new 2.4-liter engine that yields nearly 11% more horsepower and 18 more torque than the first-gen model’s 2.0-liter. The 2.4-liter engine delivers 228 hp (up from 205 in the 2.0-liter) and 184 lb.-ft. of torque (up from 156 over prior generation).

Critically, the new engine is tuned so peak torque arrives far earlier in the powerband, at 3,700 RPM, versus 6,600 RPM before. The result is a more responsive and powerful driving experience in all situations.

Toyota’s D-4S dual injection, which combines direct fuel injection and port-injection technologies, provides a cooling effect in the cylinders to allow a very high 12.5:1 compression ratio for maximum power.

The port fuel injectors come into play during light- and medium-load conditions to help maximize combustion efficiency. The exhaust system’s larger center pipe capacity produces a satisfying growl, with augmented engine sound in the cabin from an Active Sound Control system.

This more powerful engine improves zero-to-60 acceleration from 7.0 to 6.1 seconds for the 6-speed manual transmission, and from 8.0 to 6.6 seconds for the available 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i).

Fuel economy comes in at an EPA-estimated 20 city/27 highway/22 combined MPG for the manual transmission and 21 city/31 highway/25 combined MPG for the automatic.

For the second-gen GR86, the GR engineering team reworked the chassis and body to complement the increased engine performance. Strategic chassis reinforcements and use of structural adhesives resulted in a 50% increase in torsional rigidity over the prior-gen 86.

A new full-ring rear frame ties the upper and lower chassis together, and a combination of high-strength steel, hot-stamped steel and aluminum is strategically used throughout the frame.

More extensive use of aluminum in the body kept weight to just a few pounds over the prior-gen model, even with the new car’s added power, safety and comfort features.

The GR86 uses an aluminum hood, front fenders and roof panel, versus just the hood for the prior-gen model. The increased use of aluminum in the body lowered the already super-low center of gravity by an additional 1.6mm.

That seemingly small difference pays dividends in steering response and agility. The GR86’s low weight, ultra-low center of gravity and 53% front:47% rear balance combines to make for a pure driver’s car. The 2023 GR86 weighs in at just 2,811 pounds with the manual transmission, and 2,851 pounds with the automatic.