Toyota puts a battery and hydrogen in its mythical AE86, manga star


Samir Rahmoun

January 16, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

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toyota AE86 electric vehicle © © Toyota

©Toyota

Toyota has just presented an electric version and a hydrogen version of the mythical AE86.

The little racing car, driven by the hero of the racing manga Initial D, was presented at the Tokyo Auto Salon show, held from January 13 to 15. A concept car that should appeal to all those nostalgic for good old angular cars.

One original model, two concept cars

It’s not just the CES in Las Vegas and its multicolored BMWs that will delight car lovers in January. The Tokyo Auto Salon show, which has just ended, also revealed some interesting gems, including two modern versions of the legendary Toyota AE86.

Known as the Sprinter Trueno or the Corolla Levin, it was popularized by the racing manga Initial D, where, driven by the young driving genius Fujiwara Takumi, we see the Toyota model multiply the exploits on the dangerous roads of the mountain. Akina.

The Japanese manufacturer surely wanted to appeal to this nostalgia by presenting two concept cars of the AE86. The first, called AE86 H2 Conceptruns on hydrogen, while the second, renamed AE86 BEV Concepthas an electric battery.

Style, without utility?

Unfortunately, this little revival comes at the expense of efficiency. The electric version AE86 BEV has, a rarity to note, a manual transmission. Toyota surely wanted to pay homage to the sporty driving of the characters of Initial D with the preservation of the gear knob. On the other hand, the power is sacrificed, since with 48 horsepower, the AE86 BEV does not even reach half of the potential of the original vehicle.

The AE86 H2, for its part, embeds a combustion engine fueled by hydrogen using parts belonging to its Mirai model. But, if the driver will be able to continue to enjoy ” noise and vibrations of the internal combustion engine the vehicle should not be as efficient as the Mirai, or as fast as the good old AE86. Will this be enough to attract lovers of the model? Toyota has in any case announced that it wants to help AE38 owners to convert their car. Notice to amateurs!

Source : The Verge



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