Toyota Explored GT86 Sedan and Shooting Brake Variants
Toyota engineers developed sedan and shooting brake prototypes of the GT86, but company executives halted the projects to keep focus on the coupe.
Toyota engineers secretly developed both sedan and shooting brake variants of the GT86 sports car in the early 2010s, but the projects were stopped by company executives who insisted the team concentrate on the coupe. The existence of these alternative body styles was confirmed by GT86 product chief Tetsuya Tada, who described the work as a "personal dream" to expand the GT86 into a family of models.
Tada revealed that the engineering team began developing these variants in secret, hoping to broaden the GT86's appeal. The sedan was intended to offer a more practical, family-friendly take on the rear-drive sports platform, while the shooting brake would have added estate-like versatility without sacrificing the car's playful dynamics. According to Tada, the executive team eventually discovered the side projects and instructed engineers to return their efforts to the coupe, shelving both the sedan and shooting brake for the time being.
GT86 Shooting Brake Concept: From Sketch to Prototype
The shooting brake concept gained a second life when Toyota Australia’s design team in Melbourne created a quarter-scale clay model in late 2014. Chief designer Tetsuya Tada was impressed enough to commission a fully operational prototype, which was hand-built in Japan. The resulting GT86 Shooting Brake Concept was shown publicly in May 2016 at a special event in Sydney and later at the Toyota 86 Festival in Canberra.
Toyota described the Shooting Brake Concept as a stylish, practical option for buyers wanting something different from the usual sports coupe. The design allowed for additional luggage space and the ability to carry bikes, surfboards or even dogs, reflecting Tada’s personal wish for a GT86 that could accommodate his own five dogs. Despite positive feedback and the car’s operational status, Toyota made clear there were no production plans for the Shooting Brake Concept.
No Production Plans for Sedan or Shooting Brake
While the prototypes demonstrated the platform’s flexibility, Toyota executives maintained a clear focus on the GT86 as a dedicated coupe. Tada expressed hope that the GT86 could eventually become a broader model family, similar to the Mini range, but no further development of the sedan or shooting brake was authorised. The Shooting Brake Concept remains a one-off, with several prototype mules evaluated internally but never offered to the public.
- Toyota engineers worked on GT86 sedan and shooting brake prototypes in secret.
- Executives cancelled both projects to prioritise the coupe.
- A single GT86 Shooting Brake Concept was built and tested, but never produced.
The GT86 Shooting Brake joins a small group of modern shooting brakes that never made it to production, despite interest from enthusiasts. The concept’s reception showed there is appetite for more versatile sports cars, but for now, Toyota’s rear-drive coupe remains a two-door affair.
