An old drifting hero quit smoking – Toyota AE86 powered

Please come. or dragon kudasai, the big bosses of Toyota were allowed to read along. And then of course we mean these two delicious restomods based on the Toyota AE86. One drifting legend with hydrogen, the other fully electric with manual transmission.

Based on the rear-wheel drive Corolla from the 1980s, Toyota has created two great versions. To smoke the rear tires a little less polluting, so to speak.

Toyota AE86 worshiped in drift scene

Because that’s what this Corolla is best known for. Also called the Toyota AE86, it is highly regarded in the drift scene.

This Toyota was available in several body styles. As a two-door coupe and three-door hatchback with pop-up headlights and fixed light units. Toyota has made restomods based on the latter two.

Hydrogen code for the AE86 Trueno

The AE86 H2 is Toyota’s Hydrogeno to the Trueno version and has the 1.6-liter 16-valve four-cylinder from the original under the hood. With manual five-speed gearbox, rear-wheel drive and lock in the rear axle.

The current performance is not known, but originally it produced 124 hp and easily ran over 7000 rpm. Toyota says it has fitted the 4A-GE engine with different fuel lines, modified injectors and modified spark plugs to allow the iconic block to properly run on hydrogen.

But otherwise Toyota has not tackled the four-cylinder. It sounds, feels and performs like real Petrolheads, ehhh sorry, the eco-conscious enthusiast wants it. At the rear are two storage tanks for hydrogen, which come from the Toyota Mirai.

Toyota AE86 with electric motor from the tundra

In addition, the AE86 H2 has been left completely in its original condition. This also means that smoke and fine dust come out of the tires unchanged, but significantly fewer emissions exit through the tailpipe.

There is another way and Toyota proves that with the AE86 BEV. This all-electric study model is based on the Levin carriage with regular headlights.

Under the hood is the electric motor of the huge Toyota Tundra hybrid pickup and the energy is stored in the batteries of the plug-in hybrid Prius. They are placed at the rear for good weight distribution. Toyota does not specify a power output for this AE86, but the electric motor in the Tundra HEV delivers 48 hp and 250 Nm.

‘Manual five-speed’ that doesn’t really shift

Also notable about this Toyota concept is the “manual” five-speed gearbox and the three pedals. It’s not a true clutch gearbox, but it does simulate the sensations of a manual gearbox. Everything to keep the driving experience as close as possible to the original.

Roll cage, bucket seats and a racing chassis

It was further built with a roll cage, bucket seats, a racing chassis with bulge plates and the interior was stripped. Production schedules are unknown, but the spirit of the AE86 seems to live on in both versions in a more environmentally friendly way. Bring me, please. Or more clearly for the people who decide: dragon kudasai.