I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of the Toyota GT 86.->ke4085 I used to be, but my joy soured over time due to what I felt was a lack of initiative from Toyota’s->ke88 to make the GT 86 a more performance-oriented sports car.->ke506 The closest Toyota came was with the TRD-enhanced GT 86 Griffon Concept that was unveiled at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. Well, it may have taken some time, but finally - oh, finally! - Toyota now has a production GT 86 that can live up to its sports car name.

The model is called the GT 86 14R60 and it’s everything the GT 86 was supposed to be - and then some. It still doesn’t have any performance upgrades, but I’ve all but given up hope on seeing anything on that front. Instead, Toyota decided to build around the limitations of the GT 86’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and build a car that was light enough to the point that its performance capabilities wouldn’t be defined by its 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque output.

Toyota injected plenty of lightweight materials into the car to not only cut down it weight, but also improve its aerodynamic performance. There are, after all, more than a handful of ways to make a car faster without any performance mods on the engine.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that the car will only be available in Japan at a price of 6.3 million yen, which is close to $60,000 based on current exchange rates. That’s more than double the price of a standard GT 86. Ouch.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Toyota 86 14R60.

Toyota GT 86 14R60 in detail

The Toyota GT 86 14R60 received a heavy dose of aerodynamic upgrades, beginning with a new carbon fiber body kit that includes modified bumpers, revised side skirts and extended fender flares. The kit also has a lightweight roof panel, a large carbon fiber rear wing, and a new rear diffuser.

The kit is not as audacious as the Griffon Concept, but that’s the price of being a production version. You leave the flamboyance behind in favor of improved function and purpose.

The wheel setup features a set of 18-inch forged magnesium alloys, and the center caps feature a griffin; a nice homage to the Griffon Concept. Likewise, the orange TRD brakes also offer a nice contrast to the magnesium shade of the wheels.

Moving inside, Toyota continued the carbon fiber treatment with accents throughout the cabin. The model also received a sports steering wheel with Alcantara lining. Lightweight bucket seats are perfect for the car’s improved performance credentials while the contrast orange stitching infuses some colorful energy into what otherwise would’ve been a dreary cabin.

Finally, TRD-branded sill plates were also added, along with some special floor mats.

Under the hood you will still find the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that produces 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. But it wouldn’t be fair to say that the GT 86 14R60 didn’t come with any performance modifications. This car received an optimised air intake, new high-flow air filters, an auxiliary oil cooler, and a new center-mounted dual exhaust system. There is no quoted increase in total power, but these add-ons certainly do their part in making the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels faster and more efficient.