Motoring
The team that built Top Gear's new Toyota GT86 – aka The Reasonably Fast Car – reveal what went into making it Top Gear Test Track-worthy.
Top Gear have used a variety of machinery over the years to test the driving skills of celebrities: there was the Suzuki Liana, the Chevrolet Lacetti, the Kia C apostrophe D, a Vauxhall Astra and even Series 23's Mini Countryman rallycross racer.
Now, though, the show has a new ride, the Toyota GT86 (aka The Reasonably Fast Car) – and this one might be the most challenging of the lot. Rear-wheel-drive – all the others were front- or four-wheel-drive – riding on skinny Toyota Prius tyres and with around 200bhp on tap, the celebs are going to have to have their wits about them to keep the car within the boundaries of the Top Gear Test Track – or Dunsfold Park itself!
The car (or cars – we'll come to that) were built for Top Gear by Rogue Motorpsort, with company boss Patrick Mortell recently telling Toyota's official blog about the process of making the GT86s TG-ready. Here are three things we discovered from the interview.
1. There are actually three Reasonably Fast Cars
Rogue Motorsport prepared two manuals and an automatic for Top Gear, all finished in fetching Pure Red.
2. The cars are standard. Ish…
Patrick Mortell: "Our brief was to keep the cars as close to road-going as possible but with additional safety equipment tailored toward a track environment. We’ve installed a roll-cage, fixed back race seats and motorsport harnesses, and removed or disabled the airbag system."
3. Each car took a week to build
Patrick Mortell: "The roll-cage is tightly tied to the chassis, so every part of the cabin – carpets, dashboard, headlining, steering column – had to be removed. Areas where the roll-cage is welded to the chassis had to be cleaned of paint and seam sealer. The main hoop also sits above the fuel tank, so this had to be removed before welding, which in turn required the propshaft and exhaust system to be disconnected.
It’s a more involved process than it looks
"After this, the roll-cage was trial-fitted before being installed for the final time. The dashboard and interior trim were then re-installed, though some areas required modification to provide clearance for the roll-cage. It’s a more involved process than it looks and requires a methodical approach and attention to detail."
Watch Top Gear Magazine's Deputy Editor Jack Rix taking The Reasonably Fast Car around the Top Gear Test Track in the video below…
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