Forget the Ferrari F80 and sweep the McLaren W1 to one side. Toyota has just teased what might be the most exciting car of the year for everyone at RUSH — the GR 86 Rally Legacy Concept, a clear homage to the 1990s Celica GT-4 WRC with its evocative Castrol livery.

Built for SEMA 2024, this concept car has more to it than meets the eye. We’ll dig into the details shortly, but let’s get one thing out of the way first: Toyota has fitted this GR 86 with the 300bhp version of its turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the same unit found in the GR Corolla and, in a slightly lower tune, the GR Yaris. Fans of the Toyota/Subaru joint effort on the GR 86 and BRZ have long speculated how a turbocharged variant would perform, and this concept will only add more fuel to the fire — could there be a production version on the cards?

Power-wise, a custom intercooler and standalone ECU mean the concept is good for the same 300bhp and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque as the GR Corolla Morizo. Toyota has not quoted any figures, but we can assume performance will be on a par with the Corolla’s.

However, the concept doesn’t stop at the new motor. In alignment with the ST185 and ST205 Celicas that homologated the WRC cars, this GR 86 is actually four-wheel-drive. Beneath its dramatically flared arches and giant rear wing beats not only the heart of a GR Corolla but its running gear too. This raises the tantalising prospect of a turbocharged GR 86 making production. Toyota GR 86 GT-4 ST305 has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you agree?

Yet the challenge of adapting a transverse, AWD powertrain to a platform built for a longitudinal, RWD setup has been no small feat. First off, a custom subframe and engine mounts were needed to fit the G16 engine into the GR 86 shell with clearance for the driveline and suspension components. 

Second, the adoption of the GR Corolla’s hubs, spindles and axles meant the front-end suspension geometry has changed significantly. Custom coil-over dampers and control arms have been fabricated — reflected in the concept’s raised, WRC-influenced stance. On the rear axle, the switchable GR Corolla differential has been installed, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A custom centre-exit exhaust, Speedline alloys and large red mud flaps round off the exterior transformation. Inside, there's no rear seats, a roll cage, and bucket seats complete with six-point harnesses.

According to Road & Track, Toyota USA executives have remained coy on the reason for building the GR 86 Rally Legacy Concept, with Mike Tripp, group vice president at Toyota Marketing, claiming it has been built to stimulate interest in a possible return of the WRC to North America. Paul Doleshal, General Manager of Motorsports and Assets at Toyota Motor North America, added, “The aim is to evoke memories of the legendary rally car that enthusiasts have admired on rally stages and in popular racing video games. That idea led to a formative conversation about how cool it would be to create a modern interpretation of such an iconic car.”

With the Subaru-supplied 2.4-litre flat-four replaced, this concept car is now fully Toyota, raising questions about potential production hurdles, such as contractual agreements or the high cost of adapting these extensive changes. Even if a full AWD version is too ambitious, Toyota could still bring us the muscular bodywork, provocative wings, and turbocharged engine in the classic RWD setup. After all, Toyota GR 86 ST305 still has a nice ring to it — one we’d all love to see turn into reality.