Was the Toyota 86 sold in the US?
Yes. The Toyota 86 has been sold in the United States, though under different badges and generations: it began as the Scion FR-S (2013–2016), then was marketed as the Toyota 86 (2017–2021), and the current generation is the GR86 (2022–present).
How the 86 found its way to American roads
The car is the American-market result of a joint Toyota-Subaru sports-coupe project, designed to deliver light weight, rear-wheel drive, and balanced handling at an affordable price. It entered the United States through the Scion brand, was later rebranded under Toyota, and eventually evolved into the GR86 with a new generation.
Timeline of US-market availability
Below is a concise timeline of how the model reached the U.S. market, including branding changes.
- 2013 model year: The Scion FR-S goes on sale in the United States as part of Scion’s lineup; developed in collaboration with Subaru; marketed as an affordable, driver-focused sports car.
- 2016: Scion brand is discontinued as part of Toyota’s brand consolidation; the FR-S is transitioned toward a Toyota badge for future sales.
- 2017–2021: The U.S. market adopts the Toyota 86 badge (no Scion branding), continuing the same basic platform and driving character with minor updates and trim options.
- 2022–present: A new generation arrives as the Toyota GR86, developed with Subaru, featuring a larger 2.4-liter engine and updated chassis; this remains the current-generation model sold in the United States.
Concluding note: The U.S. market has continued to receive the 86 lineage, now under the GR86 name, while the original Scion FR-S badge was retired in favor of Toyota-branded variants.
Current status and what buyers can expect
Today, U.S. buyers looking for the modern Toyota 86 family car will find the GR86 as the current model, renowned for rear-wheel-drive handling, a lightweight chassis, and a sporty driving experience. It competes in the compact sports-car segment with cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, while offering a distinct coupe form factor.
Summary
In short, yes—the Toyota 86 has been sold in the United States throughout its history, transitioning from Scion FR-S (2013–2016) to Toyota 86 (2017–2021) and, since 2022, the GR86, which is the current-generation model available in the U.S.
