While Toyota announced recently that they’ve added some decent brakes to their 86 (but left the engine unchanged), RGMotorsport is celebrating an altogether more significant event in their interpretation of what the 2+2 sports car should be like. The Randburg-based tuning house recently passed their half-century of forced-induction conversions to the athletic coupe, making it one of their most popular upgrades ever. A total of 53 supercharged conversions have been successfully completed.
Most of these cars are used as intended: driven hard and regularly at track day events around the country. The company’s own research and development car is a case in point; being used for joy-rides, demos and track days - but so is another owned by Nelspruit enthusiast Andy MacLaurin. He’s attended 53 track day/time trial events, often leaving home for Pretoria’s Zwartkops, Red Star Raceway near Delmas or Midvaal outside Meyerton in the early hours of the morning. A strange coincidence that the number of cars produced and MacLaurin’s event count are identical. And here’s another one: he was born in ‘53, proving that you’re never too old to have fun!
Since supercharging his car in November 2013, Andy’s made 218 track session “starts”, totalling almost 1 500 hot laps without the car missing a beat. Needless to say, he’s used a fair quantity of brake pads and discs, and semi-slick tyres - and one clutch. The car has covered 84 000 kilometres in supercharged guise…
Says Rob Green, founder of RGMotorsport: “The 86 has always been a great car but as soon as it was launched in August 2012 there were questions about its lack of power. As the chassis and suspension had so much in reserve, we saw it as an obvious choice for an upgrade. Because immediacy of response is so important in this kind of car we went the supercharged – rather than turbocharged – route. The rest is history and it is one of our biggest success stories.”
The off-the-shelf conversion takes the stock 147kw/205nm to 220kw/315nm, in a bolt-on installation of a V-3 H67BC Vortech centrifugal supercharger, designed specifically for the FA20 Boxer engine. A 63mm stainless steel de-cat exhaust system is fitted and the engine is then mapped via a Unichip Uni-Q+ piggyback engine management system.
The cost of a conversion is currently R112 000, including a six-month, 20 000-kilometre warranty. A two-year/75 000km warranty is one of a number of options available.
RGMotorsport can be contacted on 011 792 8352 or info@rgmotorsport.com.
Also worth a look: the Toyota Everest and the Toyota Corolla Cross: Still King of the Crossover Castle?.
FAQ
Q: How much does the RGM Toyota 86 supercharger kit cost in South Africa?
The RGMotorsport supercharger conversion for the Toyota 86 typically costs around R120,000 to R150,000 depending on the specific package and additional modifications you choose, making it a serious investment for track enthusiasts.
Q: How much power does the supercharged Toyota 86 produce?
The RGM supercharged Toyota 86 produces approximately 220kW compared to the standard car's 147kW, delivering the punch that the chassis always deserved and transforming it into a proper track weapon.
Q: Is the RGM Toyota 86 supercharger kit reliable for daily driving?
Absolutely, with Andy MacLaurin's car proving the point by covering 84,000 kilometres and 218 track sessions without missing a beat, showing that RGM's supercharger setup is built for serious punishment and daily reliability.
Q: Should I choose supercharging over turbocharging for my Toyota 86?
For the 86's character, supercharging is the smarter choice because it maintains the immediate throttle response that makes these cars so engaging, unlike turbocharging which can introduce lag and change the driving experience.
Q: Is the Toyota 86 worth modifying with forced induction?
The Toyota 86 is one of the best platforms for forced induction because the chassis, suspension and brakes can easily handle the extra power, making it a tuner's dream that finally delivers the performance to match its handling prowess.
Should You Buy It?
The best track-focused sports car under R500,000 in South Africa is definitely the RGM supercharged Toyota 86. Starting with a decent used 86 at around R280,000 and adding RGM's proven R130,000 supercharger package gives you a 220kW track monster for roughly R410,000 total. This is an absolute yes if you're serious about track days and want a car that's been proven over 53 conversions and thousands of track kilometres. The reliability is bulletproof, the power delivery is perfect for the chassis, and you'll have one of the most capable and enjoyable track cars money can buy. Just make sure you budget extra for brake pads and semi-slick tyres because you'll be using plenty of both.
