Japanese sports car fans were literally under starters orders last week as the limited availability of Toyota’s latest sports coupe saw it sell out its entire UK bound allocation within 90 minutes.

The Toyota GR 86 is the successor to the throne of the GT 86 and with a starting price of just £29,995 had clearly appealed to those looking for an affordable but fun sports car. And for those who missed out, it is highly unlikely that they will get a second chance to buy one brand new, as the firm have admitted that the production run will only last for two years due to the car not meeting soon to be introduced crash regulations.

Those who missed out can add their name to a waiting list, but the GR 86 clearly has plenty of appeal, particularly with its price-tag, which pitches it against the Mazda MX-5.

“The rush to secure a car reflects the hugely enthusiastic reception given to early prototypes by the UK's automotive media, and the fact that the car will come to the end of its production run in Europe within two years,” said a Toyota spokesman.

The GR 86 will come with very few upgrades, with one trim level offering fairly standard equipment, though buyers can choose to switch to an automatic gearbox for an additional £2,090.

Toyota’s GR range has proved to be hugely popular, with the souped-up Yaris adding a new dimension to a supermini which has previously offered little in terms of drivability. Those who missed out on the GR 86 might be tempted by the manual GR Supra coupe, details of which will be released soon by the Japanese brand.

“The phenomenal response to GR86 is a sign of how it is fulfilling its role as a thoroughbred sports car that’s affordable as well as thrilling to drive,” said Mark Roden, Operations Director at Toyota GB. “Our Gazoo Racing-engineered models – GR Supra and GR Yaris – have generated an exceptional buzz with their competition-tuned performance and handling, helping raise expectations of what GR86 will deliver.”

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