Toyota Gazoo Racing Unveils AE86 Restomod Pair at Tokyo Auto Salon

Blending both innovation and nostalgia at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled a pair of AE86 Corolla restomods — one powered by electricity and the other by hydrogen.

The first of the duo, the AE86 H2 Concept, is a venture into hydrogen power. Drawing on experience from Toyota‘s participation in Japan’s Super Taikyu racing series with a hydrogen-powered car, the AE86 H2 Concept is designed to retain the sensory experience of an internal combustion engine. It’s fitted with high-pressure hydrogen fuel tanks similar to those in Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car. Aside from components being placed at the rear of the vehicle, the conversion has notably been executed with a light touch, preserving the car’s original aesthetic and nostalgic charm.

Additionally, the AE86 BEV Concept represents Toyota’s foray into battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This concept aims to maintain the AE86’s celebrated lightweight build and balanced weight distribution while harnessing the robust drive force characteristic of electric vehicles. A unique quirk of the AE86 BEV concept is the fact that it comes with a manual transmission, likely aimed at maintaining the vehicle’s heritage and designed to offer an enhanced driving experience. Components from various Toyota electrified models have been integrated, including a motor from the hybrid Tundra pick-up and a battery unit from the Prius Plug-in.

Both concepts are designed to further accentuate Toyota’s commitment to carbon neutrality, featuring recycled materials in their seats, seatbelts and seatbelt pads — part of a broader strategy by Toyota to offer diverse choices to customers. Recognizing that achieving complete carbon-neutral status for all vehicles is a gradual process, Toyota is simultaneously focusing on the carbon neutralization of existing vehicles in circulation.

To learn more about the concepts in the video below from Toyota.