A prototype of the commercially available 86-body kit arranged for open-use
We found an 86 & BRZ of interest at the Gunma Sonic event held on July 6, 2024. This is not the owner’s car, but a Toyota “86-based demo car from Carrozzeria “S DESIGN” in Toyama. Let us introduce you to this speedster with a boldly cut roof.
Based on “Future Sports” presented at Auto Salon
Carrozzeria S DESIGN in Toyama debuted the 86 Future Sports, based on the 86, and given a Supra-like front face, at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon. The model has also been included in the Auto Salon held in Bangkok and other events and has become popular throughout Southeast Asia. The 86 Future Sports was brushed up and released as an after-market body kit in 2021, which is why the SD-2 body kit was released to the market.
What we found at the Gunma Sonic event was an open-body version based on the SD-2. It is not simply a cutaway roof, but a full-fledged roadster with a short round screen and tonneau cover behind the seats. We asked Masayuki Sano, the designer and representative of the company, for more details.
The addition of a round screen has brushed up the look and feel
“This car is called MAIAMI, based on the production version of the SD-2 and designed to look like a hypercar roadster. Naturally, it is still a prototype, but to convert it into an open car, we have reinforced the parts that cannot be seen, so it will be able to drive properly.”
The basic structure is based on the SD-2, which has already been made into a kit and can be installed with bolt-ons except for the open portion. Although the over fenders are prominent in the design, the front end has also been lengthened by 20mm, and although there was no glass in the front when the car debuted two years ago, and only aerodynamic forces protected the cockpit from the wind, a short round-type screen has been added to the car. The new addition of a short, round-type screen has made the roadster even more complete, according to the company.
The modeling that emphasizes openness also stands out
Originally, Sano’s theme was to “take an 86 and legally make it into a different car,” and he has succeeded in his goal to a great extent: the exterior has undergone such a major transformation that it would be difficult to immediately identify the base vehicle unless you were at an 86/BRZ event. The car, moreover, has been converted to a convertible version, and the fact that it is a right-hand drive car is almost disconcerting. However, upon closer inspection, one tends to notice the bold black-and-white paint job and the sculpting of the car, but the headlights are still the stock ones.
The interior of the car is equipped with bright red bucket seats, which are impressive, but the seats are left as stock. A tonneau cover is installed in the rear to protect the occupants’ heads, but looking at the front of the tonneau cover, a woofer has been installed. This allows the driver to enjoy audio even in the open-air environment. The design is full of playful touches.
translated by DeepL