This is the Toyota 86 MF Ghost Concept. For those that
are not in the know, here’s some backstory before we get to the car itself. MF Ghost is the creation of Shuichi
Shigeno, the same person responsible for Initial D series that we all know and
love. Shigeno-san’s latest work references Initial D and its characters, but is
set in the 2020s, where traditional combustion engine-based cars have been
almost completely replaced by electric self-driving cars.
In this time of transition, the mysterious Ryo
Takahashi created a racing series known as MFG, which aimed to preserve the use
of internal combustion engine cars by way of competitive racing. The series’
participants primarily use foreign makes and models that are either all-wheel
drive or are technologically advanced, with only a small number of Japanese
cars present.
The main story is focused around Kanata Livington, a
19-year-old of Japanese and British parentage that graduated from the Royal
Donington Park Racing School, who returns to Japan to find his missing father,
Ken Katagiri. In his quest to find his father, Kanata decides to go race in the MFG
under his father’s surname. He also uses an “old” Toyota 86 belonging to an
acquaintance and quickly rises up the ranks in the series. You’ll have to read
the manga for a better insight into the story, which mentions a certain tofu
delivery person.
Synopsis aside, the show car you see here is result
of the manga’s publisher working together with Toyota to recreate the 86 from
the manga. There are a good number of performance-related modifications here
too, including an oil cooler and an Ogura N1 clutch, although the engine
remains stock.
Most of the work is aimed at improving the car’s
handling, so there’s EXM Exmotion Athlete Orange suspension and the rear axle
gains a two-way LSD from TRD. A set of 17-inch TWS Motorsport T66-F forged
alloy wheels is also present, wrapped with Brigestone Potenza RE-71R tyres.
Behind the front wheels, you’ll find Project Mu
four-pot calipers, while they are two-pot units at the rear – slotted rotors
are used on all four corners. Aesthetic enhancements include a red paint finish with plenty of
decals and graphics applied to it, with the rather sizeable GT Sard LSR rear
spoiler being one of the more prominent additions.
Inside, the driver’s stock seat has been replaced
with a Bride Low Max Xero CS racing seat, while a set of Defi ZD gauges help
indicate important information such as engine speed, water temperature, oil
temperature and others.