When Toyota set about creating the 86, the guiding principle was that it should be a car devoted to the pure passion of driving. And it's this ethos that has helped see the sports coupe named TopGear magazine's Car of the Year 2012.

The Toyota 86 was also Jeremy Clarkson's Car of the Year and the TopGear Coupe of the Year.

Charlie Turner, TopGear editor, said: "This is a fantastic achievement... for a car to win a TopGear Award is recognition of a truly exceptional vehicle. Only the remarkable are considered for a TopGear Award and this year the GT86 [as it is called in the UK] has proved to be the stand-out machine."

At the time, Oliver Marriage, Motoring Editor, expressed how, although slower, the 86 was more enjoyable to drive than more rapid rivals: "Acceleration is fun, but the noise is as important as the kick in the back, and I'd rather spend 30 seconds wringing the GT86 up to speed than three seconds being pummelled by the McLaren [MP4-12C]. You have more time to enjoy it, you feel more like part of the process."

In the same TopGear report, Senior Writer Sam Philip added: "For driving thrills, this is my sort of performance car. Good steering, nice crisp gear change, revvy engine. You can find its limits, slide it around, without fear of being inadvertently deposited in a loch."

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