2027 Toyota GR86 Wants to Make Downshifting EasierToyotaThe coupe known as the Toyota GR86 (and the Subaru BRZ) is pretty fantastic as it is, and it has been since it debuted four years ago. That means the little sports car does not really need much in the way of mid-cycle updates to its base model ... which is good news, because the most recent mid-cycle update discussed in some depth by Toyota on Thursday after an initial reveal earlier this summer is hardly an update at all.Toyota touts just a handful of changes to its entry-level sports car, led by small-name items like the return of a once-exclusive color called "Solid Gray" in Japan and "Thunder" here in the United States. There's a new red-abd-black interior trim option, and the car features expanded active safety features that includes a three-camera EyeSight driver assistance system, according to the Japanese release — an upgrade from the previous two-camera system in earlier model years.Performance upgrades? They're limited to changes in throttle control mapping and electric power steering control systems. Toyota says that the new throttle control setting provides "instinctive responsiveness" in "situations that require precise acceleration control," which is sure to be great news for slide-happy 86 owners. Power steering system changes, which the company says are inspired by its Super Taikyu racing efforts, are meant to eliminate wobbling on bumpy roads or in high-speed corners.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe most granular in a sea of granular changes comes in the gating of the manual transmission, which has been expanded in just one place by just under 0.02 inches. The extra space is between fifth and fourth, as charted by the Toyota graphic below.ToyotaAccording to the company, this change makes for "enhanced operability when downshifting from fifth to fourth gear, ensuring smoother, stress-free, at-the-limit corner entry." The awkwardness of that one particular downshift seemingly bothered someone enough to implement this change, so it should be a huge fix for at least one GR86 driver out there.While these may not exactly be the rally-ready GR86 GT-Four we have wanted since the idea first showed up as a SEMA build, it is nice to see Toyota keeping its most affordable sports car fresh throughout its life cycle. Its larger GR Supra relative may be gone soon, but the GR86 should soldier on providing rear-wheel drive thrills for years to come.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State