Toyota has very kindly informed us that when it designed the GT 86 - the same GT 86 we awarded the Car of the Year 2012, don’t forget - it was designed ‘package protected’.Now, this doesn’t mean it came sporting a protective cup to shield its motoring vegetables from an ill-timed tackle, but, it means should the roof ever need removing in the case of a) a cabrio or b) an ill-timed tackle, the impact on its structural rigidity would not be too heavy.Meaning this FT-86 Open concept, previewed ahead of the Geneva Motor Show next week, should display the same rear-wheel-drive lunacy as the coupe version.At least that’s what Toyota’s hoping for, anyway. It admits that while the fabric roof “will have a positive effect on the centre of gravity”, it needs to take an even closer look at the nuts and bolts of making a GT 86 convertible not fall to pieces upon the mere mention of the word ‘apex’. Plus, whatever strengthening measures are needed, the weight must be kept in check.Still, it’s a tentative bit of Good News. The other bit is of course, the fact it looks rather pretty indeed; somehow, scalping the GT 86 has given it a very pleasing silhouette.
