The project was planned under the leadership of Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation. This car was an attempt to revive the famous Toyota Levin/Treno (AE86), also known as the Hachi Roku, in the modern era. The development was a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, and while the development of the body structure was led by Subaru, which had a capital relationship with Toyota, the formulation of the concept was led by Toyota. As a result, Subaru's unique horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine was installed, and the engine's fuel injection system was derived from Toyota's. While its sibling, the Subaru BRZ, was set up with an emphasis on stability, the Toyota 86 was set up with an emphasis on slide control of the rear tires, making it more suitable for drifting. President Akio Toyoda has also stated that the 86 was developed as a car that develops the driver like the former Levin/Treno (AE86), and while the car responds directly to the driver's actions, it also reflects those actions even if they are performed incorrectly, which is a rare characteristic in this day and age.

The story is set in Tokyo, where an old school right in between the neighborhoods of Akihabara, Kanda and Jinbocho is in danger of consolidation and closure. Nine girls, centering Honoka Kosaka, have stepped up to defy the imminent danger facing their school. “If we want to protect our beloved school, we need to do what we can? we need to become idols!” Hoping against hope there’s something they can do about this, the girls strive to become famous, spread the word about their school, attract more students, and save the day. Now their “School Idol Project” begins to make their dreams come true! “Make our dreams come true!”

A first-year student at Otonokizaka Academy. She is mild-mannered and kind, but at the same time, she is reluctant to do anything. In order to fulfill her childhood wish to become an idol, she voluntarily joined the school idol group "μ's". She has more knowledge and passion for idols than anyone else. She spends her days and nights collecting and analyzing information about school idols. She also loves to eat rice and is quite a glutton. She is a childhood friend of Rin Hoshizora, a member of μ's.

In charge of music production for μ's. A first-year student at Otonokizaka Academy. She is the only daughter of a wealthy family whose parents run a large hospital. While she has a hardworking and proud personality, she is not good at communicating with others. She had aspired to become a musician by writing her own songs, but she was about to give up her dream of becoming a musician because her parents expected her to take over the hospital as a doctor. At that time, Honoka Kousaka, the founder of the school idol group μ's, asked her to write a song for μ's and join as a member of μ's. After some hesitation, she agreed and became a member of μ's. She then followed her dream of becoming a musician again.

A first-year student at Otonokizaka Academy. She has a caring and cheerful personality and is a mood maker among the μ's. She is good at all sports and is very athletic. She boasts one of the best physical abilities among the school idols. She has been best friends with Hanayo Koizumi since childhood, and encouraged Hanayo to join μ's when she was hesitant to join μ's due to her lack of self-confidence despite her idol aspirations, and joined μ's herself along with Hanayo. While she admires pretty girlish clothes more than anyone else, she is troubled by the thought that girlish clothes may not suit her because of her neutral looks as a child.