Next-gen Toyota 86 to be co-developed with Subaru

Fresh Japanese report suggests rear-drive Toyota 86 replacement to launch around 2021.

Toyota and Subaru are set to continue their collaboration on the 86/BRZ sports car duo, according to a report from the Japan Times.

Citing unnamed sources, the publication said the next-generation Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ will lob in 2021, reportedly with more power, improved handling and newer safety features.

The report suggests the rear-drive Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ sports coupes will eschew their current 2.0-litre engines for larger 2.4-litre displacements. A lower centre of gravity will also improve the cars’ already impressive cornering stability.

The big unknown at this stage remains whether the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ will finally adopt turbochargers. In a recent interview with motoring.com.au, Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said he had listened to customer feedback on forced induction.

“Obviously we are receiving many requests for different variants or versions of GT86, since it’s been five years since we launched that,” Tada-san said.

“We believe we will get further requests. When we launch GT86 in the future I think we can respond to those questions.”

The Toyota GR HV Concept was shown at the 2017 Tokyo motor show

There are many powertrain options for the next Toyota 86, which could be based on the Japanese car-maker’s own new TNGA platform or borrow the Impreza’s new SGP underpinnings.

These include a more powerful naturally-aspirated boxer or inline four-cylinder engine, a turbocharged version or even hybrid power. The latter would allow Toyota to channel elements of the GR HV Concept it showed at last year’s Tokyo motor show.

Suggestions of a 2.4-litre petrol engine also opens the door to the companies utilising the FA24 engine available in the Subaru Ascent crossover. In that guise the powerplant is tuned to produce a credible 195kW.

There have been rumours the Toyota-Subaru partnership has faced its share of inter-company difficulties, but the timing of the Japan Times report seems on the money.

This week, Toyota Australia committed to a two-year extension of its popular 86 Racing Series, to the end of the 2020 season.

That would theoretically allow Toyota to gear up to campaign the new model the following year and, all going well, continue its upward trajectory on road and track.