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While the second generation of Toyota's GR86 sports car is still quite young, the shrinking of the small sports car market raises questions about a possible third generation. As it turns out, reports suggest that Toyota does plan to renew the GR86 for another generation, but this time there won't be an identical twin from Subaru.
The news comes from two different sources, which both claim that the next GR86 will drop its Subaru boxer engine as a result of the BRZ's demise. In fact, the third-gen Toyota will forgo naturally-aspirated engines altogether, instead switching to a variation of the turbocharged three-cylinder found in the GR Corolla hatchback.
Everything else about the next GR86 remains unclear, with reports conflicting over the sports car's release date and exact power source. Japanese publication Mag-X says the third-generation GR86 is still a long way off, with a launch date scheduled for 2028. This report also alleges that the 1.6 liter three-cylinder from the GR Corolla will be downsized to a 1.4 liter unit for the GR86, with extra output "most likely" coming from a hybrid system. Mag-X also says the current chassis shared with Subaru will be dropped completely, as it wouldn't be able to support the switch from a boxer engine to a turbocharged one.
Meanwhile, Best Car, another car magazine based in Japan, thinks the third-gen GR86 will arrive as soon as 2025. And unlike Mag-X, this report suggests that the 1.6 liter three-cylinder from the GR Corolla will be carried over fully unchanged, which means power output would come in at exactly 300 hp. This report sounds a bit far-fetched to us, as it goes on to claim that the new GR86 will adopt a shortened version of the platform that underpins the Lexus IS sedan. Considering that the IS uses a nearly ten-year-old architecture, we doubt a new sports car like the GR86 would make the switch to such a platform.
Which report do you think is more true?
Report
Jul 12, 2023
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Third-Generation Toyota GR86 Rumored To Lose Subaru BRZ Twin
Two separate reports claim that the next GR86 will also drop its Subaru boxer engine.
While the second generation of Toyota's GR86 sports car is still quite young, the shrinking of the small sports car market raises questions about a possible third generation. As it turns out, reports suggest that Toyota does plan to renew the GR86 for another generation, but this time there won't be an identical twin from Subaru.
The news comes from two different sources, which both claim that the next GR86 will drop its Subaru boxer engine as a result of the BRZ's demise. In fact, the third-gen Toyota will forgo naturally-aspirated engines altogether, instead switching to a variation of the turbocharged three-cylinder found in the GR Corolla hatchback.
Everything else about the next GR86 remains unclear, with reports conflicting over the sports car's release date and exact power source. Japanese publication Mag-X says the third-generation GR86 is still a long way off, with a launch date scheduled for 2028. This report also alleges that the 1.6 liter three-cylinder from the GR Corolla will be downsized to a 1.4 liter unit for the GR86, with extra output "most likely" coming from a hybrid system. Mag-X also says the current chassis shared with Subaru will be dropped completely, as it wouldn't be able to support the switch from a boxer engine to a turbocharged one.
Meanwhile, Best Car, another car magazine based in Japan, thinks the third-gen GR86 will arrive as soon as 2025. And unlike Mag-X, this report suggests that the 1.6 liter three-cylinder from the GR Corolla will be carried over fully unchanged, which means power output would come in at exactly 300 hp. This report sounds a bit far-fetched to us, as it goes on to claim that the new GR86 will adopt a shortened version of the platform that underpins the Lexus IS sedan. Considering that the IS uses a nearly ten-year-old architecture, we doubt a new sports car like the GR86 would make the switch to such a platform.
Which report do you think is more true?
