It’s been just three years since Toyota introduced the second generation of their popular GR 86 sports coupe in 2021, alongside its Subaru BRZ counterpart. However, the rumor mill is already abuzz with speculation about a third generation of the series. Some sources even suggest an -admittedly- optimistic 2025 release date and a surprising new powertrain: a three-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a hybrid system.
Here’s an analysis of the rumors and their potential implications for both Toyota and Subaru.
For more than a year, reports about this specific scenario and platform and powertrain combination have been in the air. We initially covered these reports in October of 2022, but since then, two different narratives have emerged. One indicates that the next GR86 will debut in 2028, featuring a 1.4-liter turbocharged hybrid engine. Another suggests an earlier arrival in 2025, equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain.
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It now seems that the latter scenario is more probable. According to a new report, the engine is expected to be similar to the one used in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, but with a power output of “over 300 horsepower”. Additionally, it will incorporate some form of hybridization akin to that found in the Land Cruiser 250 and the upcoming Lexus GX. This configuration implies that it will maintain its front-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout, while still offering both a manual gearbox and an automatic transmission option.
Keep in mind that this report comes from BestCar in Japan and doesn’t cite any specific sources, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt. What’s not up for debate though is just how persistent the rumors are. They resurfaced again late last year and certainly seem plausible given just how potent the engine in question is.
Of course, developing a low-volume sports car isn’t exactly the best thing for margins at most automakers. That’s why Toyota and Subaru worked together to develop the GR86 / BRZ in the first place. If Toyota indeed opts for its own engine in the next-generation GR86, it could signal the termination of the partnership between the two in regards to the sports car series, as noted in the report.
That, in turn, could spell the end of the BRZ, unless Subaru decides to go it alone in developing a successor for the compact sports coupe – which is unlikely, but not entirely out of the question.
