Toyota and Subaru are working
together for the next generation of the 86/BRZ duo and more information has
surfaced online about the sports car duo. According to an Autocar report,
Toyota has decided to name the GT 86 successor as GR86, adding another model to
Gazoo Racing’s lineup after the GR Supra and the recently revealed Yaris GR-4.
The same source adds that the
new generation of rear-drive coupes for both the Toyota and Subaru brands will
be built on a modified version of the former’s TNGA architecture, offering a
more rigid basis and even perhaps a lower center of gravity compared to the
current models.
Power will continue coming
from a Subaru flat-four engine, only instead of the naturally aspirated
2.0-liter unit, the new models will employ the brand’s turbocharged 2.4-liter
engine that’s currently in use with models like the Legacy, Outback and Ascent.
The turbocharged boxer engine
produces 260 HP and 277 lb-ft of torque and represents a major upgrade from the
current GT 86 and BRZ models, answering this way to perhaps the most common
complaint of customers and fans around the world.
The new models are also
expected to feature a much improved cabin, with better-quality materials and
all the latest technology, including a faster infotainment system with a larger
screen and a wide range of driver assistance systems.
It will be interesting to see
how Toyota and Subaru will position their models, as they don’t want to go too
close to the Supra, which is offered in an entry-level four-cylinder guise in
Japan as well. The second generation of the Toyobaru twins are expected to be
revealed in 2021 so stay tuned.
