Sources can’t agree whether third-gen 86 is coming in 2025 or 2028, but they’re convinced it won’t have a Subaru boxer motor
https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/
<!–
–>
by Chris Chilton
3 hours ago
–> 
–>
The diminishing returns available to automakers from a shrinking sports car market have already claimed the life of the Audi TT and it sounds like the Subaru BRZ might not be far behind. But reports from Japan say the BRZ’s Toyota GR86 brother will be brought back for a third run, and this time it’ll be all Toyota’s work.
Sources disagree on when the next-generation 86 will arrive and what car it will use as a base, but they’re mostly singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to what’ll be under the hood. While the current 86 and BRZ rely on a naturally-aspirated Subaru boxer engine chosen for its low center of gravity and clean throttle response, the reports say the next Toyota 86 will be powered by a version of the turbocharged triple found in the current GR Corolla and GR Yaris.
But from there the situation gets a little murky and the stories coming from two Japanese media outlets seem to vary, as Australia’s Drive first reported. Mag-X recently claimed that the next 86 wouldn’t be along until 2028, when it would be fitted with a 1.4-liter version of the GR Corolla’s 1.6, but “most likely” augmented by hybrid assistance. Toyota already runs a 1.4-liter GR86 in Super Taikyu endurance races in Japan powered by synthetic fuel.
Related: Toyota Reverses Course, Will Cover GR86 Engine That Blew Up On Track
The title claimed that the car would be developed entirely by Toyota and would be all-new because the existing chassis couldn’t be easily adapted to handle a switch from Subaru boxer power to a turbocharged inline motor. It also said that while Subaru wouldn’t be involved in the engineering work, it might still end up building the car on Toyota’s behalf purely to keep its factories busy.
But Mag-X’s rival, Best Car, tells a different story, claiming that the next 86 will be revealed in 2025, and will come equipped with the same 300 hp (304 PS) 1.6-liter, non-hybrid triple fitted to the current GR Corolla. It also suggests that the 86 will switch from its current platform to a shortened version of the architecture used for the now decade-old Lexus IS. Which version do you think sounds the most credible?
advertisement scroll to continue
The below rendering of a fictional Prius-style coupe was created by independent digital artist Theottle, who’s neither related to nor endorsed by Toyota.
