Next gen Toyota 86 tipped to arrive mid 2021

TOYOTA’S second generation 86 sportscar – and its Subaru BRZ twin – could be here as early as July next year if a recent leak from inside a US dealership presentation is to be believed.

A covertly snapped photo slide was posted to Instagram on Tuesday of a presentation slide displaying the entire ‘next-gen launch timeline’ for the US, with the 86 sat squarely in the middle of both the frame and timeline along with the description “summer 2021”.

Summer in the northern hemisphere equates to winter Down Under, loosely aligning with reports out of Japan last year that a launch was slated for the first half of 2021.

While not shown in the photo, the Instagram post also claimed that forced induction is indeed the menu for the new sportscar, specifically a turbocharged engine good for 190kW.

The power boost will no doubt be music to the ears of current 86/BRZ fans, who according to Toyota Australia senior public affairs specialist Orlando Rodriguez, have been crying out for more power for some time now.

For reference, the current models produce 155kW/212Nm in manual guise courtesy of a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine.

The baby coupe will also reportedly ditch its original GT moniker in favour of the GR86 nameplate, therefore more closely aligning itself with the bigger GR Supra and hyperactive GR Yaris hot hatch.

Other details revealed in the leak include an updated and improved interior as well as confirmation the Japanese twins will ride on a new platform but remain exclusively rear-wheel-drive.

There has been no official word yet from either Toyota or Subaru as to the release date of the new 86/BRZ, although GoAuto understands Subaru had earmarked a mid-2021 launch for the latter, perfectly in line with the leaked Toyota timeline.

One detail that was missing from the leak was the exact configuration of the new turbo-charged powerplant, with reports out of Europe and Japan suggesting propulsion duties have been left to Subaru with two main possibilities riding to the fore.

The more widely accepted theory is that the coupe twins will sport the force-fed 2.4-litre unit from the overseas Liberty and Outback XTs, though as GoAuto reported back in January, Subaru is also working on a new turbo-charged 1.8-litre four-cylinder ‘Boxer’ engine destined for the JDM Levorg.

Both engines make for plausible options with the hot 2.4 producing near enough the same power as detailed in the leak (190kW vs 194kW) while the new 1.8 should be lighter and more compact, thereby aiding handling and agility.

No power figures for the new engine have been released as yet, with the new Levorg due to be launched in Japan at the end of the year.

Last year Toyota sold 568 86s while Subaru managed to shift 399 BRZs, accounting for 13.6 per cent of the sub-$80,000 sportscar segment between them.

So far this year ending February, 52 86s and 63 BRZs have been sold, marking a 54 per cent and 4.5 per cent drop respectively compared to the same period last year.