Toyota’s next GR86 will reportedly add power-focused hybrid system

New, unconfirmed details of the next GR86’s powerplant are trickling in. Here’s hoping they’re right.

According to Japan’s BestCar, as quoted by CarScoops, “unnamed sources” have claimed the third-gen 86 may be released in 2025 – powered by a electric-assisted, three-cylinder turbocharged engine.

The powertrain rumours are easy to believe, but the timeline might be a stretch. A 2025 release date would make the current GR86 a relatively shortlived model.

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Thanks to Covid, the second-gen car only reached Australia in late 2022, although its late 2020 unveiling means a 2025 third-gen reveal would give it a roughly six-year life cycle.

That’s fairly standard for most cars, but the first 86 ran for just over eight years – so it remains to be seen what a ‘standard’ run is for Toyota’s compact sports car. Indeed, it hasn’t even had a midlife facelift, having gained only an equipment update in late 2023. However, a concept car debuting at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, or at a motor show in the US, could well be on the cards.

The turbo hybrid three rumour, if accurate, is big news with big implications. After all, Toyota isn’t about to lop a cylinder off the boxer four. (Imagine the noise!)

Clearly, any odd-numbered move would be to the three-cylinder unit in the GR Yaris and Corolla, with added hybrid gubbins. Right now it’s a fairly new, low-volume, high-cost (and presumably high margin) engine, so Toyota might understandably want to put it in as many models as possible.

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Assembling the GR Corolla engine. There’s a lot going on in there.

Two potential engine capacities have been rumoured: 1.4 and 1.6 litres.

A 1.4 could provide similar power to the current model, with a 1.6 putting out 225kW or more, finally giving the 86 the power (some) enthusiasts have been crying out for. Toyota could also install a mild-hybrid system that is compatible with manual and automatic gearboxes. And, of course, a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout would again feature.

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What of the BRZ and Subaru’s boxer stance?

If the third-generation BRZ runs an inline engine from Toyota, it would be an almost all-new concept for the brand, having focused solely on boxer engines since 1966.

Would Subaru release a new BRZ with an in-line engine? Or, would Toyota and Mazda develop the platform together, to be used for the next MX-5 as well? Is this the end of the Toyota-Subaru sports car partnership? If so, it’s highly unlikely Subaru will develop a new BRZ on its own.