Toyota and Subaru Might Actually Be Working on a New 86/BRZ Sports Coupe

It was only a few weeks ago that we told everyone a turbocharged Toyobaru would never happen. Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said Toyota had built the car it wanted and any manner of forced induction would spoil the recipe, necessitating an entirely new platform. Meanwhile, fans of the 86 have been clamoring for more power like they all suddenly transformed into Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor. Well, they’re all about to utter a resounding uuuuaaagh?!, as the two companies may be starting work on new generation — this one with the brawny might they crave.

Rumored for production at Subaru’s assembly plant in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture, the next 86/BRZ is expected to get an uptick in displacement. So what will supposedly replace the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter?

According to the Japan Times, the new model will be graced with a motor boasting a displacement of 2,400 cubic centimeters. While helpful, that doesn’t allow us to do more than speculate. Subaru’s new FA24 fits the bill; it’s turbocharged and boasts 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque in the Ascent. While the automaker does have other units that aren’t far off in terms of size, you would have to round down to have them qualify as a 2.4 liter — and that’s not standard protocol for any manufacturer.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. While the Japan Times isn’t a disreputable outlet, the details on the next Toyobaru are paper thin and no official sources have been cited. We would have also expected to hear some buzzing if the model is truly destined for a 2021 launch. To be honest, a lot of us thought it would be killed off long before then. But we’re not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If Toyota and Subaru want to take another stab at it, we’ll be in attendance as they renew their vows.

Will it be what enthusiasts want? While the current model has plenty of fiercely loyal supporters who swear 200 hp is more than enough power to put a smile on their faces, a large portion of the community has also taken to modifying them. So long as Toyota and Subaru add power without changing the overall recipe, we think everyone will be happy. It shouldn’t be so fast that you can’t explore the limits on a backroad, nor should it be so slow that you’ll have trouble pulling away from a Honda Odyssey.

[Image: Toyota Motor Corp.]