Now that we know to expect successors to the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, and that both car companies have committed to them, it’s time to think a little further about where they should go next.
Not that it’s up to us, of course. But it’s a fun thought exercise.
Despite endless cries for more power, the 2+2 rear-wheel drive sports cars co-developed by Toyota and Subaru are some of the best you could buy for the price. The fun factor is strong, and the 86 carried on the enthusiast heritage of Toyota’s previous sports car coupes while the BRZ added some welcome diversity to Subaru’s sports car legacy.
Last week, both companies commented on the next stage of the sports car twins, with Toyota denying that the 86 would be discontinued, and Subaru outright stating that a next-generation of the BRZ is “moving ahead.”
What isn’t clear yet is whether or not both companies have agreed to work together again. Also different now is that Toyota has since spawned a new sports car through a different partnership, that being the Supra with BMW. Whether or not the next 86 will be a joint venture with Subaru remains to be seen.
So that leaves us with one very fun hypothetical; what do we want a new Toyota 86 and/or Subaru BRZ to be?
One wish I’ve already seen floated is the glorious return of a car like the Toyota MR2, preferably before it got all, well, ugly. But would Subaru do a mid-engine sports car? Typing it out, that sounds awesome. There was even a wild rumor (with no strong sourcing) back in October that Subaru was working on just that. Sadly this rumor indicated it would still be the same turbo boxer engine and has frustrated the fanboys for so long already.
If the 86 successor was also mid-engined, that would add a little more space in performance between it and the recently revealed Supra.
But the floor is open. The opportunities are aplenty. Two brands better known for selling practical, efficient, affordable cars are doubling down on their weird enthusiast projects, which is frankly surprising, so what do we want? Bigger, this time? Lighter? Turbo power? Turbo BMW power?
I await your takes.