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AWD BRZ/FR-S/GT86 2.5-liter turbo reported to be in the works

A Japan magazine reports that a new turbocharged BRZ/FR-S/Toyota GT86 is in the works. Will it get the WRX STI engine?

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If this report from Japan’s Best Car Magazine is accurate, we could see a new turbocharged FR-S/Toyota GT86 coming soon. Performance fans have been asking for a turbocharged version of the Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, Toyota GT86 since the two-door sports coupe launched in 2012. The report from the Japanese magazine doesn’t mention Subaru, but says that Toyota is planning on building an FR-S/Toyota GT86 and it will be powered by a Subaru Boxer engine like the current model. We would have to assume that since the BRZ/FR-S/GT86 are built at Subaru’s Gunma plant in Japan, that Subaru will also produce the performance model in the BRZ.

2.5-liter WRX STI powerplant

This report from Japan’s Best Car Magazine comes via Motoring.com.au out of Australia. But what is interesting about the report, is that it says the new rear-drive coupe will be powered with the Subaru Boxer 2.5-liter powerplant not a 2.0-liter like the current generation sports car. The report goes on to say that the 2.5-liter Subaru engine will be the same engine that powers the 2015 Subaru WRX STI. If this is true, the new Scion FR-S/Toyota GT86 will have the 305 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque.

BRZ/FR-S/GT86 with AWD?

The new sports coupe is said to be in the works right now and is due out in 2016. What makes the report even more interesting, is that this new 2.5-liter turbocharged FR-S/GT86 is coming with all-wheel-drive and the Subaru engine will send all that power to all four wheels. The report goes on to say that the 305hp engine will be coupled to a new eight-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel paddle shifters. This will be to make the powerful new coupe more fuel-efficient. The report doesn’t mention a standard gearbox which would be surprising if it wasn’t offered in the new high-performance coupe.

A new Toyota GT86 coupe has been seen testing on the Nurburgring which has led to much speculation about a turbocharged version of the sports coupe for quite some time. It’s been seen sporting the same body panels that we saw on the GRMN GT86 that was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year. That model featured a carbon-fibre vented hood, roof, deck-lid and rear wing. That model also came with a special lowered sports suspension. Inside it had polycarbonate windows, carbon-fiber front seats and no rear seat. 


Subaru and Scion release special edition models for 2015

Subaru has recently released the 2015 BRZ Series.Blue with STI enhancements and Scion just announced a 2015 FR-S Release Series 1.0 version with similar body treatments. But the two models still come powered by the same naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Subaru Boxer engine that produces 200 horsepower.

Sales of the sports coupe has wained

With sales of the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S/Toyota GT86 starting to slow around the globe, Subaru and Toyota may be looking to re-energize interest in the rear-drive sports coupe. Sales have been dropping off since the sports coupe launched in 2012, and even though Subaru of America reports the best sales month ever in August, BRZ sales actually fell 17.05 percent from the same month last year. So interest in the sports coupe is waining and Subaru and Toyota will need to spice up the sports car to keep fans interested.

Subaru executives have said there will be a new-generation BRZ which will likely be coming in 2016 as a MY2017. If this report from Japan’s Best Car Magazine is true, the new BRZ/FR-S/GT86 will come with a WRX STI 2.5-liter 305hp turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive. This will make the sports coupe even faster than the 2015 WRX STI which is said to hit 0-62 in 4.9 seconds. If this report is accurate, the new turbocharged high-performance variant of the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S/Toyota GT86 that performance fans have been asking for will be coming soon. Stay tuned.

Other Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S/Toyota GT86 stories of interest.
Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S / BRZ could get hybrid power

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Comments

frank (not verified)    September 15, 2014 - 10:41AM

Bull. If you want a 3100 pound AWD turbo FRS for 40+ US K dollars enjoy. I will stick with the base car.

Adam (not verified)    September 16, 2014 - 11:22PM

Will they be releasing an SUV and pick-up truck variant, also? I really wanted an FR-S with a cummins turbo diesel and dually rear.

Maybe even a transport truck variant??

Mark (not verified)    September 18, 2014 - 3:45AM

COMPLETE BS toyota will never have an awd 86 and subaru will never have a brz that competes with the STI all you dreamers keep dreaming, and for those who wants more power on the 86 you should never consider a 86 just buy another car and move on

Research pls (not verified)    September 21, 2014 - 6:55PM

Wow what a load of s. All of the above comments are true and in addition the current Sti engine is the older gen. If anything the wrx sti will use the fa20 with more tuning. The fa20 can easily reach 400hp.

josh (not verified)    October 31, 2014 - 10:22AM

In reply to by Research pls (not verified)

New WRX STI is still using the EJ, I doubt we'll ever see the FI 86, when it was released it was said by Toyota that they wanted to create a platform to build on, not a purchased power car.
It's a tuner car, plain and simple, you want more power out of it? Make it yourself

Eric (not verified)    September 21, 2014 - 11:52PM

I can see a STI engine in one of those that would be cool however, making it AWD would be stupid and just as Mark stated, they would never make it compete with an STI. for sure it will remain RWD.

kyle (not verified)    September 23, 2014 - 12:49AM

Did you also hear that subaru will be making their first ever v8 in 2016? This report is complete bs as the 2.5 in the sti is being phased out and secondly, awd drive will likely never come in a brz due to the simple fact that a trans axle will not fit underneath the already very low engine. An awd brz would not have the same low center of gravity, and transversely mounting the engine just wouldn't be an option.

Tyler (not verified)    November 1, 2014 - 8:50PM

In reply to by kyle (not verified)

transaxle Underneath the engine? wth are you talking about? Of course they wont make it all wheel drive because its a sports car. Has nothing to do with them not being able to.

GT-four (not verified)    December 31, 2014 - 1:26PM

i have a gen6 GT-4 and i dunno what you all have a problem with a AWD sports car, a new gt4 is needed! remember that the 86 was first posted as being the new Celica back when the first pics started to fly

as for the brz, why not a AWD, if you want a 4 door get a imprza if you want a coupe get a brz, the idea it will be in competition is stupid as audi have been making quottro saloons and coupes of there cars for years

Gtfrank (not verified)    January 3, 2015 - 10:11AM

Weight complexity and price are the problem. The gt4 is a very good car it just never was competitive on the street. To heavy and expensive. The Celica has been killed twice simply because it was not price competitive. The 2000 Celica was light and fun (I had one). The gts was priced like the mustang gt. The gti and si were cheaper cars that looked better on paper.

DJ Fati (not verified)    January 14, 2015 - 6:14PM

BRZ was designed and made to drift..... and the letter "R" in BRZ stands for RWD so I'm pretty sure thats not gonna happen, but if they add a turbo which the Forster XT already has in the same engin would be freaking Awesome way to lose your licance and if they made it a Covetable.... would kill sales on all other roadsters

John (not verified)    February 22, 2015 - 10:25AM

2015 is the last year for the US's FRS.. Toyota is looking to other manufacture partnerships for an FRS replacement.

Jayson (not verified)    August 18, 2015 - 7:32PM

Fat chance! First, the EJ motor would NOT fit in the BRZ/FT-86/FR-S, TWO, BRZ sales are less than half of what they were the year before thanks to the more practical WRX, and Subaru in fact does not want to continue the BRZ as it does not fall in line with traditional Subaru products

WA-brzfan (not verified)    October 20, 2015 - 8:41PM

I was told by a Subaru dealer 4 days ago there is not an AWD BRZ because Subaru does not want to share the technology with Toyota. However, the partnership is due to end with MY201 and the BRZ and FRS will begin to differ. He said MY2017 will have AWD and start around $34000 US with an STI version in the mid-40's.

Tyler (not verified)    December 8, 2015 - 6:47PM

Anyone else interested in knowing how they are going to make them all wheel drive with the engine placement? The trans sits well behind the front wheels?

V (not verified)    December 21, 2015 - 12:13AM

An Frs/Brz has been equipped with an Sti and awd Recently doing doughnuts but with height due integrating the awd system I'm sure with a lil modification to the body it could fit flush like a Impreza Rs coupe with awd straight from factory..
I believe they could keep it awd or with a lil extra have it Automatic+Paddle shift.. Both Transmissions are good it's just preferences & situations that you're in that come to choosing what you want.. If you're a true enthusiast.. You know that you mod your car right? You change it to what you prefer Change is evolution therefore you shouldn't be biased to automatic/paddle shifters..