Torque News reported on the next-generation 2021 Subaru WRX STI recently, and now from Japan’s Best Car magazine, there is more spy work on what’s ahead for the next-generation 2021 Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 that are expected to bring previews at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.
Best Car says the next-generation Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 will move to a new platform that we are speculating will be a new version of Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) underpinning the sport coupes. A report from WardsAuto says Toyota is launching a new small-car GA-B platform for use in future products for global markets.
2020 Subaru BRZ
According to Toyota, the new GA-B platform will have a more rigid architecture allowing the Japanese automaker to use a MacPherson-strut front suspension featuring low-friction dampers and can accommodate various spring types. The new GA-B platform can use either a torsion beam or multi-link rear suspension system that the BRZ/86 will use.
The GA-B platform also places the driver’s seat low and back toward the center of the car, helping lower the vehicle’s center of gravity, and could improve driving dynamics even more than the current-generation sport coupe. Toyota also says the steering wheel can be placed closer to the driver and at the best angle for engagement.
Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 driving dynamics
The new Toyota GA-B platform will allow the BRZ/86’s hard points of the upper body and the driver’s hip-point to be set low, making it ideal for the sport coupe’s low roof height and wider stance. Toyota says wheels are positioned out as far as possible at the corners of the platform and its short overhangs. This should add to the visual appeal of the newly-remodeled BRZ/86.
More spy work
Best Car magazine goes on to say the next-generation BRZ/86 will get a new engine that will replace the current 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Subaru Boxer. The report says new powerplant will be the Ascent-sourced FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. Subaru will likely reduce the 260 horsepower power output of the 2.4-liter in the new sports twins' engine to 217 horsepower, a 12 horsepower increase over the current models and they will also increase torque over the BRZ/86’s present 156 lb-ft.
Last April, Toyota sources told The Japan Times the next-gen BRZ/86 sports coupe will also come with the new FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine sourced from the Subaru Ascent family hauler.
Of course, none of this has been confirmed by Subaru or Toyota. Look for the all-new next-generation 2021 Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 to show up next month at the Tokyo Motor Show as a concept vehicle before they make their global reveal sometime next year. Stay tuned.
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Photo credit: Subaru Canada, Subaru Dr, Subaru Global
Comments
Do you think 217 horsepower
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Do you think 217 horsepower is enough for the next-generation Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86?
Of course not. Ever since it
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In reply to Do you think 217 horsepower by Denis Flierl
Of course not. Ever since it came out, people have been screaming for more power. Now we have a 2.4 liter turbocharged engine and they are speculating a measly 17 more horsepower? For f's sake, it's so obvious they don't want to cannibalize their WRX sales. It should be at LEAST 245-260hp with loads more torque than the current one.
This continues to be the car
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This continues to be the car the Subaru and Toyota hate on. I am not sure what the "benefit" would be of detuning the engine on what is supposed to be a sports car of some sort. Not like folks buy a RWD coupe for the fuel economy. Are they afraid it will outperform the Supra (unlikely), or the WRX (likely)?
I suspect it will not just be
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In reply to This continues to be the car by Digitaldoc (not verified)
I suspect it will not just be de-tuned. It will probably be a different engine configuration, and probably without the turbo.
The auto journals have been way too nice about this car. I think they were trying to encourage investment in light weight handling cars in the US, but Toyota convinced themselves they'd shit a golden egg and hasnt listen to consumers.
W/E. We'll almost certainly have electric hot rods for regular car prices that annihilate this cars performance before Tada gets this formula right.
Tada has said that he will
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In reply to I suspect it will not just be by Richard (not verified)
Tada has said that he will have no involvement in the next edition of the 86 whatsoever. He said he will be focusing on a possible return of the MR2 and/or the Celica GT4. I have a ZN6 86 and have to say that I am extremely happy with how it performs. It ain't no drag racer but always puts a smile on my face when the corners are a plenty!
Maybe that's a good thing?
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In reply to Tada has said that he will by Nathan (not verified)
Maybe that's a good thing? If Tada is going to run around resurrect Toyota's greatest bubble era name plates, great! I would love to see a new GT4.
I was spoiled by an FD RX-7 in my twenties. It was still very much a light weight corner car, but it's power was just as telepathic as it's turning. I have an ND2 now, which has pretty good power to weight and great handling, but doesnt come with the warp speed of the FD.
Part of the reason I picked the ND2 though, was because I thought it could be modded to get the power to weight I'm looking for, safely. I wasnt as sure I could do that with the 86's FA20 and other internals, and higher starting weight.
And THAT is the buried lede in this article about the BRZ/86 update, IMO. Assuming they keep the weight down, the new engine can take more tuning and FI than it's getting in the Ascent, even if it's starting out detuned or sans turbo. If they can keep the car ~2,800, you'll be making 300 without stressing the 2.4 boxer and making better than 1:10 in a car with great handling.
/win
Would it honestly be too much
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Would it honestly be too much to ask for Toyota to Just bring back the Celica? Toyota has a decent idea with the 86 and all but they're letting a great opportunity go to waste. The Supra is a 2-door/2-seater rear wheel drive sports car. Why not do something like this. Take the basic layout from the Lexus RC, Take the upcoming 2.4L Turbo Boxster from the STI (since Toyota & Subaru are collaborating on cars anyway), a manual trans w/ a 10-speed automatic option from the LC500, an AWD option to resurrect the Celica GT-Four, give it 2+2 seating, blend in a few cues from the 70's Celica fastback (hood vents, taillamps, interior styling cues, etc) bring back the GT-Four rear spoiler, hood and unique aero upgrades, make it a hatchback 2-door, make it good, but still leave room for some TRD options and upgrades (TRD Brembo 6-piston front brakes, TRD Optional wheels, TRD intake, TRD dual exhaust system, TRD Coil over setup, TRD Sway bars, TRD seats, TRD Steering wheel, TRD shift knob (manual and auto) and other things. Honestly I would say the TRD GT-Four should have the 2.4L Turbo (roughly 330hp) while a regular RWD TRD GT should have a 2.0L 315hp Turbo and the base should have a 275hp non-turbo engine with optional AWD. It's obvious the Supra is going to get additional trim levels and power upgrades (probably something in the 445-480hp range with the new BMW engines coming out and if the Porsche-Derived MR2 mid-engine sports car is coming out I'm pretty sure it's going to be somewhere in the high 300hp to low 400hp range so even if the Celica were to peak at 335-345hp (which shouldn't be a problem for this engine) , it would still have it's own place in the range as a 4-seater 4-cylinder performance coupe, which the Celica has always been. It also makes sense because there is no point in having three 2-seater coupes. that's just dumb. The ca should be roughly about the size of the Ford Mustang with a comfortable interior and ample storage being that it is a lift back car. This would be a great car for Toyota to bring to their lineup. there was a concept drawing for the Celica about a year or so ago with a sleek, white 2-door coupe which would be a beautiful baseline to go off of for the Celica. Personally, besides doing some minor tweaks to the spoiler design and using a modified design from the current gen Camry's taillamps, the concept would be ideal for what the new celica should look like.
And what would you be
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In reply to Would it honestly be too much by vmbondjr (not verified)
And what would you be prepared to pay for this? Because what you've described WOULD be more expensive than the current Supra.
I wrote in last night about
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I wrote in last night about Toyota reviving the Celica and bringing in a 2+2 performance coupe to bring the Toyota Trio back to life and add a more practical performance vehicle to the performance lineup. I thought of something else earlier being that the last Celica generation had an engine shared with Lotus and I think that the Celica should have a Range topping Celica GTS model sporting and engine collaborated with Lotus and that being the Supercharged 3.5L V6 from the Evora GT410. The engine produces 410hp/310tq in the Evora and mated to a Lexus/Toyota 10-speed automatic with a RWD chassis with an optional manual transmission. The car would prove to be a top-notch performance coupe from Toyota, still leaving room for a near-500hp top of the Range Supra. a Celica TRD GTS model would be an awesome package for the GTS, equipping the car with bigger brembo brakes, different exhaust manifolds, optional cold air intake, higher flowing exhaust, TRD coil over suspension, sway bars, strut braces, chassis upgrades, TRD wheels, TRD aero upgrades including a rear spoiler and scooped hood and a TRD enhanced interior. Honestly, the 86 should be a Corolla and the Corolla should go back to being a RWD car with an AWD option. Let the Prius take over the FWD segment and let the Corolla go back to being a sporty RWD based compact hot hatch in sedan and coupe form and give it a hot inline-4 option for an 86 GT performance package with an optional TRD package available for it. Take the Camry, move it to the new Toyota Global platform, make it RWD like the Lexus GS (Basically the Toyota Mark-X), Bring out a real TRD version with the above mentioned supercharged 3.5L Lotus V6 410hp engine with a 10-speed auto, high flow exhaust AWD, TRD wheels, chassis, suspension brakes, aero and interior upgrades and that would really be great for the lineup.