Next-Gen Toyota GR86 Could Be More Miata Than Ever Before
If you're not already a fan of Toyota the way this writer is, the company seems determined to win you over. Last week, the Japanese automaker promised that it would continue to build exciting Gazoo Racing cars powered by combustion, and this week, there are rumors suggesting that it could use a Mazda engineer to make the next GR86 even better. This comes from the Japanese publication Mag X, which makes several claims. Instead of directly collaborating with Subaru or anybody else, it seems that Toyota will wholly engineer its affordable sports car in-house, albeit with some help from its compatriot automaker. The publication does not specify who this engineer would be, how long they would spend at Toyota, or what area their expertise lies in, but it's not an unfathomable possibility.
2025 Toyota GR86 Green w/ Bronze Wheels Front Angle 3/4
2025 Toyota GR86
This Rumor Could Fit Perfectly With Others From Japan
Last month, Best Car suggested that Mazda would collaborate with Toyota on its RX revival concept, and that this could have implications for the next Supra. We generally take these rumors with a pinch of salt, and it's quite possible that the suggestion of a Mazda engineer being loaned to Toyota has been crafted simply to take advantage of all the hype surrounding the revivals of several Toyota sports cars, including the Celica and the mid-engine MR2.
Toyota GR GT3 Concept
Lexus And Toyota Gazoo Racing To Develop New Models Together
The two brands will work in a new facility alongside their in-house racetrack.
On the other hand, if one rumor is true, perhaps the other is, too, and more information could be emerging simply because more employees at both companies are becoming aware of these projects. Until an official statement is made by either automaker, we'd caution against getting overly excited.
Toyota May Be Taking A Big Gamble
2025 Toyota GR86 Green w/ Bronze Wheels Rear Angle 3/4
After putting aside personal enthusiasm for the idea of more and more sports cars, one can't help but feel some level of apprehension for this purported onslaught of similar cars. Sports cars rarely turn big profits and are expensive to engineer, which is why the GR86 and GR Supra were built on their respective shared platforms. Without such comprehensive arrangements between Subaru and BMW respectively, neither car would have been approved by the beancounters. Which begs the question, why start going it alone again?
Toyota four-cylinder engine prototype
Toyota's New Combustion Engine Sounds Perfect For Sports Cars
Toyota's upcoming four-cylinder motor will have several applications, and it's going to sound great in all of them.
As for the Supra, BMW's engine arrangement with JLR bodes well for the prospect of an ongoing partnership with Toyota; BMW seems to like letting others use its engines. Even if Munich decides the Z4 must die, Toyota has the engineering might and financial stability to be fully committed to the next Supra, whatever BMW or Mazda decide. This is a halo car, just as the LFA replacement will be for Lexus, and keeping it around makes sense.
Finally-Getting-Turbocharged-Toyota-Power
Why Toyota's New Turbocharged Engine Is The Future Of The GR86
The engine signals the brand has faith in the entry-level sports car.
As for the risk of reviving the MR2 and Celica while going it alone with the GR86, it seems that Toyota is betting on the long-term benefits of its carbon-diverse, multi-model approach to maintain its position of strength. It has several projects on the go, including engines that run on hydrogen, and none of them seem too big or too small for only one car. Similar engines and platforms will help keep costs down, all developed as part of a massive investment that includes a facility just for high-performance cars. Basically, the question that raises an eyebrow more than anything is this: why would Toyota even need Mazda's help? Well, all Toyota's non-BMW six-cylinders are V6s, and maybe it wants to borrow the powerful Turbo S motor from the Mazda CX-90. We're probably getting ahead of ourselves, but that's what speculation is all about. Hopefully, something official will be said soon.
