The Toyota GR86 has been the most popular Japanese sports car among American enthusiasts for several years now, outselling its Subaru BRZ sibling and even the legendary Mazda MX-5 in 2025. Toyota (and Subaru) have been doing a good job keeping things interesting with special editions and new, sporty trims every year to keep the sales high. For example, last year, the brand unleashed the Yuzu version that keeps the same power (as always) but adds new quad exhausts, Sachs dampers, and Brembos on all four corners. You can even option it with a factory body kit, which is a first. But with the second-generation models already in their fifth year in production with no notable design or power updates to speak of, the GR86 is starting to show its age, and enthusiasts are eager for a successor.Toyota never officially confirmed it’s working on a new GR86 yet, but numerous rumors and whispers over the last few years strongly suggest that a third-gen model is in the works. It will very likely be developed alongside the upcoming four-wheel-drive Celica, which – unlike the GR86 – has been officially confirmed. As for the next-gen GR86, the latest and arguably most credible news comes from Japanese outlet Best Car, which is famous for often having insider information and the most credible rumors.According to the magazine, the next-generation GR86 is slated for a summer 2028 debut. The same source also mentions the sports car will stay gas-powered (most likely hybridized), keeping the same lightweight, rear-wheel-drive formula with a roughly 2,900-lb curb weight. That’s already plenty to get excited about, so HotCars’ talented render artists got to work creating their most accurate vision of the upcoming 2028 GR86 based on the information out there. And the result should get every Japanese sports car fan’s heart pumping. The 2028 GR86 Takes Shape HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render Every Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ fan knows that, ever since the platform debuted in 2012, these cars have only kept getting better. The initial models featured the notoriously lethargic FA20D, but Toyota and Subaru listened to our cries and gave us a new 228-hp 2.4-liter model that builds power like a proper sports car. The car also evolved from a relatively basic coupe into a more muscular one, growing haunches and curves that weren’t there before. The point is, there’s a good chance Toyota will keep the same trend going for the next-gen GR86 too, which is why our design looks sleeker and more aggressive than any GR86 before it.HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render Our GR86 render doesn’t have the kind of hip action, hood creases, or fake vents going on to visually challenge the Supra’s dominance in Toyota’s lineup, but it has just as much presence on the road and looks like it's going 100 mph standing still. It's still a compact sports coupe, with the same short wheelbase and compact design to match its rumored 2,900-lb curb weight, but the whole package is more modern and dialed-in.HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render For example, the large and playful front headlights of the current generation make way for smaller, sharper, and more focused ones that seem locked in on their target – similar to what Jaguar did with its last-gen F-Type. The front grille is also more aggressive, trading plastic for a sporty mesh and connecting directly to the carbon fiber splitter. With Gazoo Racing now in charge of developing Toyota’s performance cars, the GR badge needs to sit on the bumper just like Audi’s “RS” or BMW’s “M” badge would. Looking from the front, Toyobaru fans will recognize the famous double bubble roof – a defining feature in both the GR86/BRZ and the Supra.HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render Things get even more badass in the GR86’s side profile. 19-inch Michellins perfectly fill out the fenders, while new front and side vents integrated into the massive splitters allow air to reach all four corners. Door handles sit flush with the doors and give the Toyota a more luxurious vibe.HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render However, the further back you look, the more aggressive and unhinged the HotCars GR86 becomes – and the rear quarter is where it all comes together. It’s blockier and more muscular than any 86 before it, and almost looks like it belongs on a sporty new Lexus coupe. The same goes for the connected LED taillights that stick out of the car’s body lines and that massive splitter with two unnecessarily large exhaust pipes.HotCars 2028 Toyota GR86 render A center-mounted rear reverse and fog light similar to the Supra’s sits in the middle of the rear splitter for added effect. And yet, when you put it all together, it works perfectly. If the new GR86 looks anything like this, we predict it will sell like hot cakes. New Hybrid 2.0-Liter Inline-Four Engine In The Upcoming GR86? A few years ago, rumors suggested Toyota is ditching Subaru and teaming up with Mazda to develop the next GR86. That may still happen in the future, but the latest and most credible rumors conveyed by Best Car magazine suggest Toyota plans on stuffing its own naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four under the next-gen GR86’s hood. While that would mean Toyota is ditching the boxer and downsizing the engine, the four-pot will allegedly get an extra push from mild 48V hybrid assistance. The total output is slated at around 217 hp, and most likely with a bit more torque than the current 184 lb-ft, so its performance should stay roughly the same. The new GR86 will stay just as light and nimble at around 2,900 lbs and will keep its six-speed manual as an option, so the new hybrid powertrain will not take much away from its famously playful character, either.Pair that up with a badass design like that, and a new GR86 will definitely be a cool proposition. Still, 2028 is far away, and who knows what the car landscape could look like then. If emissions regulations allow it, Toyota may even ditch the hybrid and give the GR86 more power the old-school way. Whatever the case, you’ll find out as soon as we do.