Bigger engine, EyeSight safety tech suggested.
When the pair first arrived on the scene, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 offered exceptional driving fun for relatively little outlay, and brought driving enthusiasts back to the Toyota brand (and added a bit more excitement to the Subaru lineup). While the car sells in relatively small numbers, its appeal of offering agility and poise without demanding serious outlay is something that both companies value very much, which is why they are naturally working on a successor to the model.
The BRZ/86 pair will retain their Boxer-four and rear-drive layouts (with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission in between), though the engine is set to grow to 2.4L (up from the current 2.0L), so expect to find more power on offer than the present 152kW and 212Nm (with manual). The Boxer layout will be maintained though, and the chassis will see revisions that should drop the centre of gravity of the new sports cars by some margin (not that they were lofty to begin with).
The Subaru may gain unique touches though, though the most important ones aren’t aesthetic. A report from the Japan Times suggests that the BRZ will get “safety gear” like AEB and Subaru’s vaunted ‘EyeSight’ advanced driver assistance system, which the 86 may miss out on.
We’ll have to wait and see just how this shapes up, but it must be said that we’re awfully glad that the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 will be renewed to a new generation. It’s a car that we liked very much when we reviewed it in Toyota guise some time ago, with really positive driver feedback and a nimble chassis that ensures smiles no matter the speed. We can’t wait to have a go in the new car.
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