Next best thing? New Toyota 86 GR and Subaru BRZ could get hybrid powertrain instead of eagerly anticipated turbo engine: report

The second-generation Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ sports cars could get a hybrid powertrain option in the future, according to a new report.

During a recent interview with Best Car Web and other media, Toyota and Subaru’s development teams were asked by the Japanese publication if the GR 86 and BRZ could feasibly use one of Toyota’s hybrid powertrains.

The answer? Well, it “is not impossible”, apparently, although the development teams in question naturally stopped short of confirming whether the GR 86 and BRZ would embrace electrification to increase performance, let alone when and how.

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Needless to say, though, while the GR 86 and BRZ are currently only offered with Subaru’s 173kW/250Nm 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol boxer four-cylinder engine, that may not always be the case, especially with ever-tightening emissions regulations.

That said, fans of the sports-car twins have been crying out for a turbocharged engine option with considerably more power and torque since the inception of their first-generation models, but it appears to be no closer to coming to fruition.

According to Best Car Web, engine availability and potential crankshaft and transmission packaging issues have so far prevented Toyota and Subaru from boosting the GR 86 and BRZ, although their atmo capacity is 400cc larger than that of their predecessors, which used the same platform.

In the meantime, Australian buyers can look forward to the naturally aspirated GR 86 and BRZ entering local showrooms early next year and late this respectively. Stay tuned.