Shock brands joining forces! Toyota and Mazda to build new sports car duo that could be the new GR86 and a mystery Roadster: Report

Shock brands joining forces: Report

Toyota GR86 and Mazda roadster digital render. (Image: Best Car)

An unholy alliance could be forming.

Reports from Japanese outlet Best Car, which is known for its well-placed sources in the country’s car industry, suggest Toyota and Mazda are working together on a new sports car duo.

Best Car has delivered some head-turning digital renders that boost the appeal of this unlikely duo.

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Mazda has a history of building excellent sports cars in house with its rotary powered RX series and the universally loved MX-5.

Now Best Car has revealed rumours Mazda will build a new roadster with the help of Toyota, with it likely to be based on the new GR86.

Whether this will replace the MX-5 is unknown, so is if this will actually happen or just stay a rumour.

There is a chance this roadster could be pitched as a bigger — potentially four-seat — drop top to sit above the MX-5, but that’s just speculation.

It is believed Toyota has taken the lead of the new GR86 project from Subaru, with that partnership delivering the GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins.

Hybrid power is expected to be at the heart of the new GR86 and mystery Mazda roadster.

It is expected to use a new potent Toyota hybrid setup.

This is expected to be a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine — the same found in the GR Yaris — paired with an electric motor and small battery.

It will likely be a parallel hybrid setup and still drive the rear wheels.

There are some rumours that put the 86’s hybrid setup at about 200kW, a big step up from the circa-170kW of the current version but a feasible upgrade considering the full-blown 1.6-litre unit's 224kW punch in the GR Yaris.

There is a chance that Best Car might be missing the mark, considering Mazda is believed to be working on a production version of the striking Iconic SP concept that was shown at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

That car is tipped to use a rotary engine as part of a range extender hybrid setup. This means the engine is used purely as a generator to charge a battery with the wheels driven by electric motors only.

Mazda is a small carmaker on a global scale and the chances of it finding room in its range for three sportscars is unlikely.