The Japanese automaker is not only the largest in the world (according to 2022 sales) but also one of the busiest, even when only talking about one region like North America. And there's the logic behind the Crown, Prius (Prime), Corolla Nightshade, 2024 Grand Highlander, plus Tacoma assault. After all, they have so many fan-loved products they need to keep up the pace or risk losing their faith.
As such, it turns out the Crown crossover-sedan's return to America, the Prius 'Hybrid Reborn,' the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid instead of the smaller C-HR, the Grand Highlander family-oriented three-row crossover SUV, or the all-new generation of the best-selling Tacoma mid-size pickup truck were not enough. Thus, it is no wonder that Toyota simply upped the stakes with the impending return of the Land Cruiser nameplate to the United States, plus a host of sporty limited editions from Gazoo Racing.
The division worked its magic on a trio of 2024 model year heroes – the CR Corolla Circuit Edition, the GR Supra 45th Anniversary, plus the GR86 Trueno special series. But, as it turns out, the rumor mill also never sleeps, and it's always ready to churn out the next story about something other than what Toyota has prepared. So, never mind the recent special editions or the upcoming Land Cruiser Prado or 250 because some unofficial venues are already talking about the third generation of the entry-level 86-series sports car, although the second iteration, dubbed GR86, has only entered into production in 2021!
According to an unconfirmed rumor heard by the host of the Halo oto channel on YouTube, who always provides fresh automotive info that is corroborated with their virtual designs, The Japanese automaker might have decided to break the partnership bonds with Subaru and go its separate way for the next GR86. So, instead of a shared development effort and the use of Subaru's iconic flat-four boxer engine, the all-new third-gen GR86 would seek the shortened underpinnings of the Lexus IS.
More so, according to the same unconfirmed source, Toyota will proceed to electrify the next iteration of the affordable sports car, with unofficial values rising from the current 228 hp to no less than 320 or even 330 hybrid ponies. Naturally, now there is also a new CGI take on the next GR86 made by the channel's resident pixel master – and it's vastly different from the real world's model but still keeps the same general ducktail-style DNA. Frankly, it's hard to speculate if the upcoming third-gen sports car will look like this simply because it is still too early to predict anything – if you ask us, the second-gen GR86 has at least five model years or so before biting the dust. Plus, why would they abandon the cost-saving partnership with Subaru?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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