Next Toyota 86 is reportedly delayed because the CEO doesn’t want a BRZ Clone

They are essentially the same vehicle in terms of performance and aesthetics.

After the recent Subaru BRZ release, Toyota has been quiet. Contrary to popular belief this isn’t all bad. The Japanese automaker wants the new 86 to be different from the BRZ. Best Car Web has reported that both the BRZ-86 and BRZ will be produced on the same production line. We were curious to find out what would distinguish them.

Toyota President AkioToyoda made a statement to the design team to “make a distinction in performance from the BRZ” even though the alliance was not yet complete. This will likely offset the Toyota variant’s release next year.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that there are very few areas where improvements can be made. Engineers looked into engine tuning and changing gear ratios to improve the driving experience. Any more intrusive changes could delay the launch of the 86.

We have seen that the Toyota will sport an exterior design that is largely identical to its Subaru counterpart. You’ll notice minor differences in the profile of both the rear combination lamp and the front bumper. The badge is the only distinguishing factor.

The horizontally-opposed, 2.4-liter four cylinder FA24 engine will continue to provide power. It puts out approximately 228 horsepower (170 Kilowatts), and 184 pound feet (249 newton meters) to the rear wheels. This engine is a significant improvement on previous models like the FA20 or EJ20, which barely cracked the 200 horsepower (149 kW).

Although it is not clear if the modifications will make the 86 a truly unique package or not, both vehicles do a fantastic job at satisfying the rear-wheel-drive sports car market.