Aussie tuners to influence next Toyota 86

If you were expecting big smoky burnouts and turbo blow-off valves hissing when the next-generation Toyota 86 arrives in around four years, you may have to look elsewhere – such as the 2018 Supra super-coupe.

But if an affordable, engaging rear-drive sports car is on your shopping list, the all-new second-generation Toyota coupe won't disappoint.

And it could have a distinctive Aussie flavour.

Although a turbo-petrol boxer engine is unlikely because it would make the affordable car unaffordable, the 86's chief engineer and Toyota royalty, Tetsuya Tada, said that the sort of wild modifications in evidence on enthusiasts' cars at the Festival of 86 in Canberra last weekend will have an influence.

Although it's still in the early development stages, we already know that Toyota and Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries have agreed to another joint-venture and are working on a new 86 and its mechanical twin, the BRZ.

Tada confirmed this from Toyota's side.

"We are talking seriously about the next-generation 86 with FHI, but it's just a stage. Things keep changing, however. For instance, I'm really willing to see all the Australian Toyota 86s of the owners, and how they modify them in their own way," he said, adding that he loves mingling with Australian fans.

"Seeing all those individual cars gives me a hint, so from this I can find inspiration and ideas [for the next-generation 86]," said Tada-san.

Australia is the third largest market for the 86 globally, after Japan and the USA, which means Toyota pays a lot of attention to our sports car likes and dislikes. Based on the number of turbocharged and supercharged Toyota 86s we saw at the 2016 Festival of 86, it's fair to say Aussies love power.

"That's the question I have been asked one thousand times," says Tada of a factory 86 turbo, "but for me it's a minor thing.

"Turbo? Everyone wants it. There is merit and demerit to using turbo," he mused. "It's just a part of it. It all comes down to spirit and turbo is more like an accessory.

"I get asked by the fans to do the turbo on it, and I do talk about this. In the future sometime, I would like to use the turbo maybe, but it's not the centre of my attention," he explained.

He argues that a turbocharged powertrain would make the next-generation 86 less affordable. But it's very much a case of never say never.

"One philosophy that I believe in regarding the 86, is that's it's rarely one way. Usually the car companies build the car then sell it one way.

"It's not like that [for 86]. We want to focus more on the user. The user comes up with many opinions and also from the modification shop, so it's like throwing a catch ball.

"The ideas go out, ideas come back. I never like to change that focus, it's always customer first. It's one thing I can say for sure, that style won't change for 86."

Unlike mainstream models such as the Corolla or RAV4, which typically have a shelf life of five or six years before they're renewed, the lower profitability that sports cars enjoy often see model cycles last up to eight or 10 years.

Launched globally in mid-2012, the 86 is already four years old. Tada-san wouldn't be drawn on when it will be replaced, but the Japanese giant's now-iconic affordable coupe will be eight years old when the global spotlight shines on Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games.

As we've reported, Toyota is a major sponsor of the games and plans to release eight new models showcasing its vision of future mobility at the 2020 Olympics.

When we mentioned this topic, Tada smiled and observed: "We are having 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Toyota is planning so many things for this event. It's difficult to say [what we might show]."

Among Toyota's surprises could be a production version of the Toyota 86 Shooting Brake concept that was conceived by the Toyota Australia design team.

"I am considering this, for sure, but we always come up with new good ideas, it's never ending. Amongst all the good new ideas, only one tenth reach to the stage of real production."

How about a convertible version of the 86, then?

"There are so many fans demanding to have a convertible. So because they are so keen, I am considering it very strongly. Maybe not this next 86 but maybe in the future."

How about a metal-roofed rival for the Mazda MX-5 RF to really stir things up? Not so much, said Tada-san.

"I prefer fabric roof, because it's lighter weight!"