Toyota confirms it will replace 86

Toyota has confirmed that it will replace its 86 coupe with a second-generation sports car that will be on sale around 2018-2019.

There were fears that the rear-wheel drive coupe, which was jointly-developed with the Subaru BRZ, would be killed off following slowing sales, but now Autocar has revealed the Japanese car-maker will have a replacement on sale in less than three years' time.

Toyota Europe boss Karl Schlicht told the British media outlet: "The GT86 will carry on. The car serves a big purpose. We are not getting out of that business. Sporty cars go through their phases. It's our intention to continue with that car."

Schlicht revealed that Toyota is currently in the early stage of product planning for a new GT86 (as the 86 coupe is known in Europe) before the car is handed over to a chief engineer.

When asked if the next 86 will be developed alongside the replacement for the BRZ, the Toyota Europe boss said: "Will it be with Subaru? I don't know. But for the concept to carry on, with the low engine, we'd have to do that. There are a lot of reasons to continue with Subaru."

Currently the 86 is powered by the Subaru-sourced FA20 four-cylinder 2.0-litre boxer engine that comes either with 147kW/205Nm or 152kW/212Nm.

Ruling out a convertible version of the second-generation 86 because of a lack of capacity, Schlict told Autocar that the future 86 would sit within the Toyota's sports car range below the forthcoming Supra, which has been developed alongside the new BMW Z4-replacement.

When asked about Supra, Schlicht said the "co-operation [with BMW] is going well" and that the replacement for the coupe, that was last on sale back in 2002, was "on track".