Recent news has reached us that Toyota is in the process of making changes to the sports cars because of the return of the Supra.
For the past decade, the Toyota 86, which was formerly badged as the Scion FR-S, has been the single sports car that Toyota had to offer us. The return of the Supra to the market for 2020 is likely going to spell the end of the Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ, which is a similar car from Subaru that shares the same platform, with no return in sight for either one.
A Replacement isn’t Likely
While there were talks of a replacement for the Toyota 86 to keep this name going, another item has been considered and will likely be the one that spells a certain end for the car we’ve had for a decade. In Japan, there will be a four-cylinder version of the new Supra offered which will make 197 horsepower. With this new addition to the Japanese market, the Toyota 86 won’t be necessary and you won’t see this car offered as part of what we see in the future of the brand.
How Will This Change Affect Sales?
No matter the market, the Toyota 86 hasn’t been a sales gem over the time it’s been on the market. Now that a new and cheaper version of the Supra will be offered, there’s not going to be room for the 86 to survive. For the past ten years, the Toyota 86 hasn’t been upgraded much at all and it hasn’t had the support of a great marketing campaign from the brand. While this car has been a balanced and admirable small sports car, the Supra has the name that we admire and understand better than the 86.
Does This Mean Only the Supra for the Future?
The plan for Toyota isn’t clear when it comes to the sports cars it will offer for the future. While two versions of the Supra certainly make it possible for us to admire the drive and avoid the need for a car that’s slotted below the Supra, there is a name that we would love to see arrive on the market once again. If Toyota were to use a heritage name for our enjoyment, the MR2 would be the car that would make the most sense and it might be the next one offered.
Rumors of the MR2 and What it Might be
With the right rear-drive sports car on the market once again with the name we know and love, Toyota can turn their attention to the MR2 and create an electrified sports car that would be admired by all. This what we hope for the MR2 and the name that we hope will return. The Toyota 86 has had its time in the sun, but that time is over and now we’re ready to see a pair of names that Toyota has used to impress us in the past emerge as the right sports cars once again.
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