Rumorpile: Toyota GT86 To Go WIth Hybrid Power?

By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

March 8, 2013

Only being on sale for just over a year, Toyota is already working on a mid-cycle refresh on the GT86 coupe (Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ in the states). This news comes from the chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. Tada also revealed that Toyota is considering doing a high performance model.

“We are already working on a mid-life facelift for the car, and we are investigating both turbocharging and supercharging too. But an electric motor assistance solution is also possible, and would bring benefits that forced induction does not,” Tada told Autocar.

Using a hybrid system to increase the performance in the GT86 is an interesting option. Tada explains that using a hybrid system could provide a huge boost in low-rpm torque for the engine without affecting throttle response or compromising on fuel economy or emissions.

This would add weight to the coupe, but Tada said the weight could be offset somewhat by further weight loss of the vehicle.

“Our TRD tuning department has found it easy to take 100kg out of the kerbweight, and have developed certain underbody fins and plates that can be employed to alter the dynamic balance of the car, to increase or reduce oversteer at medium and high speeds. They have quite a pronounced effect."

Source: Autocar

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.