It seems rumours of the Toyota 86's death have been greatly exaggerated. Well, that's the word from Toyota in America, at least, which has responded to claims the brand's accessible rear-drive performance car is destined for the scrap heap.
Japanese reports that Toyota's focus on the incoming Supra would spell the end for the 86, which is jointly developed with the Subaru BRZ, seemingly doused rumours a new-gen version would appear in 2021.
The problem, the reports say, is that Toyota's four-cylinder Supra engine options effectively shrink the gap between it and the 86 to an unmarketable level.
But Toyota in the USA has stood up for its popular performance car, at least in the short term. Even if it did stop short of confirming a new-generation model.
"As Akio Toyoda said at the reveal of the 2020 Supra, Toyota is committed to building exciting vehicles, including sports cars. The 86 has been in the Toyota family since 2013 and the plan is that it will continue to be a part of Toyota’s sports car line-up," one spokesperson told US outlet Motor1.
Toyota Australia has been contacted for comment.
The Toyota 86 or the Supra? Which is your performance pick?
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.
But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.
And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.
When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.
But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.
More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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