We may have waxed lyrical about the Toyota 86’s handling balance and on-the-limit finesse but as far as we are all concerned (you and I included), Toyota’s most exciting product in years is not quite the perfect little sportscar for one little reason: it’s just not fast enough. 200 hp is nothing to shout about these days, not when a mere Volkswagen Golf offers as much as 55 hp more.
The people over at Toyota are well aware of this issue however, and a more powerful, hardcore version of the 86 is well on its way to production reality later on within its life cycle. With boost-tastic Subaru as their technical partner, you’d think that a turbocharger would be the obvious and best solution for getting more power. But you’d be wrong.
Speaking to Autocar UK, Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said, “I’ve been asked a lot about turbocharging, and we are investigating both that and supercharging too. But an electric motor assistance solution is also possible, and would bring benefits that forced induction does not.”
The thought behind this concept is simple: a hybrid powertrain would provide significant torque assistance in the lower rev range – where the current high-revving flat-four is at its weakest – without compromising the car’s throttle response or fuel economy like a forced induction solution would. It’s all about preserving and, if possible, enhancing the 86’s key virtues.
There are other benefits to this exercise too. The battery packs, as heavy as they are, could be systematically placed to lower the car’s centre of gravity further to the floor, aiding handling.
So how about that? A faster, more economical and even better handling 86. There’s a hybrid Toyota for all of us, it seems.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
That’s what Honda CRZ engineers were saying all along with the new CRZ. Push the boost (Sports+) button and the car is as powerful as a 3.0L.
Looks like they were right…
This car got good RV!
Arguing between turbo and hybrid? Why not both?
Electric motor assists at the lwer rev and tuebo kick in at higher rev. Ka-Boom! A no lag forced induction system!
I do agree with both solution, sometimes, when driving a hybrid, when the juice ran off, it’s a little pain to accelerate…
2 reasons:
1. Weight
2. Cost
Also, one more piece of technology is one more piece of technology that needs maintenance.
As these technologies mature, in all hope, their costs will decrease and make it viable in the not too distant future. I think one of the combinations we see are the turbo supercharged engines; but these do not have batteries or electric motors.
F1 2014 next year will have both for the first time ever. They will only use a 1.6L V6 Turbo Engine + KERS Hybrid system with a lower RPM limit, but the speed will be the same :]….!!!
Arguing between turbo and hybrid? Why not both?
Electric motor assists at the lower rev and turbo kick in at higher rev. Ka-Boom! A no lag forced induction system!
The CRZ, in a way, kick started this whole sporty hybrid thing and the Earth Dream tech shows that hybrid can boost the performance. More recently, even light speed hypercars : The McLaren P1, Porsche 918 and Ferrari F70(will never called it in its birth name) all proved that hybrids doesn’t have to be dull and efficient cautious.
So in a way, if Toyota Doesn’t mess up and put in a Prius HSD system and instead, a performance KERS-like system. So a 100hp electric motor added to a slightly up-rated version of the same Boxer 4, I don’t see how this can be bad. Yes it may not be turbocharged, but you still get the instantaneous respond the boxer 4, and if they can find away to fit the electric motor in some way not to ruin the balance(maybe above the rear axle) , this could be a real awesome car.
But this are all ‘if only’ as there is a huge margin that all this will go wrong. But Tetsuya Tada is still heading the project, so there is some assurance there as this guy knows his stuff.
Toyota 86/ Subaru BRZ’s engine already got turbocharged (dual AVCS twin-scroll turbo). Installed on Subaru Legacy B4 and Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon.
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 DIT
Engine: FA20
Power output: 300PS
Max torque: 400Nm /2000-4000 rpm
Fuel consumption: 12.4 km/l (JC08 mode test)
Kerb weight: 1560kg
Price: RM115k
Subaru Malaysia (Motor Image S/B) dont sell that model (yet). Their 2013 model still using EJ25.
265hp 350Nm torque. and the price is RM22xk.
Adding weight is always bad, at least the resulting inertia (eg. F10 M5,M6). Some more, if this car is destined for being future classics, than turbocharging is better idea, just my opinion.
But distributing weight is important when gaining weight. Install the battery as low to the ground to achieve lower centre of gravity.
If the car already have a good balance, then there’s no need to “artificially” adjust the center anymore. In this case, the 86 is already very well balance. The extra weight would just slow it down in corners. See Tesla vs Lotus.
Having mixed reaction on it’s overall performance but on the brightside, being a hybrid… may be more affordable here in Malaysia due to the hybrid tax exemption?
This is old news.
As long they don’t use Atkinson cycle, it would be fine for everyone.
I drive a Hybrid. When fully charged, zoom zoom like turbo. After few seconds when the BAT is flat, no more zoom zoom. Only few second of joy. Not terrific driving experience.
that’s bcoz you are driving a Honda hybrid *facepalm*
Welcome any cars built with passion.
But Toyota seems not confident about sunroof in hot climate, true?
add electric motor? would that increase the weight of the car hence its handling?
Might as well do a solar powered 86 then
Hybrid or not, this car just looks Ugly for the price in Malaysia. Look at the ugly tail lights.
Toyota has have the better looking design from Europe, but the ego people in Japan decided to use their Japanese design. What a shame.
But the drive is so nice that no car can match at the price point! (Global price, not malaysia).
Even as Top Gear car of the year, in Top Gear “Worst Car in the history of mankind” Jeremy said this is the best car he ever driven.
How many of us have the driving skill to drift the car in real life road?
Since we live in Malaysia, so let’s be more down to earth and talk about the price of GT86 in Malaysia.
And how many of us really need a 400 horsepower car on the road? Our speed limit is just 130kph and who need a 200mph car in real life road?
GT86 is not just about drifting all around, it just very fun to drive without swinging the tail and quite practical compare to other coupe.
I do agree with you for the price point in malaysia, What the heck is UMW thinking?? I hope there is another dealer selling toyota here!
Let me suggest. Independent electric motors running front wheel, and normal ic engine for rear wheel (current layout).
For sure will improve traction…
GT86 need what traction? This car designed to drift not to grip. Imagine what happen to a 86 which can skidding around?
Turbo adds weight to the nose, an electric motor can be placed in front / back or gearbox
why the author keep talking about cars we Malaysian cannot afford? so boring !!!
How about nuclear power?
This is quite a good idea. But the problem is, if they do, it will add in weight, which is not good. BUT, they can move all the batteries and motors as close to the wheelbase, improving CoG (Centre of Gravity). Therefore, this car will also benefit more power and torque from the motors, therefore with them close to the wheelbase, it will be able to go sideways and still have that good handling from the normal 86. Hopefully they don’t use CVTs though.
Oh and also, because the engine is not above 2000cc, the hybrid 86 would be given a ‘Hybrid Tax Exemption’ so then the ridiculous price tag of RM240,000 would be cut off, too.