The notion of an electric sports car is not a new one, but generally speaking, plug-in hybrid powertrains are unfavourable due to the weight penalty of the batteries and the fact they have to coexist with a petrol engine. So what is the possibility of a 2027 Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ plug-in hybrid happening?
Earlier this month, Subaru – who manufactures and engineers the platform for the BRZ and GR86 – revealed a new hybrid powertrain, which it intends to fit to its vehicles to deliver proper economy benefits. For reference, the existing ‘e-hybrid’, which manages a mediocre consumption average of 6.5L/100km in the case of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid S, is generally considered more on the mild-hybrid side of things.
The new setup debuted in a Crosstrek prototype incorporating a series-parallel hybrid system with a boxer engine. Being series-parallel means the petrol engine can act only as a generator to power the battery and electric motor, but it can also send power from the petrol engine directly to the wheels.
Considering that hybrids and plug-in hybrids (overseas) are a cornerstone of Toyota’s range globally, it’s not too farfetched to consider the idea of a GR86 hybrid or PHEV. Considering the weight penalty of the RAV4 PHEV is about 200kg compared with the non-hybrid version, with an 18.1kWh battery, the GR86 could get away with a 10-12kWh unit, potentially halving that weight penalty. In any case, the weight would be concentrated within the wheelbase, meaning the impost to handling would be minor.
One potential downside would be the omission of a manual transmission, which doesn’t really work with electrified powertrains. But, it would alleviate the need for turbocharging the FA24 engine and augment its performance.
It would also bring in a whole new generation of electric car enthusiasts, for whom the GR86 would not have been on their radar whatsoever. If we use the gap in total power from the RAV4 PHEV compared with the regular RAV4 hybrid, an additional 62kW would bring the Toyota GR86 PHEV’s total system output to 236kW, with 0-100km/h times potentially slipping into the very low 5.0-second range.
What do you think about the idea of a plug-in hybrid Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ? Would you consider one if the performance was good and the handling remained focused and agile?
