TOYOTA

Toyota tests new four-cylinder engine in GR86 future FR Concept

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division tested the GR86 Future FR concept—powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine—during a race in the Japanese Super Taikyu endurance series at the Okayama circuit.

A mid-engine sports car, believed to preview the long-awaited successor to the MR2, drew the most attention during the Super Taikyu endurance race. However, it was not the only intriguing machine Toyota brought to the Okayama International Circuit. Gazoo Racing also used the event to test the GR86 Future FR concept—an experimental prototype in which a turbocharged three-cylinder engine has been replaced by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit.

Although the production GR86 has never featured a turbocharged engine, it is worth noting that its racing counterpart did. A few years ago, Toyota equipped this coupe with the 1.6-liter engine found in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla—which produces approximately 300 hp—to test synthetic fuels using a 1.4-liter, reduced-displacement version created by shortening the piston stroke. Now, that engine has been replaced by a newly developed, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter unit.

The powertrain, codenamed G20E, is part of Toyota’s new family of smaller, lighter four-cylinder engines. The Japanese automaker has been teasing these engines for some time, including their use in the GR Yaris M concept and a subsequent coupe, where a 2.0-liter engine is positioned behind the driver. In the GR86 model, it sits under the hood and produces approximately 220 hp.

While this is significantly less power than that of the G16E-GTS engine, removing the turbocharger has reduced the weight at the front of the car. Turbo lag is no longer an issue, and Gazoo Racing driver Kazuya Oshima told *Car Watch* magazine that the engine can rev higher than the development team had anticipated. The naturally aspirated configuration should also provide a more direct and predictable throttle response, particularly when accelerating out of corners.

Beyond replacing the boxer engine found in the production model—and the turbocharged engine used in the racing version—the concept features several other changes. It utilizes a double-wishbone suspension setup at both ends to further enhance handling, with engineers currently testing various suspension geometries. Interestingly, Japanese media report that this particular GR86 carries the internal nickname "Levin"—a name historically associated with the sporty versions of the Corolla.

That's a far cry from the G16E-GTS, but removing the turbocharger has made the front end lighter. Turbo lag is obviously gone, and Gazoo Racing driver Kazuya Oshima told Car Watch magazine that the engine revs higher than the development team expected. The naturally aspirated setup should also make throttle response more immediate and predictable, particularly when accelerating out of corners.

Aside from ditching the road car's boxer engine and the race car's turbocharged setup, the concept brings other changes. It also uses double-wishbone suspension at both ends to sharpen handling further, with engineers testing various geometries. Interestingly, Japanese reports say this GR86 is internally nicknamed "Levin," after the sporty Corolla nameplate.

Toyota has yet to confirm what will power the next-generation GR86, and the new 2.0-liter engine shouldn't be taken as a guarantee that the production car will abandon its current powertrain. Nevertheless, this race car provides an intriguing look at the solutions Toyota is exploring for future sports cars.

Since Toyota is only now testing the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine in a race car, don't expect it in the next-generation GR86 anytime soon. The development program still has a long way to go, and engineers will need time to fine-tune the powertrain before considering it for a production model. If the engine makes the cut, it could take a couple of years to reach the road. For now, Toyota hasn't confirmed whether the next GR86 will ditch its Subaru-sourced 2.4-liter boxer engine for an in-house four-cylinder.

The Toyota GR86 Future FR Concept is a track-testing prototype developed by the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) division to validate mechanical solutions expected to define the future of the brand’s road-going sports cars.

The vehicle recently made its debut at a round of the Super Taikyu endurance racing series at the Okayama Circuit in Japan, serving as a true "test mule" for the next generation of the GR86.

1. The end of the Boxer engine (Goodbye, partnership with Subaru?)... The concept’s major paradigm shift is the abandonment of the Subaru-supplied Boxer (horizontally opposed) engine, which powered the first two generations of the sports car. The GR86 Future FR Concept adopts an inline four-cylinder engine developed in-house by Toyota. Should this configuration reach production, the model would achieve complete design independence.

2. The all-new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine (G20E)... Although Toyota previously tested a turbocharged version based on the 3-cylinder block found in the GR Yaris, this new prototype returns to natural aspiration (no turbo), prioritizing an "analog" driving experience.

• Codename: G20E (part of a new family of smaller, lighter, and highly efficient engines).

• Power: Approximately 220 hp.

• Dynamic advantages: Removing the turbocharger and its auxiliary components has reduced weight at the front of the vehicle. Torque delivery is now completely linear, and the engine is capable of reaching much higher RPMs with smoother operation.

3. Enhanced dynamics and chassis:

• Layout: The engine has been positioned in a "front-midship" configuration (set further back within the engine bay), which significantly optimizes the car's weight distribution. • Suspension: The original setup was replaced with an independent, double-wishbone configuration on all four wheels, refining handling through corners.

• "Levin" Nickname: Within Gazoo Racing, the prototype was given the codename "Levin"—a direct homage to the classic, rear-wheel-drive sports versions of the Corolla (from the AE86 era) that have been immortalized by automotive culture.

This is an interesting development because the GR86 has always relied on Subaru-sourced boxer engines, even though Toyota has helped shape the coupe's character. Switching to an in-house inline-four would mark a significant departure from that formula, potentially suggesting Toyota is taking a more independent approach to developing the next-generation sports car.

Alternatively, the two companies could still be collaborating, with Toyota leading the engine while Subaru contributes elsewhere. Neither scenario has been confirmed, but the prospect of a Toyota-developed powertrain in the GR86 raises questions about how the partnership might evolve for the next generation.

Toyota has yet to confirm which engine will power the next-generation GR86; the new 2.0-liter unit should not be taken as a guarantee that the production model will move away from its current powertrain. Nevertheless, this race car offers an intriguing glimpse into the solutions Toyota is exploring for its future sports cars. Since Toyota is only now testing a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine in a race car, it should not be expected to appear in the next-generation GR86 anytime soon. The development program is still far from complete, and engineers will need time to further refine the powertrain before considering its use in a production model. Even if the engine successfully clears all development stages, it could still be several years before it finds its way into a road-legal vehicle. For now, Toyota has not confirmed whether the next GR86 will move away from the Subaru-sourced 2.4-liter boxer engine in favor of an engine of its own design.

This is an interesting development, as the GR86 has historically relied on boxer engines supplied by Subaru—even though Toyota played a key role in shaping the coupe's character. A shift to an in-house four-cylinder engine would mark a significant departure from the established formula and could suggest that Toyota is taking a more independent approach to the development of its next-generation sports car.

Another possibility is that the two companies could continue their collaboration, with Toyota leading engine development while Subaru contributes in other areas. Neither scenario has been confirmed, but the prospect of the GR86 featuring a Toyota-developed powertrain raises questions about how the partnership between the two companies might evolve for the next generation.

Regardless of whether another joint project between Toyota and Subaru takes shape, it is clear that Toyota remains committed to its affordable sports car. The GR86 has carved out a unique niche in the market as a relatively affordable, rear-wheel-drive coupe—at a time when cars designed for driving pleasure are becoming increasingly expensive and complex. It belongs to a breed of vehicle that is slowly fading away, yet not quite extinct.

Now that Toyota is testing engines from the G20E family in both front-engine and mid-engine sports cars, it appears the company is exploring various potential applications for its next-generation powertrains.

Autonews