Toyota's Quest for Speed: Why the GR86 Needs Friends

Forget the days of solo triumphs. Toyota is eager to crank out more sports cars, but it’s hit a wall—the Japanese giant can't do it alone. Enter the co-pilot strategy: partnering with other brands to bring the thrill back to the road. Case in point, the 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno Edition. 

Now, don’t get too misty-eyed over dreams of a new MR2 or Celica. As much as Toyota's top brass, and indeed all of us, would love a fresh take on these legends, the reality is stark. The market for such niche products is dwindling. Thus, Toyota’s bean counters have been more comfortable sharing the burden. Subaru helped birth the GR86/BRZ, while BMW joined forces for the Supra/Z4. These collaborations make financial sense, but they also keep the flame of performance cars burning.

In a candid chat with the Aussie press, Gazoo Racing President Tomoya Takahashi didn't mince words. He admitted Toyota’s solo days in the sports car arena are numbered. “The sports car market is shrinking,” he lamented. “We cannot maintain sports cars as one brand, Toyota. Collaboration between brands will increase in the future.” 

The search for new partners is on. This means a fresh Toyota sports car isn’t just around the corner. However, hope isn’t lost—remember the Toyota GR GT3 prototype seen at Spa-Francorchamps? It’s set to morph into a Lexus road beast, possibly named "LFR," packing a turbocharged V-8. Expect to see it roaring down the streets as early as next year.

Takahashi emphasized a mission beyond mere survival. “It’s not for one manufacturer to survive, but to protect car enthusiasts.” Hence, the need for collaborations to spread out the development costs, making sports car projects financially viable. Last October, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda teased a Celica reboot. But without any spy shots, don’t hold your breath—it’s a ways off.

Before another sleek sports car hits the scene, GR might switch gears entirely. Takahashi hinted at the need for a performance SUV to cater to speed-loving families. Whatever the form, the goal remains fun cars, not just fast ones.

An all-Toyota sports car seems off the table for now, except the GR GT3/LFR. The world’s largest automaker is eyeing potential team-ups, possibly with Mazda. They’re already partners in the crusade to save internal combustion engines, and Toyota holds a five-percent stake in Mazda. A joint venture wouldn’t be far-fetched.

Mazda’s next-gen MX-5 is likely to go hybrid, a move where Toyota's expertise would be invaluable. Let’s not forget Mazda's collaboration with Fiat on the Miata-based 124 Spider. Sharing costs again would be a logical step for Mazda, especially when matched against a titan like Toyota.

So while speculation abounds, one thing is clear: Toyota isn’t throwing in the towel on sports cars. The GR Yaris has just had a refresh, and the Supra is gearing up for a hotter GRMN version with even more BMW muscle. The thrill is very much alive.