2022 Toyota GR86 Keeps the RWD Sports-Car Spirit Alive

• The second-generation Toyota 86 is here, this time with a GR as part of its name (meaning Gazoo Racing).

• It's once again a mechanical twin of the Subaru BRZ, with the same 2.4-liter flat-four and rear-wheel-drive layout.

• The GR86 should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year.

The second-generation Toyobaru lineup is complete now that the 2022 Toyota GR86 has made its debut. Like before, it's a virtual twin of the Subaru BRZ and once again features a rear-wheel-drive layout and a naturally aspirated flat-four engine. The addition of the GR moniker to its name refers to Toyota's Gazoo Racing division.

The improvements are numerous over the previous-gen 86, chief among them the larger-displacement flat-four engine. The 2.4-liter mill is said to produce 232 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque according to Toyota's global specs, but we reckon that the U.S. version of the GR86 will be rated at the same 228 horsepower as the U.S.-spec BRZ. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a six-speed automatic optional.

While the chassis is shared between the two models, Toyota claims that it has tuned the GR86 to handle differently compared with the BRZ. But the company has yet to provide specifics on what this entails, so we're eager to drive both sports cars to see if we can tell them apart from behind the wheel.

You'll also be able to tell the Toyota apart by its different front end, which has a distinct front grille and trim pieces compared with the Subaru. We can't spot any differences out back, and the interiors appear to be nearly identical aside from their infotainment displays and badges.

We expect both the BRZ and the GR86 to start around $31,000. The BRZ, scheduled to arrive in the U.S. this fall, will arrive on our shores before the 86. Toyota says that its version won't go on sale in Japan until fall, so look for more U.S.-market details before then as we learn more about our version that should arrive by the end of 2021.

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