Toyota 86 hybrid development reaches advanced stage

Toyota is considering several options for boosting the performance of the highly acclaimed 86 coupe, with weight reduction, forced induction, and an engine capacity increase among the possible performance boosters.

The adoption of an electrified hybrid drivetrain is another possibility, and Autocar is reporting that Toyota’s exploration of 86 hybridisation has reached an “advanced” stage, but is yet to score the go-ahead for production.

Speaking with Toyota drivetrain manager Koei Saga, the report suggests that a variety of hybrid technology options are being considered for the project.

The most performance-oriented of these is likely a KERS-style supercapacitor system similar to the Toyota TS030 Hybrid Le Mans racer and the Yaris Hybrid-R concept shown at Frankfurt last week.

However, Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada recently suggested to Carsguide that a supercapacitor-based hybrid system is unlikely for road-going models due to the costs involved with the technology.

Therefore, if a hybrid 86 is given the green light, a cheaper nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion setup as used by existing Prius models is likely.

Saga also suggested that the inevitable weight of a hybrid system could be offset by the 100kg weight reduction already achieved in testing, which could also be headed for future regular 86 models.

The transmission options for a hybrid 86 are also unclear, with all production Toyota hybrids to date using decidedy un-86 automatic transmissions. Yes the existing 86 model is available in auto-guise, but a manual option would be key in winning over enthusiast buyers. 

The sequential manual fitted to the Yaris Hybrid-R concept suggests that such a transmission could be headed to future production hybrids, and could be an ideal solution for a hybrid 86 variant.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn