Hybrid or EV GR 86 by 2025?
 

Hybrid more likely than EV for the 86.

I have been trying to convey this exact message for 6 years now.
The 2025 timeline goal is real.
It has been published for years now.
I was truly concerned that the 2022 was headed down the hybrid road.

No doubt I will now get to read loads of reasons why it is not feasible with references to weird and wonderful websites that counter what the auto industry has been saying their plans are for years now.

Aye. We will get several crossovers, trucks, and cars on the EV platform before we see anything niche, like a sports car. Probably in 2030 when the GR86 dies, they will announce the 2032 GR86 EV.

A mid-cycle refresh with some form of hybrid system would make sense a few years down the line. It would greatly boost milage but also give the car a lot more power, in theory. You might only add like 30 hp, but you could get something like 300+ lb ft of torque with an electric motor sandwiched between the motor and transmission.

I would be shocked if they invested in a manual hybrid, despite the concept *HV showing they have an interest in that idea.

Toyota is still very aggressive on the Hybrid. Look at Mazda and the MX-5. Next gen is rumored to be some type of hybrid as well. Its next logical step to keep ICE sports sellable around the world till they are out right banned :(

old, but maybe a preview (drivetrain) of what's to come?

https://global.toyota/en/detail/19001900

I think 25 is too soon.

Hybrid makes more sense for more markets, given the lack of EV infrastructure outside of specific markets. I'll be curious to see how they handle the weight problem

My guess would be more tire, more suspension and more power. I think there are fewer and fewer consumers as time goes on who are concerned about weight anyway.

No noise no want. I mean have you watched pikes peak with randy Pobst in a model 3. I mean he is fast as shit but you need a siren going the whole time because of no noise, very annoying. I would say at least 70% of my spirited weekend runs is to hear the exhaust or engine. Not saying driving a n EV fast is not fun, just that it’s missing something.

Does anyone make a manual transmission hybrid? I know the original Honda Insight had a manual option, but that was with a serial hybrid setup. Might this be the end of the manual transmission as well as the light weight?

Pretty sure honda has been the only one with insight, first gen civic hybrid and crz.

i believe it. that's why i stretched and got the vehicles i want beforehand.

though i am somewhat curious how they're going to work ev equipment into existing ICE vehicles. it's not like there's a ton of extra room in anything that they can just plop the batteries under the seat and call it a day.

A lot of manufactures have been putting small batteries for hybrids under the trunk floor.

Honda Fit(.86kwh), BMW 330e 12kwh come to mind.

The fit’s battery is only 43kg, the system seems very sensible from a mass perspective. It’s a 30hp boost for <200lbs over the ICE fit: https://www.marklines.com/en/report_all/rep1235_201312

i didn't say it wasn't possible, just curious how they go about in the end.

i suspect in the 86's case, they're going to shrink the gas tank some, and split a pack across the top of it.

Both Subaru and Toyota made a big deal about how their newest platforms are completely adaptable for EVs. I don’t follow any others but no doubt they are headed down the same road.
They have been working on this for many years and new tech rolls out almost monthly.
The naysayers call scream about all the hurdles but the companies are push past them quickly.

Maybe eliminate the rear seats? Certainly having rear seats can be a selling point for some people, but how many would also be willing to forgo them for the added power? Given the low volume of the car already, I suspect you wouldn't be losing out on that many sales. You would also be keeping the weight low and between the axles.

Based on this thread you would also cut around 21 pounds by removing the seats.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7881

the car also fits a different insurance bracket when it's a 4-seater

Removing rear seats doesn’t make room for batteries. They’re not gonna put batteries on top of the fuel tank.

I think what’s going to happen is that for 2025 the platform is going to get a mild hybrid update, probably with a very small battery like the fit hybrid, <1kwh.
This way it will conform to the rule of ‘everything needs to be a hybrid’ but only just, and it will get a 20 to 40 hp bump with a weight increase on the order of 100 to 200lbs. May be less if they can book some more weight savings, but probably unlikely.

I suspect the Miata will be looking at a very similar path forward.

A PHEV (plugin hybrid) with the batteries under the rear seats would be a neat 86.

But its still fairly heavy and expensive, just not quite as much as a full EV.

Full hybrid design is a bit cheaper and lighter, with still providing a very slight amount of EV only use.

A mild hybrid is potentially the pick of the bunch for affordability, being the lightest and least expensive. However it has the least amount of battery performance - but perhaps enough to make the drive more enjoyable without sucking the life out of the chassis with weight gain.

I don't think making such a low-volume car into a hybrid or even an EV makes sense anytime soon.

It would certainly require a lot of R&D, but also might make the car too expensive, and at the same time not as desirable by gearheads they clearly try to cater to with the 2nd gen (based on their marketing pitches, at least).
I think they can achieve great "total emissions across all models" numbers while keeping BRZ/GR 86 plain-ICE.

In fact I wish this exact strategy was a viable options for car manufactures to keep ICEs alive in low-volume "enthusiast" cars, but many governments have already decided to just outright ban ICEs. They also keep lying to everybody (including themselves) that EV cars are zero emissions.
An ICE car with low yearly mileage can certainly generate less emissions than an EV of an Uber driver, especially if you factor in the environmental impact of production and end-of-life recycling.