Really hope this happens....however, really wish we could get some concrete details on the joint venture with BMW.

It's been talked about for a couple years now that I know of. They said this information during the first 86 winners trip to toyota HQ. wonder how many of my fellow first 86ers remember it?

Just great...another car to buy.....

im just picturing a mini hatchback frs body on an IQ chassis

Pretty sure that "real" one is just a mule (perhaps Aygo-based?).
Sorta like the Leg-preza frankencar that was the FT86 mule...

I'm not following I'm sorry, mule..?

Coming from a MINI I wouldn't like a joint venture with BMW & Toyota. I loved loved loved my 07' MINI Cooper S but the engine seized then caught on fire while driving on a curvy road. Luckily it was totaled & got the FRS.

Like a running concept - it uses the modified bodywork of existing models (i.e. the Mk V Supra maybe hidden in the chassis of a Mk IV for track testing).
It doesn't have the bodywork of the new model, just the mechanical bits.

It is like a testing platform.

Oh gotcha! Yeah hopefully dude. Really would love a hatchback 86.. but definitely nothing like the "real" picture. Dat concept doe

I thought the 86 was the entry-level sports car.

This looks more like a hot hatch that a sports car, will probably be very Dynamic, but boast disappointing power levels that everyone will complain about

The concept is about 100x sexier than the test mule, but that's no surprise. Hopefully the grillwork and headlights will be [completely] reworked for release.

And a lack of power is fixable. Hopefully it handles like the 86.

980kg (2160lbs), bespoke chassis, normal I4 motor with ~130hp/106lbft, and made by Toyota not Subaru.... this is what I wanted from the FR-S to begin with! Really interested to see how this develops and would unload my FR-S in a heartbeat for this depending on how it turns out! Like a better handling RWD DA Integra-RS! I had mine down to 2300lbs and it revved nicely with racing flywheel and was quicker off the line than my V6 Camaro...though it had 120'sh lbft torque.

Please make it a sexy coupe-hatch shooting brake design and fit for someone 6'2" !

Looks like clickbait to me, 2,100 lbs? Not even Lotus's weigh that little today.


If you mean the current 3-cylinder hardtop then yes, they line up almost perfectly on paper per this article.

However I just have to point out that the '14 Mini Cooper S is a Toyobaru fighter.
2,760 lbs to the Toyobaru's 2,800 lbs
189 horses and 207 ft-lbs of turbocharged torque usable at any rpm
Same engine is supposedly going to be tuned up to 230 horses for the JCW and a couple BMW's, wonder how much it would take to bump it up...
0-60 in 6.5 seconds with the MT, 6.4 with the AT (Toyobaru MT 6.2)
23 mpg city, 37 highway
More usable space in back with a hatch and seats folded down (although a bit shorter)
Nicer interior hands down, more space inside
Smoother, quieter, fewer worrisome noises from the engine, transmission, suspension
It starts at $24,950 (vs. current Scion @$25,470) and the dealerships are willing to wheel and deal unlike Scion.

Only downsides I can think of on paper are the FWD, run flat tires, styling, BMW's reliability track record, and of course if you don't like one of the things mentioned above (yeah there's a bit of turbolag). Don't have any regrets on my purchase but the new Mini is a solid contender for practical economical daily driver fun and weekend enthusiast driving.