Toyota and Mazda are preparing to join forces on their next generation of sports cars, according to reports out of Japan, in a move that could reshape the future of both the MX-5 Miata and the Toyota GR86.
Japanese magazine Best Car reports that Mazda engineers have already begun collaborating at Toyota’s development hub in Toyota City.
The project centres on updating Mazda’s lightweight rear-wheel drive platform rather than starting from scratch, with revisions to support hybrid systems and the 2+2 seating layout required for Toyota’s successor to the GR86.
The collaboration would mark another chapter in Mazda’s long history of alliances. A decade ago, its tie-up with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles produced the Fiat 124 Spider, a model that ensured the viability of the current ND Miata.
For the next Miata, Mazda is said to be sticking with an evolution of its naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, now paired with a small electric motor to deliver around 200 horsepower.
Toyota is expected to use its own hybrid system with comparable performance. Both cars will retain rear-wheel drive and are likely to be assembled in Hiroshima, echoing the production strategy used for the Fiat 124 Spider.
The partnership would also bring an end to Toyota’s collaboration with Subaru on the BRZ, which has shared development with the GR86 since their introduction.
The boxer-powered BRZ is expected to remain in production for several more years before the Toyota-Mazda joint venture takes over.
The new hybrid sports cars are reportedly scheduled to debut around 2028, promising a new wave of lightweight, electrified Japanese performance vehicles for enthusiasts.
