2014 Toyota GT86:
When Hybrid meets KERS

The Toyota GT86 belongs to the most performing end of vehicles produced by the Japanese carmaker.

Light, powerful and agile, it’s a niche car that was made for sport cars enthusiasts.

Starting at a relatively affordable £25,000, [$37525 USD] which has made it a very popular choice on websites like Car Sales, the GT86’s main focus has always been performance.

But times are changing even for sport cars daredevils. Fuel efficiency is starting to play a role in the future development of the Toyota GT86, something that will make the 2014 version unexpectedly eco-conscious.

Not even a year ago, this would have been an unthinkable development.

But with the GT86’s chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada, stating that the next Toyota GT86 will be a hybrid car, there is now no more doubt now that something big is cooking up underneath the bonnet. 

And it won’t be anything you’ve already seen before as, according to Tada, the car won’t be supporting the traditional Toyota hybrid system.

With the TS030 Le Mans Prototype very likely to be the main inspiration behind the new GT86, improved hybrid performance is expected to be attained through a KERS system.

Implemented on Formula 1 cars already, the KERS recovers energy during the braking process to give the car extra torque power when needed.

Apart from admitting the presence of a KERS on the new hybrid GT86, Tada also ruled out the use of a turbo, which would add weight and turn the vehicle into a more expensive one altogether.

Having captured strong interest in the whole automotive world, the new GT86 has attracted the attention of both Bridgestone and Dunlop.

It has been rumoured that both companies are now getting ready for the development of this eagerly awaited model: tyres uniquely tailored for the GT86 are already on their way.

Flanking the base model, more exciting GT86 models are also on the cards. Recently announced by the Japanese brand, a convertible model is ready for presentation at the Geneva Motor Show which starts on March 7th, and is expected to be launched early in 2014.

Meanwhile, for what concerns the most performing end of the range, a FIA-compliant GT4 version of the current GT86 is now being developed by British engineering company, GPRM, and is expected to deliver between 360hp and 400hp.

The GT4 version is expected to take part in competitions around the globe from the beginning of 2014.