Toyota and Mazda Join Forces: The Next GR86 Will Share Its DNA With the MX-5, But Not Before 2028
Two rivals long seen as running parallel tracks are about to converge. Toyota and Mazda, names more often linked through competition than cooperation, are preparing to co-develop their next generation of affordable sports cars.
For years Toyota and Mazda have been viewed as competitors rather than collaborators, but the script is changing. Reports suggest the two automakers are gearing up to jointly shape their upcoming entry-level sports cars. The result will be the next-generation Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5, each spun off a shared platform yet designed to retain its own character.
While a debut is unlikely before the middle of 2028, the blueprint already appears well sketched. Production will be consolidated at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant on a single assembly line, though the cars will differ at their core with distinct powertrains. Insiders say the foundation is Mazda’s updated MX-5 platform, a chassis that won over Toyota engineers with its crisp, intuitive handling.
Mazda will shoulder the bulk of the engineering work, while Toyota supplies capital and gains access to fresh technologies in return. The divergence between the two models will be most apparent in size and layout. The MX-5 remains a purist’s two-seater, available as a roadster or coupe, while the GR86 preserves its 2+2 cabin configuration, requiring a slightly longer wheelbase.
On the technical front, both cars may employ hybrid drivetrains derived from a two-liter petrol engine, though each brand is expected to craft its own variation to preserve individuality.
If the plan holds, the latter half of the decade could deliver a rare double act: two lightweight, playful Japanese sports cars born from the same collaboration yet distinct in personality. In an era when performance machines often grow heavier and more homogenized, this alliance promises a refreshing counterpoint.
