2026 Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ gain tech and chassis upgrades

The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ sports cars have been upgraded with new technology, equipment and cosmetic changes, and the updated Toyota coupe is due to arrive in Australian showrooms later this month with unchanged prices.

The GR86 changes have been announced for Japan, where orders for the updated coupe open later this month. Toyota Australia has confirmed the upgraded model will also be available here from later this month, issuing this brief statement:

“Toyota Australia is pleased to confirm a raft of enhancements for the GR86, including the introduction of a distinctive Moon Slate Grey paint colour, further chassis improvements, updated interior trim, and additional safety features. The updated GR86 will arrive in Australian showrooms later this month.”

The changes detailed for Japanese models are largely expected to be offered here as the GR86 battles the Honda Prelude, Nissan Z and Mazda MX-5 in the sports car sales race currently led by the Ford Mustang.

These include changes to the throttle control settings, which Toyota says results in a more linear relationship between accelerator pedal input and powertrain response, as well as revised electric power steering calibration that's intended to improve stability in high-speed corners and on rough surfaces.

The six-speed manual has had its shift-interlock chamfer finetuned and broadened by 0.5mm, which Toyota says allows smoother downshifts between fifth and fourth gears for “stress-free, at the limit corner entry”.

The most obvious change is the introduction of the Moon Slate Grey exterior paint option for the first time in Australia. The colour is also being reintroduced in Japan after being offered on the previous-generation Toyota 86 for a limited period in 2017.

It’s expected to cost the same $600 price premium over the standard flat red paint as other optional colours here.

Toyota says it has also improved cabin quality, with redesigned switches and upgraded materials intended to improve ease of use, while the red and black interior trim has been redesigned with more red around the driver’s seat in a nod to the previous-generation Toyota 86 cabin.

The GR86's EyeSight driver-assist technology, developed by Subaru, gains a new triple-camera setup in place of the current two-camera arrangement, combining wide-angle stereo cameras with an ultra-wide-angle monocular camera for a broader field of view.

The GR86 and BRZ two-doors are made alongside each other at Subaru’s Gunma plant in Japan and are closely related, with only minor specification and tuning differences.

Subaru Japan has announced a similar set of changes for the BRZ, apart from the new Toyota paint colour, but Subaru Australia has not confirmed the upgrades for local showrooms.

The BRZ was updated earlier this year, including the introduction of the BRZ tS Kiiro, limited to 95 examples for Australia and finished in striking Sunrise Yellow paintwork.

The most recent updates for the GR86 were announced in late 2024 and included steering and suspension upgrades, a recalibrated automatic transmission bringing earlier downshifts, and a GR86 Limited Edition finished in Forest Shadow green.

The GR86 and BRZ are both fitted with a 174kW/250Nm ‘FA24’ 2.4-litre naturally aspirated horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine, with a choice of six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions driving the rear wheels.

The GR86 starts at $43,940 before on-road costs, while the BRZ starts at $47,890 plus on-roads, with the price difference partly due to higher standard equipment levels for the Subaru, including 18-inch alloy wheels compared with the Toyota’s 17-inch wheels.

Toyota sold 383 GR86s in Australia between January and July 2026, and Subaru's sports car twin wasn't far behind with 379 BRZ sales. Sales of the two models were down 21.8 per cent and 16.1 per cent year-on-year, respectively.

MORE: Explore the Toyota GR86 showroom
MORE: Explore the Subaru BRZ showroom