Sports car excitement with green spin

The FT-86 rear-drive sports coupe will be used to attract a new generation to the brand. Photo / Supplied

Toyota is likely to build a hybrid version of its FT-86 rear-drive sports coupe, the carmaker says.

The rear-wheel-drive coupe was unveiled at the Geneva show in near-production form and will be built alongside a sister car from Subaru.

The Subaru model will use a 2-litre flat-four boxer petrol engine - and there is talk that the FT-86 Toyota might also use the same Subaru powerplant.

A Toyota spokesman told reporters a hybrid FT-86 could be built.

"Why not? It's no secret we've been considering a hybrid sports car for a while," he said.

The carmaker claims the scoop-like grille and sweeping profile have been "generated purely according to the constraints of function and aerodynamics".

Subaru decided at the last minute not to display its version of the car but instead showed a "wire-frame" teaser model focusing on the engine, suspension and Lineartronic CVT gearbox that will be used.

It is understood that Subaru is planning more aggressive styling touches on the production version of the as-yet-unnamed model.

It's likely that both carmakers will unveil their production-ready models at the Tokyo motor show later this year, with sales expected to start some time next year.

Toyota will use its FT-86 rear-drive sports coupe to attract a new generation to the brand - and price it to undercut such offerings as the Mazda MX-5 at $51,100. It is not known if Toyota New Zealand will pick up the FT-86, but Toyota Australian certainly is.

Public affairs manager Mike Breensaid its price across the ditch would be ultra-sharp to attract buyers up from other Toyota vehicles, such as the Corolla.

"We would like it to be in the early A$30,000s ($40,900)," he said. "Eighteen months away is a little too far out to say it will be this or it will be that."

Breen said the FT-86 would add sports car excitement to the brand, something that had been missing since the demise of the Celica, MR2 and Supra in the 1990s.