This is your first look at 2022 Toyota 86...sort of

We're glad that the Toyota-Subaru boxer twins will live for another generation. The (almost) all-new BRZ debuted just before the end of 2020 and is slated for the 2022 model year. However, there is still no sign of its Toyota counterpart, the 86. It's rather unusual given that the first-generation models were launched at the same time.

For now, Toyota is biding their time with their version of the flat-four sports coupe. That said, there are a few alleged photos of it that surfaced online. But before you get excited, you can't see the whole car yet. It's not even the car itself. Instead, it's a patent photo of a panel.

Still, it's a pretty significant development because it's the bumper. If it's true, the patent image gives us a good idea of the production model's front end. Of course, it shouldn't surprise anyone that it will look similar to the BRZ. These two models are practically rebadged versions of each other.

The cut for the headlight looks similar to the Subaru, and it has the “bottom breather” grille as well. It's not a total carbon copy, though, since there are some differences. While the grille is well below the tip of its nose, it has a different opening. Also, the edges are more defined than the ones found in the Subaru with its corner intakes similar to the GR Yaris. You might also notice fewer lines on the (alleged) 86's bumpers compared to its Subaru brother. 

As for the rest of the car, we're expecting the two to share several body panels, namely the doors, fenders, and quarter panels. There's also a good chance that the interiors are the same since that applied to the previous generation.

The engines are likely the same, too. If so, the 86 will use a 2.4-liter flat-four from the Subaru Ascent. However, it doesn't come with a turbo. That doesn't mean it doesn't make enough punch. The new engine puts out 228 PS and 249 Nm of torque; a substantial increase of 28 PS and 44 Nm over the current 2.0-liter.