Details about the second generation of the Toyota 86 are sketchy at best, but according to the automaker’s chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, who led the development of both the 86 and the A90 Supra, the next-gen compact sports car will be even better than the original.

Speaking with Which Car at the recent Australian launch of the 2020 Supra, Tada-san said that there is a “new 86 team” developing the next model and stressed that “we have to make a new 86 that surpasses the Supra… that is what the customer expects.”

Since it is highly unlikely the second-generation 86 will surpass the latest Supra in terms of outright performance, Tada-san is probably referring to the overall driving experience and smiles-per-mile it will provide.

Also Read: Next-Gen Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ Could Debut As Concepts At Tokyo Motor Show

A recent report from Japan’s Best Car indicates that Toyota and Subaru will, once again, collaborate to develop a bespoke rear-wheel drive platform to underpin the new 86/BRZ twins, as neither Toyota’s TNGA architecture nor Subaru’s Global Platform are suitable for a sports car. It is also claimed that the pair will continue to be powered by a Subaru-sourced flat-four, but use a larger, 2.4-liter engine rather than the underpowered 2.0-liter found in the current models.

It remains unclear if this engine will be turbocharged or naturally-aspirated. If it uses forced induction, power will probably sit at roughly 260 HP, while a NA 2.4-liter can be expected to put out around 220 HP. Either way, both a six-speed manual transmission and six-speed automatic should be available.