The Toyota 86 was one of the most hyped cars of all time, hailed as the return of sportiness to the Toyota brand after years of bland and dreary. However, according to Toyota, sales have not been up to scratch globally but the brand still has plans to build a successor.

Toyota 86 Under Performing Globally

In an interview, Toyota of Europe’s Executive Vice President, Karl Schlicht hinted that the 86 was underperforming, but that Toyota wants to keep sporty models in the lineup, ‘The 86 as you know has been enthusiastically received by the motoring press, but the market’s not huge around the world for those kind of cars and they also have a bit of a lifecycle. So as a business it’s tougher to justify.’

Schlicht did confirm that the 86 would live on in the future ‘we are pretty serious about keeping the 86 pure and keeping a car like that in our lineup. Because in the past we dropped cars like the Celicas and fun cars, and we don’t want to lose that again.’

He was unable to be pushed for a date for the successor but as with all models, the Toyota 86 will have to go through a full life-cycle.