The Toyota GR86 is a wonderful little sports car, with well-balanced handling and a taut chassis, something that the brand previously said would be ruined by adding a turbocharger. The current, second-generation model, arrived without forced induction, but according to reports out of Japan, the third-generation model will be turbocharged.

As per Best Car Web, the Japanese automaker is already developing the GR86 successor, which is destined to arrive in 2025. The publication admits it was hesitant to report on the rumor, but investigated and backed up the statement. And also put together these cool renderings of the future car.

So, what can we expect? Well, the new GR86 will reportedly gain motivation from the GR Yaris. The phenomenal G16E-GTS 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine (also used in the exciting GR Corolla) produces between 257 and 268 horsepower in the smaller Yaris. That would be a significant improvement over the current model, which produces 228 hp from its larger 2.4-liter engine.

It should be more refined than ever before, with Toyota expected to use a shortened platform from the Lexus IS sedan. The aging Japanese premium car is based on the New N architecture, a platform that stretches back to 2003. However, we anticipate that the automaker will make significant changes to give the third-gen 86 a sporting feel.

Aside from a turbocharger, the GR86 is also expected to adopt a hybrid setup, borrowed from the newly-launched Crown models. The adoption of hybrid power and forced induction comes as Japanese legislation is cracking down on automakers to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

But there will be notable performance benefits. The hybridized mill will reportedly produce more than 296 horses, and might even hit the 325 hp mark. The current, Aisin-developed transmission won't be able to cope with the extra power and torque, so a new transmission will likely be introduced. Hopefully, the new GR86 remains available with a manual gearbox.

It seems Toyota had no choice but to embrace this route, as the company has been against it for some time. "At this moment, we don't consider those options, because we can't keep the velocity of 86. These adoptions .... will make the vehicle heavier and more expensive," said GR86 chief engineer Yasunori Suezawa to Australian publication Drive.

While this is merely speculation, Best Car Web has been right on numerous occasions and even previewed the aforementioned Crown months before the car was released. Interestingly, this isn't the first we've heard of turbocharged GT86 models. Toyota has fitted the turbocharged three-pot to several examples, albeit for development purposes.

"Yes, we are thinking for the future about the possibility of using it, but there are no concrete plans at the moment. For now, we're just using it to develop carbon-neutral fuels," said the company's Naoyuki Sakamoto at the time. While it sounds like the GR86 will morph into a more sophisticated sports coupe, we're just grateful that Toyota remains committed to the sports car cause.