Subaru Might Not Actually Be Ditching Toyota for Its Next Big Halo Sports Car

The BRZ’s successor could remain a joint-venture with Toyota and revive an old Subaru badge from the ’80s.

Close-up of a blue Subaru BRZ front wheel with black alloy rim and orange Brembo brake caliper.

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Published May 13, 2026

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Updated May 13, 2026

It appears Subaru might not be showing Toyota the door for its next halo sports car after all. A new report from CarSales in Australia suggests that the automaker’s next-gen flagship and potential BRZ successor could arrive as a spin-off based on Toyota’s highly-anticipated Celica revival.

The update arrives as Australia’s intellectual property office just received filings for the “ACX” and “ACX STI” nameplates. More importantly, the trademark filings reinforce rumors surrounding what’s next for Subaru’s standalone sports coupe.

The end of the current BRZ is near

Blue Subaru sports car and red Subaru sedan parked by a waterfront with a mountainous town in the background at sunset. — The current BRZ just turned six years old, meaning its successor should be arriving soon.

Subaru has recently been on a mission to remind the world that it knows how to make sports and performance cars. After years of catering to the commuter and family outdoorsy crowd, the Fuji Heavy Industries-owned carmaker has made it clear that it wants to build fun cars again.

With the current BRZ coming to the end of its series production run, the timing couldn’t be any better. The current second-gen model has been with us since 2021. Because it just turned six years old, fans are wondering what’s next.

Additionally, with other Japanese automakers reviving some iconic sports car nameplates, many fans are looking to brands that haven’t yet jumped on the bandwagon.

Blue Subaru BRZ sports car cornering on a racetrack under a clear blue sky. — With the BRZ aging, and other Japanese automakers bringing back sports cars, Subaru fans are wondering what its next move will be.

Subaru is one of them. To prove it still has a pulse, the automaker revealed some enticing STI concepts, and it has made promises to revive the STI performance brand.

And now, it looks like the rumors are getting even hotter for the BRZ.

The BRZ’s successor could revive an old badge

White 1980s two-door coupe car with "4WD Turbo" badge parked on rocky desert terrain. — Previous rumors suggested Subaru could ditch Toyota for its next sports car effort. The last time Subaru made its own sports coupe was the XT from the 1980s.

In the latest development, rumors say the BRZ could be succeeded by a new model called the ACX and ACX STI. While the name might sound a bit random, it actually isn’t.

Subaru previously used ACX to name some of its earlier sports coupe concepts from the 1980s. It was the same period that also gave us some of Subie’s rarest and most desirable models, like the SVX and previously the XT.

In fact, Subaru specifically used the “ACX” badge to designate the production XT’s preceding conceptual prototype, the “ACX-II.”

White two-door sports coupe with black roof and rear spoiler parked on asphalt with mountains in background. — Subaru also tried making a sports grand tourer in the 1990s with the SVX.

Previous rumors also suggested Subaru could be parting ways with its partner, Toyota, for the BRZ’s successor. For the past two generations, Toyota and Subaru collaborated to produce the GT86 and BRZ twins.

But now, it appears those rumors of Subaru going on its own for its next-gen sports car aren’t holding water. Additionally, the trademarking of both “ACX” and “ACX STI” implies there could be two versions of Subie’s next-gen sports coupe.

The BRZ’s successor may stick to good ‘ole internal combustion power

Engine bay of a car featuring a Toyota D-4S Boxer engine co-developed with Subaru. The engine cover is black with "Toyota D-4S Boxer Subaru" branding. Visible components include various hoses, a battery with a red terminal cover on the left, fluid reservoirs with yellow caps, and an air intake system. The surrounding area is painted blue. — Word on the street says the BRZ’s replacement could ditch Subaru’s boxer-four for a more conventional turbo inline-four from Toyota

Other rumors also suggest the ACX could be Subaru’s next big all-electric breakthrough. Some hearsay hinted that the model could ditch internal combustion power for good.

Subaru has neither confirmed nor denied as much. The company did say it’s unsure as to which direction to take for its future STI models, and it even displayed both STI Performance-B and Performance-E Concepts at the Japan Mobility Show a few months ago.

Silver Subaru sports car driving in a tunnel with yellow double lines on the road. — Regardless of what happens with the BRZ’s successor, we’re just happy Subaru still wants to make fun cars again.

But CarSales latest discovery suggests Subaru might just stick to gas power for the BRZ’s replacement. Whether those rumors align with the ones regarding the model being a Celica spin-off, remain to be officially determined.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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