The new Toyota 86 is infinitely better than the new Subaru BRZ because it hides the front plate mount better

[TexturedSoyProtein]

The front fascia of the new Toyota 86 has leaked. The new 86 will of course generally look much the same as the already-revealed 2022 Subaru BRZ, but with one very important distinction. The BRZ has a flat surface right in the middle of the body-color portion of its front fascia where a front plate is supposed to go. Therefore, without a front plate, the new BRZ looks stupid.

But, from the looks of these patent drawings, the new 86 TOTALLY REDEEMS ITSELF by integrating this flat surface on which to mount a front plate into the black plastic grille.

Sure, there's that little area where the honeycomb pattern is interrupted for the plate mount, but it's so much easier to ignore than the front plate mount situation on the BRZ.

So, if I were hypothetically shopping for a 2nd gen (heavily facelifted first gen?) Toyobaru, I would only look at the Toyota, because that wart on the BRZ's fascia is horrendous.

[CB]

@texturedsoyprotein Counterpoint: it's a great mounting spot for a lightbar/Hellas.

[TexturedSoyProtein]

@cb Just what every wannabe drifter and/or trackdaybro needs!

[CB]

@texturedsoyprotein Track bro? Grid road life, baby!

[Longtime Lurker]

@texturedsoyprotein We need more nighttime track days.

[flatisflat]

@texturedsoyprotein Given the styling of the rest of the car, I'd really only consider the Toyota version ...since the rest of it is already a baby Lexus.

I am glad to see that Toyota's front bumper treatment isn't egregiously weird or anything like that; quite palpable.

[Boxer_4]

@texturedsoyprotein The front plate mount definitely spoils what is otherwise a good looking front end (in this day and age). Subaru tends to be hit or miss with integrating the front plate mount (SH Forester was also not great). Unfortunately the new BRZ is a miss. Otherwise I think I like the front on the BRZ better - I’m getting tired of the big gaping grille design trend, and at least the new BRZ isn’t that big of an offender. I’m looking forward to seeing one in person to make a final judgement on the styling overall.

[orneryduck]

@texturedsoyprotein they both look good overall but that detail is a real differentiator. I dare say the details of the new 86 front feels more classic Subaru than the actual Subaru one.

[Jarrett]

Ooof. That baked-in mount is a shame. I use my tow hook for offset goodness with no mess up front.

[Boxer_4]

@jarrett the more I look at this design, the more I realize that the plate mount is the single biggest design detail on the new BRZ I don’t like. Everything else I at least like, and a lot of it I love. The design fixes a lot of my styling dislikes of the previous generation (inside and out). But that front plate mount...

[ranwhenparked]

@texturedsoyprotein I just still don't get why automakers are still so terrible with front plate mounts, its not like its a new issue that just suddenly cropped up.

If I had the Subaru version, I'd have to find something to mount there, because there's no way I'd drive around like that. And those pewter Delaware state seal plates just look to heavy and chunky for the car, and are big theft magnets anyway. I had a friend at work who had one swiped right off the front of her Jeep parked at the Chase center. In her case, she bought it in Maryland and didn't want to deal with repairing the holes the dealer drilled to attach the bracket.

[Boxer_4]

@texturedsoyprotein

So close to being perfect...

[LimitedTimeOnly]

@texturedsoyprotein I have assumed that I'll be targeting the BRZ based on the idea that if I'm getting a Subaru engine then I might as well get the matching package. And the current gen supposedly had better handling in the Subie version. But if the Toyota looks better and handles similarly, then maybe I'll reconsider.

It won't be based on the front plate location, though.

[TexturedSoyProtein]

Of course, the front plate mount on the BRZ is still miles better than the situation on the facelifted FD RX-7. Such a pretty bumper ruined by that plate mount. There's been a steady trade in JDM facelift FD bumpers with the plate mount shaved ever since the late 90s.