MR2 set for comeback

Toyota has all but confirmed it’s working on a mid-engined sports car under its Gazoo Racing sub-brand for release as soon as next year.

The company’s plan to build a two-seater has been on the radar for a while. But following a press conference at this month’s Tokyo Auto Salon, it will be powered by a new turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, according to media in UK.

This is a change from the initial plan for a fully electric sports car, which was previewed by the FT-Se concept in late 2023. 

Instead, the new Toyota will feature a mid-mounted G20E petrol engine as previewed in the Yaris M Concept, which was also revealed at Tokyo Auto Salon.

Naohiko Saito, Toyota GR’s engineering boss, told Auto Express: “This engine represents the beginning of a new development that will come from motorsport before we put it into production.”

Prototypes of the GR Yaris M Concept will race in the Japanese Super Taikyu series.

The new engine’s output has still to be confirmed, but it will be mounted in the chassis transversely.

Toyota has also suggested the new model will probably feature all-wheel drive, with Saito telling Auto Express, “this layout is new for us, but we’ve found in our initial testing that the combination of an all-wheel-drive mid-ship layout offers the best layout for high performance”.

Toyota has plenty of experience with mid-engined models, selling the MR2 over three decades spanning the mid-1980s and the late 2000s. Pictured above is a 1985 AW11 model. 

The new sports car is expected to feature a significantly more contemporary design, taking its lead from the FT-Se concept.