New reports coming out of Japan suggest an all-new Toyota MR2 is being developed by the GR performance division. The project was originally developed as a mid-engined version of the GR Yaris. However, it’s now set to be a sports coupe that borrows the famous Midship Runabout name.
Earlier this week, Toyota filed patents for an EV with a manual gearbox which is also supposed to be called the MR2. But there could be two versions of the car, just like the next-gen A100 Supra. The one enthusiasts will be most excited about is the mid-engined sports car with a 1.6-liter turbo.
After the 86 in 2012 and the Supra in 2019, Toyota is looking to revive yet another iconic name. The MR2 has already begun development according to Japanese magazine Best Car and will be ready by 2026. But initially, the chassis was developed for a mid-engined version of the rare GRMN Yaris.
The person in charge loves old European hot hatchbacks like the Renault 5 Turbo and the Clio V6, which had engines at the back. However, the GR division isn’t seeing enough demand for hot hatchbacks in Japan, despite the GR Yaris being the big winner in the WRC.
It’s believed hatchbacks are more of a European car, and so Toyota is reviving a name it knows will be popular in Japan: MR2. The engine chosen is also quite impressive, the G16E-GTS, an intercooled, turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder.
The latest version features D-4ST, a system with both direct and port injection, which yielded 304 hp in the GR Corolla. For the mid-engined MR2, that number will be increased to 320 hp and 289 pound-feet of torque (392 Nm). Best of all, it won’t have any electrification, not even hybrid assistance, so we know it’s going to be light.
We’re told the test platform has already been built as a hatchback and is now being redesigned in the spirit of the original AW11 MR2. So you can expect a modern twist on a tiny coupe, not the Miata-rivalling MRS roadster that followed.
The 2026 Toyota MR2 is expected to measure about 4.4 meters or 173 inches, about 4 inches longer than a Golf R. But it will be much lower at 1230mm or 48.4 inches, compared to the VW’s 1465 mm (57.7 in). Total weight? Only 1300kg or 2866 lbs.
Many components will come from the GRMN Yaris, which is limited to 500 units. Thus, it’s expected that the MR2 will also be a limited-edition car, and it might be exclusive to the Japanese market. According to Best Car, it will be produced as Toyota’s “last pure engine sports car,” and it won’t be cheap.
Prices are expected to start from 10 or even 11 million yen, equivalent to $68,000-$75,000.
