Development of the New Toyota MR2
President of the Gazoo Racing sub-brand, Tomoya Takahashi, officially confirmed the development of a new mid-engine sports car by Toyota. In an interview with Automotive News, the top manager revealed that prototypes are already undergoing testing, but mass production is still a long way off: the project is only at the first of four stages of development. The finished car, the successor to the MR2, is expected to go on sale no earlier than 2030.
The heart of the novelty will be a completely new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine G20E, which is already being tested on the GR Yaris M concept. Takahashi noted that the current 300-horsepower 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine is not powerful enough for the mid-engine layout. The new unit will produce over 400 hp in the civilian version and over 600 hp in the racing configuration. It will be electrified (hybrid) and more compact than existing counterparts.
Resurrecting an Icon: The Toyota Celica
In addition to the MR2 successor, Toyota is actively working on reviving another icon, the Celica. According to Cooper Ericksen, Vice President of Product Planning in North America, the front-engine coupe is in an “advanced stage of development,” and its prototypes have already been demonstrated to dealers. The new Celica is likely to debut before the mid-engine model but not before 2028.
