Rumors of an MR2 revival surged before this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. Fans grew hopeful after cryptic posts from Toyota and chairman Akio Toyoda hinted at a mid-engine reveal. However, the teased vehicle turned out to be a tiny kei truck—disappointing many enthusiasts.
Despite this, Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi confirmed the MR2 revival is still happening. That said, it will take longer than fans hoped.
Many originally thought the new MR2 would be an EV based on the FT-Se concept. But recent plans point to a different direction. Last year, Toyota launched the GR Yaris M—a hot hatch with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, the G20E, mounted behind the rear seats. Now, Toyota uses the GR Yaris M as a real-world test bed for the next MR2.
Unfortunately, serious MR2 development has only just started. Takahashi said engineers are in the first of four pre-production stages. Typically, this process takes four to five years. So, the MR2 likely won’t arrive until the end of the decade.
When it does, it will run on gasoline—not electricity. Takahashi reaffirmed Toyota’s support for internal combustion engines. The G20E engine is highly flexible. Engineers can mount it in the front, middle, or rear of a car. They can also orient it longitudinally or transversely. Plus, it stays compact in size while delivering more power than Toyota’s current turbo 2.4-liter engine—which it will replace.
Importantly, engineers designed the G20E to meet strict Euro 7 emissions rules without hybrid help. Still, Takahashi left the door open for electrification. “If we put this engine in many vehicles, we’ll almost have to pair it with hybrid tech,” he said.
Although the GR Yaris M is small, the production MR2 will likely be larger. “We made the G20E fit in a tight car like the GR Yaris because that’s harder to engineer,” Takahashi explained. “If we can do that, we can easily use it in bigger cars.”
While he didn’t confirm the final design, insiders expect a two-door coupe with a sleek roofline—true to the MR2’s roots.
In short, the wait will be long—but Toyota is actively developing its next mid-engine sports car. For fans, that’s good news—even if the MR2 revival won’t happen soon.
