A little over a year ago, Toyota surprised everyone by unveiling the GR Yaris M from scratch. While it wasn't the brand's first mid-engine hot hatchback concept (there was the Aygo Crazy in 2008 - and yes, that's what it was called), its unveiling came at a time when rumors were growing about the possible return of the MR2.
Since the GR Yaris M was first unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in January 2025, Toyota has been working intensively on testing and further developing the concept. It has been spotted on race tracks in Japan several times – further fuelling speculation about a mid-engine sports car. It seems highly unlikely that it will actually be a car with a sloping roof in the end, however: the wild Yaris will likely serve as a testbed for another model.
In an interview with the British newspaper Auto Express, Mikio Hayashi, marketing manager at Gazoo Racing, explained that the GR Yaris M project is progressing well. He even hinted that a production model with this engine could be possible: “[Toyota] is improving this car every day. All the knowledge and feedback gained from developing this car in motorsport will be used for something else in the future – perhaps a road car or a production model. We will continue on that path.” When asked if Toyota would revive the MR2 name for this – which was last offered almost 20 years ago – Hayashi’s answer left room for different interpretations: “Thank you for your suggestion.”
The new MR2 wouldn't be the only big-name Toyota sports car in development: the Celica is also expected to return, possibly as the Celica Sport. Both are likely to use a 2,0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine designed for high power. From what company representatives have said, both GR models will have more than 400 horsepower and all-wheel drive.
The new MR2 would not carry the Toyota logo, but the Gazoo Racing logo – as the GR has since established itself as a separate brand. It would sit below the V8-powered GR GT and probably above the Celica. With the Supra also expected to return in the future, Toyota is increasingly establishing itself as a sort of sports car savior among mass-market brands.
It's unclear whether the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and GR86 will remain in the lineup in the long term - maintaining so many powerful models at once could be too much of a stretch. On the other hand, both hot hatches continue to be based on production vehicles, while the coupe could continue as a joint development with Subaru. If the rumors are true, a third-generation 86 could even be developed in collaboration with Mazda and presented as a sister model to the next Miata/MX-5 - but nothing is officially known about this.
Toyota has been openly talking about the return of the Celica and MR2 models – so there’s clearly something exciting in the air. The GR Yaris M could be powered by the G20E in a mid-engine configuration, but it’s also known that this four-cylinder engine is also suitable for front-mounted installation.
The timeline for the new MR2 remains unclear, though – it’s not expected anytime soon. GR president Tomoya Takahashi said in January that a mid-engine sports car is not realistically expected to arrive in the next four to five years. Still, it’s a clear sign that Toyota intends to continue expanding the GR lineup.
