Iconic Japanese sports car ‘all but confirmed’ for return – some 18 years after it was discontinued
AN ICONIC Japanese sports car has all but been confirmed for a long-anticipated return – some 18 years after it last rolled off the production line.
The Toyota MR2, the lightweight, two-seat, mid-engined sports car that ran over three generations from 1984 until 2007 is almost certainly making a comeback.
According to Auto Express, Toyota has all but confirmed it is working on a mid-engined sports car under the Gazoo Racing sub-brand.
Rumours of the model’s return have been around for months; we first reported on it in May 2024, when Japanese motoring magazine Best Car reported that the new car could represent the relaunch of the legendary MR2.
But a press conference at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this month revealed solid plans that the car will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
This will likely be a new ‘G20E’ petrol engine which was seen in the GR Yaris M Concept revealed at this year’s Auto Salon.
The engine’s output has yet to be confirmed, but Toyota says it’s aiming for the new G20E to be more powerful than the current 2.4-litre turbo found in Toyota and Lexus models overseas.
Previously, Toyota’s plan was to launch an all-electric sports car that would’ve presumably rivalled upcoming models set to be released by the likes of Lotus, Porsche and Alpine.
Speaking to Auto Express, Toyota GR engineering boss Naohiko Saito said: “This engine represents the beginning of a new development that will come from motorsport before we put it into production.
“We always learn lots with this way of working.”
This means prototypes of the GR Yaris M Concept will race in the Japanese Super Taikyu series.
This will give the new engine plenty of room for development before it’s used in road cars, and is a similar way the brand prepared the Lexus LFA supercar.
Launched in 1984, the MR2 was the brainchild of the Toyota’s design whizz Akio Yoshida.
It was born out of a 1976 concept intended to create a motor which would prioritise driver enjoyment while remaining strong on price and fuel economy.
The result was a revolution, with the MR2 becoming the first rear-mid-engined production car in Japan, meaning the engine was located just behind the rear passenger seats.
The model was eventually discontinued in 2007 amid falling sales.
The timing of the MR2’s return comes as Toyota are bidding a fond farewell to the monstrous GR Supra – but not before giving it one last hurrah.
The iconic sports car that’s adored by petrolheads was first released in 2019 as the Japanese brand’s fifth iteration of the model – some 17 years after it was last pulled from the market (we see a pattern emerging).
Now it’s set for retirement once again, but not before giving petrolheads one final treat with a 429bhp special edition model – revealed back in November – boasting aggressive new stylings and a race-inspired cockpit.
Known as the A90 Final Edition, numbers will of course be limited – with just 300 units to be sold globally.