Mr2 Is That You? Gr Boss Confirms New Mid-engine Sports Car

The Toyota MR2 rumor mill has been running rampant for years, but it picked up steam recently as the automaker got directly involved. 2023’s electric FT-Se concept hinted at what a modern-day MR2 could look like, while an MR2 Mk4 was briefly mentioned in a video the following year.

More recently, we’ve seen a mid-engine GR Yaris prototype and MR2 trademark applications. Akio Toyoda also teased a mid-engine surprise for the Tokyo Auto Salon, but that turned out to be two kei pickups.

More: Mid-Engine GR Yaris Is Back On Track As Toyota Tries To Shrink 2.0 Turbo

While fans are likely ready to give up hope, the company does indeed have plans for a new mid-engine sports car. Unfortunately, it’s still several years off, but it is indeed coming.

In an interview with Automotive News, Gazoo Racing President Tomoya Takahashi revealed the company’s new turbocharged 2.0-liter engine can be positioned at the front, rear, or middle of vehicles. It will eventually replace the company’s 2.4-liter turbo engine, but be even more powerful.

Takahashi also revealed it will be able to meet Euro 7 regulations without the aid of electrification. However, he confirmed there will eventually be hybrid variants with the engine.

“If we are going to mount this engine on many different vehicles, it’s almost mandatory to be able to combine it with hybrid technology,” Takahashi said. “We will be making such [a] development.”

The new inline-four is 10 percent smaller than the 2.4-liter turbo and Takahashi said “We developed it to fit in a small car like the GR Yaris because the packaging and engineering is more demanding. If we can do that, we can easily deploy it in bigger vehicles.”

As for when the mid-engine sports car will arrive, Takahashi reportedly revealed production is still years away. While he didn’t pin down an exact date, the publication said “engineers are in the first of four stages before mass production, a process that normally takes four to five years.”