We Are Getting A New Toyota MR-2 After All, But It Will Take a Few More Years To Arrive

There have been many reports and scoops coming from Japan, regarding Toyota’s new Celica and MR-2 models. Some of them have been conflicting, but we are finally getting answers to important questions. The return of both nameplates has been heavily-hinted, and according to a more recent report from Japan, we have a good idea of how the GR Celica will be priced. Moreover, the company has trademarked both names, suggesting both will make an appearance. That said, the latest details are regarding the MR-2, and it’s bittersweet.

Related story: Should You Get A Toyota GR Celica Over a Chevrolet C8 Corvette? It Depends On A Few Things

The MR-2 is currently in early stages of development

Toyota is currently testing a prototype of a midship sports car, which is reportedly the MR-2. The test mule is a heavily-modified GR Yaris that features a mid-mounted engine, which clearly isn't the G16E-GTS. This, pretty much, confirms what we already know - the revived MR-2 will be powered by the new G20E, 2.0-liter turbo-four, capable of 400 horsepower in street guise.

The bad news is, the MR-2 will not be ready soon. Toyota Gazoo Racing President, Tomoya Takahashi, said that the development of the mid-engine model is currently in the first of four stages. This is roughly a four-to-five-year period, so the MR-2 revival will likely not happen earlier than 2030.

But something peculiar is happening at Toyota

Toyota has trademarked both the GR Celica and GR MR-2 (GR MR-S for some markets) names. Moreover, according to the latest scoop, the new Celica will also be mid-engine, which at first glance, makes one of the two sports cars redundant in the company lineup. Early reports painted the GR Celica as a front-engine sports car that would slot between the GR86 and GR Supra, which will reportedly go hybrid for the next generation. There is a possibility that Toyota is purposefully teasing us by providing vague information, in order to keep us guessing.

What we know for certain is that a mid-engine Toyota sports car is in the making, and it will be available around 2030. Akio Toyota confirmed that the 2.0-liter engine will be fitted in a mid-engine sports car, but whether it will be named the Celica or MR-2 is the real mystery. 

Gazoo Racing is far from done, and more exciting models are coming

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division is planning many performance models, as well as mildly spicy models, like the new RAV4 GR Sport, which replaces the previous Prime model and adds more power.

You can expect new “hot” versions of existing GR models, such as the Yaris, Corolla, and GR86, with the last two reportedly in for a comprehensive redesign in the near future. We also know that the G20E engine is highly versatile, both in terms of power output and in terms of layout. 

It can work longitudinally, transversely, with or without a hybrid setup, and with front, rear, and all-wheel drive. The engine is also said to have a rev-happy nature while covering Euro 7 emissions regulations, which is an engineering feat in itself.

At the end of the day, Toyota will use at least one of the two sports car names on a mid-engine sports car. My money is on the MR-2, simply due to the midship heritage it carries. While I still wish Toyota would make a new Celica, ideally in the image of the GT-Four rally legend, the fate of the name remains uncertain. As long as Toyota has the rights to the name, anything is possible. But I am curious to hear your thoughts on the midship model. Should it be called MR-2 or Celica? Let me know in the comments below.

Sources: BestCarWeb, Toyota FTSe Concept