Toyota Plans to Bring Back the MR2 Sports Car

Toyota is reportedly preparing to revive the MR2, one of its most beloved sports cars, as part of a broader expansion of its performance-focused GR brand. The new model is expected to retain the classic two-seat, mid-engine layout that made the original MR2 popular among driving enthusiasts.

According to the report, the revived MR2 will be powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of producing up to 600 PS, an unusually high output for a compact sports car. Such power would place the new MR2 firmly in the high-performance category, competing with some of the more serious sports cars on the market.

The mid-engine configuration, in which the engine sits behind the driver near the car's centre, is typically favoured for its handling benefits. This layout can help distribute weight more evenly across the vehicle, improving stability and cornering performance, qualities long associated with the MR2 name since its original debut.

The car will reportedly join Toyota's GR lineup, short for Gazoo Racing, which the company has been steadily expanding in recent years with models designed to appeal to driving purists. Bringing the MR2 under the GR umbrella suggests Toyota intends to position it as a serious, performance-oriented product rather than a simple nostalgia piece.

The report also indicates that Toyota is planning to revive the Celica, another sports car with a long history in the company's lineup. Details about the Celica's specifications have not been disclosed, but its inclusion alongside the MR2 points to a wider effort by Toyota to rebuild its sports car heritage.

Neither Toyota nor GR has officially confirmed these plans, and specific details such as launch timing, pricing, or final specifications remain unknown. However, the reports have generated considerable interest among fans of classic Japanese sports cars, many of whom have long hoped for the return of both nameplates.

If confirmed, the moves would mark a significant step in Toyota's strategy to strengthen its sports car offerings and reinforce the GR brand's identity as a serious performance division within the wider company.