All-new 2026 Toyota MR2 sports car edges closer

Toyota is readying an all-new combustion-engined sports car that will revive the famous Toyota MR2 nameplate in 2026.

Introduced back in 1984, the Toyota MR2 lived for three generations until it was culled from sale back in 2007 without any direct replacement.

Since then, the sales success of the Toyota GR Yaris, GR 86 and GR Supra has sparked interest among senior Toyota bosses that has finally led to the decision to build an entry-level sports car to rival the likes of the Mazda MX-5.

According to Japan’s Best Car website, the MR2 successor will have a 2+2 layout and draw heavy influence from the well-received 2015 S-FR concept.

Toyota’s former CEO and now company chairman, Akio Toyoda, has previously spoken of his personal ambition to reunite the “Three Brothers” – the MR2, Celica and Supra.

The GR Supra was revived in 2019 and the latest GR 86 inhabits the same footprint as the Celica.

Although it’s believed to be shunning EV power for the reborn MR2, Toyota also plans to launch a new two-seater battery-electric sports car that will be heavily influenced by the 2023 FT-SE concept.

That concept was originally touted as the MR2’s spiritual successor, with similar dimensions and classic mid-engine proportions to the original MR2.

The FT-SE is due to launch towards the end of this decade, leaving time for the combustion-powered MR2 to establish itself in the market.

The S-FR, meanwhile, tipped the scales at just 1050kg and measured 3990mm long, 1695mm wide and 1320mm tall.

If it keeps to that size, the new MR2 would be lighter than the Mazda MX-5 while being roughly the same size.

It’s also been rumoured that the new MR2 is being developed alongside a new sports car from Daihatsu, which was previewed by the 2023 Daihatsu Vision Copen.

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