Toyota Soarer could return

Three of Toyota’s most iconic sports cars could be set for a revival in coming years as the brand continues its spree of trademarking famous nameplates.

It’s no secret the world’s most popular auto brand is plotting a next-generation performance assault with models like the GR Corolla, GR Yaris, GR Supra, Celica and MR2, but it seems there could be even more on the cards, specifically a reborn Toyota Soarer, MRS and Trueno.

For those living under a rock, the Toyota Soarer was a more luxury-focused grand touring coupe alternative to the dedicated Supra sports car, with later models even badged and sold as Lexus SCs.

More subdued, luxurious, comfortable and relaxed than the equivalent Supra, the Soarer appealed to a different audience to the Fast and Furious poster child and was ultimately overshadowed in a lot of ways, but that didn’t stop it calving out its own niche and cult following.

One thing the third-generation Soarer had up its sleeve for instance was a 4.0-litre V8 which only served to emphasise its more premium positioning and solidify its separate identity further.

While far from a guarantee or promise of forthcoming product, Toyota is seeking to trademark a stylised version of the ‘Soarer’ nameplate with IP Australia exclusively under Class 12 – vehicles and components thereof – with the same true of the Trueno filing.

We don’t have a crystal ball, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the parallels between the V8-powered third-gen Soarer/Lexus SC and the upcoming Toyota GR GT3/Lexus LFR duo: a flagship Toyota sports-luxury coupe with Lexus bones (and heart) primed to be sold under both banners…

As for ‘MRS’, that was the name bestowed upon the last-generation Toyota MR2 in select markets to help mark it apart from previous, far more aggressive iterations.

With a new MR2 already in the pipeline, it’s entirely plausible Toyota might take a tin-opener to its mid-engine sports car and offer a convertible alternative, albeit with a matching nameplate.

JDM and drifting fans meantime will know the Trueno as one of the most iconic performance cars ever to come out of Japan.

North America was treated to a Trueno Edition of the current GR86 coupe last year, outfitted with special black decals and some other unique appointments designed to emulate the rear-drive Corolla made famous by the Initial D comic series.

Odds are we won’t see this special edition until later in the GR86’s lifecycle – perhaps as a swansong send-off – but this seems the most likely and application for the nameplate unless Gazoo Racing is cooking up some kind of rear-drive GR Corolla.

Lead image was generated using AI
LFR digital image credit: Kolesa.RU

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