Toyota Chairman, Akio Toyoda, has cheekily hinted at a new mid-engined arrival via an animated video of a “conversation” posted on the Toyota Gazoo Racing X (Twitter) page. The reveal is slated for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 (TAS 2026), which runs from 9th to 11th January in Japan.
In the clip, Toyoda, addressed by his pseudonym Morizo, mentions that the brand has a new two-seater model with a midship layout. He noted that the car is currently undergoing customisation for its TAS 2026 debut, and expressed high hopes that the project will be finished in time for the show. Reading between the lines, it seems that Toyoda is heavily hinting at the debut of the next-generation Toyota MR2.
Hints for the MR2’s return first surfaced last year when Toyota unveiled the GR Yaris M Concept. In a departure from the standard front-engined GR Yaris, the M Concept features a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, referred to as the G20E, installed behind the driver’s seat in a mid-engine configuration.
That said, the MR2’s comeback still remains speculative, unlike the Toyota Celica, which the brand has already officially confirmed for revival. But as Carscoops recently reported, Toyota has indeed filed trademarks for both the “GR MR2” and “GR MR-S” nameplates, further fueling rumours for its return.
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The aforementioned G20E is expected to be the centrepiece of this purported all-new MR2. It is a key part of Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy, which aims to keep internal combustion engines alive through higher efficiency and modularity.
Destined as the successor to the marque’s outgoing 2.4-litre unit, the G20E is designed to be compatible with hybrid applications from the get-go, and can be mounted either longitudinally or transversely. Toyota has targeted outputs of 400 hp and 500 Nm without any hybrid assistance, but its engineers reportedly say that with a larger turbocharger, 600 hp is also possible.
While a 600 hp Toyota MR2 sounds exciting, should it come to fruition, this would likely be reserved for the track, with road-going variants keeping in line with the more pedestrian-friendly 400 hp outputs. Even in its tamer state, those figures will still far exceed the MK3 MR2’s 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine that sends just 140 hp and 171 Nm to the rear wheels.
Alongside its usual lineup of commuter cars, Toyota is clearly keeping to its promise to build more fun performance machines. With a growing roster that now includes the V8-powered GR GT and its all-electric Lexus sister car, the upcoming Celica, the next-gen GR86, and this alleged MR2 return, there’s certainly wont be any shortage of fun cars for enthusiasts!
We’ll have to wait until Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 to see the true identity of this mid-engined two-seater that Toyoda has teased, and the two-day wait will definitely feel like agony.
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