the Toyota The MR2 was a mid-engined sports activities automotive that was a whole lot of enjoyable for a low price ticket. It hasn’t been produced since 2007, and the MR2 title has sat dormant for greater than 15 years, ready for its probability to rise once more. With the Supra being revived a couple of years in the past, rumors are starting to swirl round Toyota that the MR2 will quickly rise from the grave as nicely.
In line with the Japanese auto publication Finest Automotivea turbo three-cylinder is being developed with the assistance of Suzuki to deliver the MR2 again to life. And supposedly, the brand new MR2-inspired hoot would be the most cost-effective mid-engined sports activities automotive within the US when unveiled, dwarfing the Porsche 718 Cayman by an enormous margin. These are simply rumors, however let’s take a look at the leaks and see what they must say concerning the “new” MR2.
Toyota And Suzuki Are Collaborating On The MR2 Engine
The ultimate technology of the MR2 got here commonplace with just one engine possibility: a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder making 138 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque. The rumored MR2 is definitely taking a step again from these numbers. The stories out of Japan state that Suzuki is growing a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that can produce round 120 horsepower.
This appears tame, but it surely supposedly will likely be mated to a hybrid powertrain. The efficiency will seemingly be just like that of the GR86, Toyota’s front-engined sports activities automotive, and that might truthfully be slightly disappointing. No less than it will not share the GR86’s boxer engine. It’s a little unusual that Toyota is seemingly working with Suzuki on the engine for the MR2 as they already produce a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder for the Yaris GR.
The Yaris GR additionally masses extra energy than the rumored Suzuki engine. The recent hatch makes 257 horsepower and redlines at 7200 rpm, numbers that sound much more becoming for a mid-engined sports activities automotive. We cannot know why they made this resolution till the MR2 is formally introduced if that ever occurred.
The MR2 Is Going To Be A Gentle And Nimble Hybrid Sports activities Automotive
Each gearhead’s eyes gentle up once they hear a couple of new mid-engined sports activities automotive. Mid-engine means enjoyable, and from what the stories from Japan say, it seems just like the MR2 is about to be small, gentle, and quick. Reportedly, the MR2 might weigh as little as 2,200 kilos and have a wheelbase of round 100 inches.
That’s similar to the GR86, which whereas not a robust automotive, is thought to be nimble and planted round corners. Having the engine positioned within the center will solely enhance agility and driving dynamics. The MR2 additionally is not a totally brand-new platform for Toyota. When you may suppose that it will share components with the GR86, it is truly borrowing the DNA from the Yaris.
Experiences say that, notably, the entrance suspension could be shared between the MR2 and the Yaris. This makes it much more complicated as to why they would not simply borrow the engine of the Yaris as nicely. If they’ll use the entrance suspension, they may as nicely take the rear suspension and drop the Yaris engine in to maintain all the things in-house.
Is A New MR2 Successor Truly Going To Be Produced?
Whereas there is no such thing as a official announcement about the way forward for the MR2, there have not been any bulletins saying that there will not be a brand new one. The truth is, all indicators truly level in direction of the MR2 already starting the early levels of manufacturing. Toyota lately filed patents for a roadster kind of car, solely including gas to the ‘MR2 revival hearth’.
A completely electrical Toyota roadster idea was additionally showcased a couple of months in the past, one thing that might simply be refitted to carry the rumored hybrid powertrain. Extra rumors proceed to move out of Toyota, making us suppose {that a} new MR2 is extra of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’.
Alongside all of the technical rumors, pricing has additionally made its means out of Toyota. The MR2 would allegedly be priced inside the $20,000 mark. If that’s true, the MR2 will by far develop into the most affordable mid-engined automotive in America. Presently, the most affordable mid-engined sports activities automotive to purchase within the US is the 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman at $63,400. Maybe Toyota noticed the success of the mid-engined Chevy Corvette and determined they wished to get in on the enjoyable. But additionally make it obtainable to customers who don’t desire the insane energy and price ticket of the American supercar.
Sadly, till there’s any concrete proof of the MR2, we won’t say that the automotive is on the way in which. It will be a disgrace if Toyota did not launch it. There are many MR2 followers who’ve been ready for a contemporary model of this iconic Japanese sports activities automotive. For now, we’ll proceed to dream about driving the beautiful mid-engined Toyota Idea round winding roads till we all know the destiny of the MR2.
