A report out of Japan claims that Toyota is working on a hybrid sports car that could be viewed as a successor to the famed MR2.
The sensational rumor from BestCarWeb claims that such a new model could come from the GR brand and that it could be brought to life with the help of Daihatsu and Suzuki. It could be fitted with a 1.0-liter engine sourced from Suzuki that produces approximately 120 hp and works alongside a mild-hybrid system.
Watch: South African Transforms A Toyota MR2 Into An 850 HP Monster
This engine could be mid-mounted which would make many think of it as a successor to the MR2. However, the report adds it would be more like a mid-engined successor to the pint-sized Daihatsu Copen.
Given that the car won’t be particularly powerful, Toyota will allegedly aim to keep it as small and light as possible. In fact, it may weigh as little as 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) and could share a number of parts with the Toyota Yaris, including its front suspension. Using pre-existing parts would save money and should make the car more affordable. Indeed, it has been suggested that it could cost around $20,000.
It’s impossible to know at this early stage what the vehicle could look like. However, in December 2021, the Japanese car manufacturer unveiled an intriguing sports car concept that was compact and had a mid-engined layout. The intriguing concept also sported a number of GR badges, indicating that Gazoo Racing played a role in its creation. The design of this concept could influence the sports car in question.
