Toyota, Subaru Reportedly Planning A ‘New MR2’ With Up To 300bhp

The idea that Toyota wants to restor its ‘three brothers’ sports car offering has been established for some time, but now there are mid-engined rumours circulating…
Toyota, Subaru Reportedly Planning A ‘New MR2’ With Up To 300bhp

Completing the old ‘three brothers’ sports triumvirate of the Supra, Celica (now GT86) and MR2 has been something Toyota engineers have been happy to admit in recent years. Things might be going somewhere, at last, with rumours surfacing that Toyota and Subaru are again teaming up to build a compact sports car. We reported on “discussions” two months ago.

There’s no hard information at this stage but Japanese Nostalgia Car references Toyota’s S-FR concept and what it calls ‘grapevine buzz’ about a mid-engined Subaru that’s in development right now. It’s now thought that this might be another joint project with Toyota, mirroring the GT86 and BRZ partnership.

The S-FR concept could evolve into a new MR2
The S-FR concept could evolve into a new MR2

With the next GT86 sticking to the same technical formula but with a 2.4-litre engine, according to unconfirmed reports, there’s room for a hybrid sports car; something light but fast and technologically advanced. The ‘new MR2’ fits the bill.

It could use the 1.6-litre turbocharged boxer engine from the Levorg in tandem with electrical assistance that could bump power to the 300bhp region. This is all perfectly believable, too, as in the GT86/BRZ project Subaru did most of the heavy lifting when it came to engineering and production, with Toyota fronting more cash to make it happen.

The last MR2 was wildly underappreciated
The last MR2 was wildly underappreciated

Japanese outlet Response has also reported that, if it were built, the MR2 for the 2020s would arrive no later than 2021. We’ll keep an eye out for more on this.

The MR2, named for its mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, was built across three generations. The first (W10), in 1984, set the bar for those that followed, displaying deft handling balance and engaging road manners. The second (W20) really took off in the west, offering a range of engines including turbocharged versions with 218bhp. The third-generation (W30) is one of today’s best driver’s bargains.

Source: Motor1

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Comments

Anonymous

SNAPPY BOYE RETURNS

12/12/2018 - 15:11 |
212 | 8
Melons

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I am going to assume you’ve never driven one? They’re not as bad as the rumours make them out to be. They’re very fun.

12/12/2018 - 16:28 |
24 | 22
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The return of Qian Li

12/12/2018 - 23:14 |
0 | 0
☆★THEBOOSTEDBRIT★☆

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Qian Li

12/13/2018 - 07:06 |
0 | 0
Griffin Mackenzie

As long as it’s built by solely Toyota I’ll be fine

12/12/2018 - 15:29 |
12 | 2

I totally agree with you. I think my FR-S drives like a Subaru. It certainly doesn’t feel like my MR2. Toyota should build it, and Subaru can refine theirs when they get it.

12/12/2018 - 22:21 |
2 | 0
Pagz777

It better not look anything like that thing in the thumbnail

12/12/2018 - 15:30 |
76 | 2

The S-FR is an entirely different car. It’s a Kei car where the engine is too small to work in a larger platform. You couldn’t fit a reasonable engine into the middle of that car, it would not fit very well.

Expect a bespoke platform which Subaru and Toyota will work together on, likely with Toyota building the platform and Subaru supplying a boxer engine… That’s my guess, at least. Possibly turbocharged, buuuuut that’s a branch I’m not willing to risk my reputation on.

12/12/2018 - 16:35 |
20 | 4
ATOGI_28

YES
YES
YES

12/12/2018 - 15:42 |
24 | 2
DL🏁

I kinda wish it was a mid-engined competitor to the MX-5 instead of trying to compete with A110/Cayman

i.e. rather than 300hp prefer a naturally aspirated engine with minimum weight and minimum price

12/12/2018 - 15:45 |
18 | 2

SW20 was around that much power too, so, it’s not unheard of for the MR2 to punch above its price tag in terms of power figures.

Not many people want a car with less than 200 bhp. Even the Miata currently has ~190 bhp…

I think the more important figure is weight, which is predicted to be less than 2500 pounds, and possibly as low as 2000 pounds, just like the MX-5

12/12/2018 - 16:31 |
4 | 2

That what the Toyabaru twins were supposed to be. Light weight, good handling, not big on power, fun to drive sports cars

12/12/2018 - 23:01 |
2 | 0
Martin Burns

Hope they learned their lesson from the BRZ/86 and understand that customers who want a sports cars, surprisingly, would like a bit of power.

This has me excited… but biting my nails.

12/12/2018 - 15:48 |
12 | 2
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by Martin Burns

If Mazda can see it with the MX-5, so can Toyota and Subaru eight the 86 and BRZ. It doesn’t even need a turbo. Just make the motor work harder. Even if it had something like 230-250

12/12/2018 - 20:44 |
2 | 2
redflamexfire(R32 squad)

OK! let’s be real that frog looking thing can’t be the next mr2

12/12/2018 - 16:00 |
2 | 2
London

That yellow abomination is quite the ugly ducking…

12/12/2018 - 16:03 |
0 | 4
TheDriver 1

I’m happy with that.

No really I’m happy with that.

12/12/2018 - 16:26 |
6 | 2
Anonymous

Rise of the Japanese cars once more?

12/12/2018 - 16:28 |
24 | 2