Skip advert
Advertisement

New Toyota GR Yaris M Concept could hint at a new MR2

The new MR2 could stick with a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout

Toyota GR Yaris M Concept - front

Toyota has officially teased a new generation of MR2 already, but the latest Yaris M Concept could be our first glimpse of the sports car’s technical make up. 

The Yaris M Concept was revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon and features a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout – something all three previous generations of MR2 used. During the unveiling, a Toyota official said: "it's mid-ship, so I think it will be MR-something.” When asked if the Yaris M Concept will precede a production car, the spokesperson added: “That’s our hope. We can all imagine various things at this moment, but there’s no official announcement yet.” 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The return of the MR2 had previously been thought to include all-electric power, based on the FT-Se concept from 2023. Toyota gave us renewed hope of a new MR2 in 2024 by teasing a ‘MR2 Mk4’ in a cartoon. 

Toyota GR Yaris M Concept - rear

The M Concept doesn’t have the 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine you’ll find in the GR Yaris, however. Toyota, alongside Mazda and Subaru, has developed a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit, and in the Yaris M it powers the rear wheels only. There’s no hint of power outputs just yet, although we should expect a significant increase over the recently facelifted GR Yaris’s 276bhp. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

With the boot open we can see the Yaris M Concept needs some extra bracing, plenty of gold reflective foil to disperse heat and a few intake hoses that channel air in from the rear side window. Beneath, there’s no rear diffuser and the midsection silencer is fully exposed, although there are two exhaust tips as you would find on the GR Yaris. To cater for the engine’s location, the rear wheelarches appear to have been widened and the tyres look wider, too. 

Toyota CEO Akio ‘Morizo’ Toyoda, insisted on showcasing the Yaris M Concept at the Auto Salon and not only that, the 68-year-old will be driving the concept in upcoming races, potentially the Super Taikyu racing series in Japan and even the Nürburgring 24 Hours in Germany. This will all come as part of the engine’s development, which Toyota’s official statement backed up in a statement, which read: “The team aims to implement "driver-first" carmaking, in which cars are repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing and in which feedback from Morizo, professional drivers, and gentleman drivers is thoroughly incorporated.”

As for speculation on the next-generation MR2, if this new 2.0-litre engine does find its way into Toyota’s ‘midship roadster’, it will not have much competition, with the Audi TT having already been signed off, Porsche planning to end production of the petrol-powered Cayman and Boxster this year, and the Alpine A110 being replaced by an all-electric model in 2026. 

Along with the M Concept, Toyota also revealed some exterior aerodynamic tweaks that will soon arrive on the GR Yaris road car. These include a larger and adjustable rear wing, new front wing vents, a vented bonnet, rear bumper vents and a vertical handbrake inspired by its WRC rally car counterpart. The rivets on the bumpers’ extremes are designed to keep them attached at seriously high speeds.

The new MR2 could face some stiff competition! These are the best sports cars to buy...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Toyota MR2 is all but confirmed
Toyota MR2 design render (watermarked)

New Toyota MR2 is all but confirmed

Work is under way on a new petrol two-seater that will use the mid-engined powertrain from Toyota's Tokyo Auto Salon concept
News
22 Jan 2025
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 header image

Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars

TAS 2025 highlighted the latest in tuning, off-road accessories, and new cars...
News
14 Jan 2025
New Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ‘Drift King’ edition (and its massive rear wing) unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ‘Drift King’ edition - front

New Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ‘Drift King’ edition (and its massive rear wing) unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon

Hyundai has created a limited-edition Ioniq 5 N with legendary racing driver Keiichi Tsuchiya, aka the Drift King
News
10 Jan 2025
Best snow cars 2025
Best snow cars - header image

Best snow cars 2025

Don’t get caught out in extreme conditions this winter. We’ve picked 10 showroom buys that should keep you safe
Best cars & vans
6 Jan 2025

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month
Mazda 3 front corner tracking

Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month

Mazda’s high-quality family hatch might cost less than you expect with low initial payment and monthly fee
News
2 Feb 2025
Volvo XC40 alternatives: New and used substitutes for the stylish Swedish SUV
Volvo XC40 alternatives - header image

Volvo XC40 alternatives: New and used substitutes for the stylish Swedish SUV

The Volvo XC40 is a superb family SUV, but what if you want something different? We’ve come up with six great new and used alternative choices
Features
1 Feb 2025
Car brands like Tesla and Vauxhall risk falling behind due to poor leadership
Opinion - Mike Rutherford

Car brands like Tesla and Vauxhall risk falling behind due to poor leadership

Mike Rutherford thinks manufacturers like Tesla and Vauxhall could be left behind due to poor management decisions
Opinion
2 Feb 2025