The legendary fourth-generation Toyota MR2 is a hearsay as previous as time. Ever since manufacturing of the ZZW30 led to 2007 we’ve got been teased with quite a few stories of a brand new inexpensive, mid-engined sports activities automotive from one of many world’s greatest carmakers – none of which have come to fruition.
Extra not too long ago, nonetheless, the corporate has been making strikes that trace {that a} new MR2 may simply be occurring in any case. After years of hypothesis of an electrical successor, Toyota confirmed off the FT-Se idea on the 2023 Japan Mobility Present (JMS) in Tokyo, seemingly presaging a manufacturing two-seat, zero-emission sports activities coupé.
Now, a report from Japan’s Finest Automobile means that growth of the automotive is progressing properly – however with a catch. As a substitute of the previously-mooted electrical motors and simulated handbook transmission, the automotive is now set to characteristic a brand new performance-oriented 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The mill is a part of a partnership with Subaru and Mazda on the joint growth of next-generation inside combustion engines. Toyota has already launched a couple of particulars of the ability plant, one in all two next-generation engines that additionally embrace a extra frugal 1.5 litre unit.
Designed with electrification in thoughts, the brand new engine is about to interchange the T24A-FTS 2.4 litre Dynamic Power turbo first seen within the newest second-generation Lexus NX. It’s 10% smaller, and due to a shorter stroke, it’s additionally 10% shorter in top.
This not solely offers it a decrease centre of gravity but additionally permits the automotive it’s packaged in to be decrease, lowering aerodynamic drag. Regardless of the lower in measurement, Toyota is claiming a dramatic enhance in energy, permitting it for use in vans, different heavy-duty automobiles and, in fact, sports activities automobiles.
No output figures have been launched however the aforementioned report means that the mill (differentiated by its crimson cam cowl, hinting at its efficiency bent) is being constructed with a goal of 400 PS and 550 Nm – placing it across the ballpark of Mercedes-AMG’s record-setting M139 engine discovered within the 45-series automobiles and the plug-in hybrid C63S E Efficiency. These figures are greater than sufficient for a small sports activities automotive, with or with out electrification.
Allied to that is the working gear from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, consisting of both a six-speed handbook gearbox or an eight-speed GR Direct Computerized Transmission, plus the GR-4 all-wheel-drive system with variable torque cut up.
That’s some critical {hardware}, which might flip the subsequent MR2 right into a junior supercar, tackling automobiles just like the Porsche 911. In response to the report, the automotive will go on sale in 2026, priced at 10 million yen (RM285,300).
GALLERY: Toyota FT-Se idea at Japan Mobility Present 2023
GALLERY: Toyota next-generation 2.0 litre turbo engine
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