Is a new Toyota MR2 coming in 2028?

There have been many rumors for many years—stories and tales of a new-generation Toyota MR2 that just refuse to go away. They’ve circulated through forums, auto shows, interviews, and insider leaks for well over a decade now. Every so often, the idea resurfaces, sparks excitement, and then disappears again, leaving the general populace and car nerds wondering if Toyota will ever truly bring the MR2 back.

The illustration above shows what a very sporty new Toyota MR2 GR could look like. It actually matches rumors from a couple of years ago, surprisingly well. If this design direction is even close to reality, it would represent a major departure from all previous MR2 generations. The original MR2s were compact, lightweight, and affordable sporty cars. They were never meant to be exotic or intimidating. This new interpretation, however, looks like a Toyota MR2 on steroids—wide, aggressive, and clearly not designed with affordability as a priority.

Now we apparently have confirmation from Toyota that a new MR2 is indeed in development. It will, of course, once again be a mid-engine car. This time, it is rumored to be powered by a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, rumored to produce around 400 horsepower. That is an enormous leap compared to anything the MR2 name has ever been associated with before.

That level of performance almost guarantees another expensive sports car. Not an affordable enthusiast model like the old MR2 used to be, but something positioned much higher in the market. More power brings more complexity, stricter safety requirements, higher development costs, and of course, a higher price tag.

It seems car manufacturers love reviving old nameplates and attaching them to products that are completely different from what their predecessors represented. The Mitsubishi Eclipse name is now used on a generic small SUV. The Toyota Supra returned as a BMW-based sports car. Even Acura is moving iconic models toward electric SUV territory, like the upcoming RSX. Now, the next MR2 will probably be a very fast and expensive sports car, instead of what it was originally intended to be: a small, economical, driver-focused machine.

I am really glad to see Toyota making fun-to-drive cars again. That alone deserves credit. Still, I’m not convinced that a small 400-horsepower mid-engine car is what most people actually want—or what made the MR2 special in the first place.

Good luck…