Rumor: Toyota and Suzuki Developing Another Lightweight Sports Car

by Matt Posky

Published: February 17th, 2023

rumor toyota and suzuki developing another lightweight sports car

Toyota and Suzuki are rumored to be collaborating on another lightweight, mid-engine sports car with some help from Daihatsu. While nothing has been confirmed, the model is presumed to be a successor to Toyota’s MR2 (pictured) – as the automaker has offered numerous hints in the past that the little two-seater (or something inspired by it) would eventually enter into production.

Following the joint development of the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, the latter brand suggested it would eventually offer a trio of sporting options that paid homage to some of its most iconic performance models. It was suggested that one would probably slot in beneath the Toyobaru twins. Considering we already have the Supra and 86 on sale, the MR2 feels like the obvious choice.

A report by Motor1 has cited numerous Japanese outlets claiming the three companies were actively developing a two-seater equipped with a centrally mounted 1.0-liter three-cylinder motor producing somewhere around 120 horsepower. Best Car magazine has said the car is basically being designed with Toyota in mind.

From Motor1:

The Japanese magazine claims the three domestic automakers are working on an affordable mid-engined Toyota sports car with a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine. The three-pot is said to produce nearly 120 horsepower and 200 Newton-meters (147 pound-feet) of torque. It is believed the ICE will have a mild-hybrid setup to provide a small boost and improve fuel economy.

While the rumored output is not exactly impressive, the "Midship Sports" mentioned by Best Car is said to weigh just 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds). That would make it just about as light as the base Mazda MX-5 with the 1.5-liter engine, which has 129 hp and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft). It's said to be significantly bigger than the Miata and the third-generation MR2 by measuring 4,200 millimeters (165.3 inches) long, 1,720 mm (67.7 in) wide, and 1,220 mm (48 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,550 mm (100 in).

Suzuki is reportedly developing the engine while the front suspension will be adapted from the current-generation Yaris. The styling is said to take cues from the Daihatsu Copen although the rendering published by Best Car shows a sleeker sports car that takes itself more seriously. It would be strictly a two-seat affair and carry the Toyota badge.

While your gut is correctly telling you that’s probably not going to fly in North America without the mystery model seeing a bump in power, keep in mind that the base MX-5 produces significantly more oomph on our shores than it does in Japan. It’s not inconceivable that Subaru could spice up the powertrain when-and-if Toyota ships the model our way. However, it’ll probably cost a bit more than what’s being suggested right now.

Motor1 stated that the new model would cost between 2.2 to 2.8 million yen on the Japanese domestic market, depending on trim level and options. That’s just $16,500 to $21,000 when converted to U.S. dollars. But it also warned that these are just rumors and rumors often don’t make it into the world of facts. As things currently stand, we don’t even know how far down the path of development the hypothetical MR2 happens to be or if it has any real chance of making it to the finish line.

[Image: betto rodrigues/Shutterstock]

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Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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2 of 26 comments

Randy in rocklin on Feb 19, 2023

I have a 2004 and 1991 MR2. The 91 was a barn find with only 52k miles.

2 Reply
El scotto on Feb 20, 2023

-darts eyes- imagine one one of these with a tune and tires that are the equivalent of gum erasers. Casual Friday and weekend car. My local coffee and cars is across the street from Wallyworld.

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