My Suspicion Was Correct. The New Toyota MR-2 Will Not Get The GR Corolla Engine

If you follow my column, you will know that I try to stay on top of anything Toyota, especially its performance models. Toyota is on a roll reviving iconic nameplates like the Toyota Celica. Models like the Stout pickup truck and the FJ Cruiser will also make a comeback, but in the meantime, Toyota is also spicing up its existing models like the Toyota RAV4, which will soon become a hybrid-only SUV. Now we have new information about the rebirth of another iconic Toyota name – the MR-2 – and my suspicion was correct. 

Toyota did a great job at keeping us guessing, but now we know.

I have been hearing chatter about the rebirth of the Toyota MR-2 since 2019, but it is only in the past few months we really managed to get out of the realm of speculation. Toyota is slowly revealing details and something major came up. We know Toyota is replacing most of its engines with two new powertrains, and one of those will be powering the MR-2.  

According to reports from Japan, Toyota reportedly said that the MR-2 will be positioned above the Toyota Celica – another soon-to-return iconic model. It is already confirmed the Celica will feature one of those two new engines – a 2.0-liter turbo-four producing up to 400 horsepower. Kirk Kreifels elaborated on the latest MR-2 details, where another important figure was mentioned - 550 newton-meters, which is 405 pound-feet of torque.

It is now confirmed that the same turbocharged, inline-four engine will also be featured in the mid-engine Toyota MR-2, which automatically excludes the G16E-GTS engine, we first saw on the GR Yaris. That mighty, three-cylinder turbo will be used in other Toyota and Lexus models and even has a smaller version that will go in some of Toyota's more compact models like the next-generation Starlet. 

Toyota is good at keeping us guessing. It was initially believed the MR-2 would be an ultra-light, budget-friendly sports car, co-developed with Daihatsu and Suzuki, but things have taken a slightly different turn. Instead, it is the Mazda MX-5-rivalling Toyota S-FR that would be co-developed and badge-engineered with those two brands. 

The new Toyota engine will be widely used and have different power levels.

Toyota will extend the use of the 2.0-liter turbo (and its smaller, 1.5-liter counterpart) to models like the Lexus IS and ES, which are both dropping the V-6 option for 2025. Toyota's in-house press, Toyota Times Global, recently published a video where a blurred-out car, seemingly the Lexus IS, featuring the new 2.0-liter turbo engine, is being tested at the Fuji Speedway. Spoiler: it sounds fruitier than expected for an inline-four.

The two new engines are replacing a variety of powertrains in Toyota and Lexus’ lineups so there will be multiple power levels to each. Most of them will be hybrid. Fear not, you will still be able to get the Lexus IS with a big V-8.  

Despite Toyota recently having revised the turbo three-cylinder for the GR Yaris, after some blown engines, I was hoping the 2.0-liter turbo-four to be the one to go into the next iteration of Toyota's mid-engine sports car. With everything said so far, do you think the upcoming Toyota MR-2 will be able to capture the essence of its iconic predecessors? Feel free to comment below. 

About the author

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.