Toyota’s Mid-Engine MR2 Nears Production, Hidden Inside a GR Yaris Test Car

For the past three years. Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has been quietly perfecting a mid-engine layout by hiding it inside a GR Yaris prototype. The goal was simple: master the setup before putting it into a production car. That work is now in its final stages, clearing the path for two long-awaited models, the all-new MR2 and Celica, both expected to use the same mid-engine hardware when they arrive.

Unlike most automakers. Toyota has been unusually open about the project. It has published regular updates on the challenges of building such a car and recently released a 90-minute documentary detailing the development. The test mule, called the Concept M, has been put through multiple improvements and even competed in a 24-hour endurance race at Fuji Speedway as part of the Super Taikyu Series.

The car uses a rear-mounted transmission with all-wheel drive, front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, and a prop shaft running to the front axle. Engineers say it can send all torque to the rear or up to half to the front.

0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, expected to debut in the MR2 and Celica. 4-liter turbo four found in Toyota SUVs and trucks, and the company eventually wants it to produce more than 100 horsepower per cylinder. Cooling has been a major hurdle, but six generations of prototypes have been built, and the latest Gen-6 mule recently passed its endurance test.

GR chief engineer Naohiko Saito told Car and Driver that at least 14 more iterations are planned, with over 500 Gazoo employees contributing to the program. Early feedback on the new engine is strong, and it suggests the revived MR2 and Celica are finally within reach.