Although the gas-powered Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman may soon be discontinued, an unexpected contender might take up its legacy: Toyota.
According to Japan’s Best Car, Toyota is in the process of developing a “mid-engined 4WD” vehicle, which could revive the MR2 name with a non-electrified 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine expected to deliver around 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The report indicates that this model will feature all-wheel drive, utilizing the GR-Four system from the GR Corolla. This marks a significant shift from the MR2’s traditional rear-wheel-drive setup, as the “R” in MR2 stands for rear-drive, making the acronyms MA2 or M42 feel less fitting.
Best Car previously mentioned that the next-generation MR2 might initially be powered by a 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine similar to that in the GR Corolla, but this has now evolved into a 2.0-liter option. Recently, Toyota shared a video showcasing an in-development four-cylinder engine that sounded promising. The automaker has also revealed plans for a lineup of 1.5- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engines, with the 1.5 available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants, while the 2.0-liter will be turbocharged only.
With Toyota expanding its small four-cylinder engines focused on performance, the idea of a new MR2 seems plausible. Historically, from 1984 to 2007, the MR2 was predominantly powered by compact four-cylinder engines ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 liters across its three generations. Best Car reports that the upcoming MR2 could offer either a six-speed manual or the eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) recently debuted in the 2025 GR Corolla.
However, there is some disappointing news: the report claims the new MR2 may carry a price tag equivalent to nearly $70,000 and will be exclusively available in Japan.
A compact, gas-powered, mid-engine sports car producing around 400 horsepower that costs $70,000? In these parts, that closely resembles a Porsche Cayman. We have reached out to Toyota for further comment.
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