2026 Toyota MR2 GRMN Mid-Engine Sports Car Jumps From Behind the CGI Curtain

Volkswagen sold 9.24 million vehicles across all of its many subsidiaries last year. Still, Toyota easily beat the performance with very little help from its various divisions other than Lexus – over 11.233 million vehicles were delivered worldwide. Of them, no less than 10,307,395 came from the Toyota and Lexus brands! That's a massive boost of confidence, right?

As such, we shouldn't be surprised if Toyota and Lexus continue to showcase a tidal wave of novelties in 2024 – including models like the all-new 4Runner mid-size off-roader or that quirky Crown Convertible, among many others. Well, for sure, that means the Japanese brands are a juicy source of reports for the rumor mill. Just recently, a Japanese magazine has again substantiated the many rumors focused on the potential revival of the MR2 mid-size performance car.

The original, built from 1984 to 2007 across three iterations, was not only Japan's first rear mid-engine production car but also an affordable line of two-seat RWD sports cars – and its goal was to offer a small, efficient, and sporty car to the masses. Its spiritual successor, although a lot more traditional, is the Toyota GR86, which starts from just $28,400 in America. As such, many folks would think that a contemporary MR2 doesn't make sense in a Toyota Gazoo Racing lineup comprising the recently upgraded GR Yaris, GR86, GR Corolla, and GR Supra.

However, the Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are new CGI ideas about the upcoming MR2 revival – all thanks to a recent scoop. Of course, there's also an intervention from the resident pixel master to showcase the hypothetical fourth-generation Toyota MR2 arriving from behind the digital curtain. Interestingly, the reports and subsequent renderings depict the GR or GRMN versions, hinting at a massive power surge under the rear-mid hood.

Even better, everyone and their mother believes that Toyota will again show its unflattering side to the novel EV sector by announcing the MR2 with absolutely no electrification aids. Unfortunately, that, corroborated with the potential GRMN badging, also means the revived mid-engine sports car will sit at the top of the Toyota GR lineup as a potential response to the famous C8 Chevy Corvette Stingray and Z06 and its many European foes. So, what do you think? Is an MR2 return viable if Toyota sells it with a price tag in the range of $80k and pits it right in between the Stingray and Z06?