Wake Up Call: The Digital World Wants an Ultimate Malibu Sedan and an Insane MR2 GR

One fine example of the trend is the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has a lot of passenger cars on offer. In America, for example, even though it has become the official partner of the tough NFL and their hero vehicle is the 2024 Tacoma, you can still buy a couple of Prius models, lots of Corolla versions (including the GR Corolla), the Camry or Camry Hybrid, the Mirai FCEV, GR 86, GR Supra, and even the big Sienna minivan if the Crown flagship is not enough for you.

As such, are we surprised that the company is rumored to plan even more passenger cars? Not at all. On the other hand, the reported nameplate is entirely out of the ordinary – according to whispering sources, Toyota might bring back the storied MR2 two-seat mid-engine sports car! And it might not come alone as other reports also talk about the Celica!

Anyway, the rumor mill is adamant about the Toyota MR2 returning to life with the GR division's help and sporting the same three-cylinder engine as the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. In its top form, there's enough oomph to keep the MR2 GR company while chasing the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman, so we really hope this rumor pans out.

Secondly, an odd brand that still offers a four-door sedan in America is Chevrolet – its affordable Malibu is reportedly preparing to bow out in favor of a new iteration rather than retiring from existence altogether. And why are we talking about both the potential Toyota MR2 GR revival and the upcoming Chevy Malibu's next generation?

Well, simply because the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has decided to give us a screaming example of why we need more passenger cars in our lives – complete with renderings of the Toyota MR2 GR and Chevy Malibu. Both arrive courtesy of the same venue – the good folks over at the 'REC Trends' channel on YouTube discuss the latest automotive rumors and also paint a nice CGI picture with help from AI assistance.

As such, you will probably notice a lot of inconsistency between various POVs as the AI design tools are not yet as good as their human counterparts. However, the Chevy Malibu looks like a four-door muscle car with its coupe-like allure, while the Toyota MR2 has just the right amount of craziness and classic reliability that you would expect from a GR sports car. And you know what? I liked them both so much that I just had to share them together in a bid to persuade you that passenger cars are still well worth our time and the greenback. Did I succeed?