The New Toyota MR2 Could Roar to Life With Corolla GR Power
Toyota transitioned from a boring, everyday brand to an exciting name by bringing back the Supra. Since then, this Japanese brand has grown with more exciting drivetrains for the Yaris and Corolla through the Gazoo Racing team. This brings us to the possibility that the Corolla GR powertrain could provide power for the new Toyota MR2 sports car.
The Toyota MR2’s rumored to return for years
The next step forward into sporty excitement for Toyota is to revive the MR2 name. This name was used for one of the most alluring and interesting sports cars of its time. This Toyota sports car lasted three generations, making its way to the United States in 1990 for the 1991 model year.
Toyota MR2 Generations and Model Years
- First Generation – W10 (1984-1989)
- Second Generation – W20 (1989-1999)
- Third Generation – (1999-2007)
A new MR2 sports car has been part of the conversation for a few years. Because of the current automotive landscape, Toyota is exploring several ways to bring this car to the market, including a pure-electric model, hybrid version, or gas-powered model using the Corolla GR powertrain.
Did the FT-Se concept confuse the issue?
Last year Toyota presented a new Toyota FT-Se electric concept sports car that could easily be the future MR2. Instead of transiting to the MR2, this concept could be a pure electric sports car and enter the market in 2027, a full year after the new MR2 is scheduled to go on sale.
How much power will the new Toyota MR2 produce?
If the new MR2 uses the same powertrain as the Toyota Corolla GR, it will deliver 300 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed manual transmission. This power comes from a small 1.6-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine.
The MR2 should have both 6-speed manual and 8-speed automatic transmissions offered.
Between now and when the new MR2 hits the market, this little powertrain could evolve. It might deliver more power, making the sports car more interesting and faster than if it uses the current system. Of course, this new Toyota sports car could be small and light, which should allow it to have impressive performance figures.
The expected measurements of the new Toyota MR2 are:
- Length – 173 inches
- Width – 72.8 inches
- Height – 48.4 inches
- Wheelbase – 102.3 inches
- Weight – 2,866 pounds
Although expected measurements are set, Toyota hasn’t settled on a design for this new sports car. Until the new MR2 arrives, we can only guess what this new low-slung, two-door sports car will look like and how much power it will produce.
Source: Carscoops
