Toyota's covert mid-engine sports car featuring Yaris-style headlights is generating excitement around Fuji.

      @You_SuiKoyoAZ via X, Toyota, The Drive

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      Toyota has been hinting at a new MR2 for what seems like a long time. As the sports car approaches its eventual comeback, the company’s leading engineers took a GR Yaris and relocated its engine behind the driver, similar to the Renault Clio V6. While that prototype looked impressive, it pales in comparison to this test vehicle recently seen racing around Fuji Speedway, which hopefully hints at what the company plans for the final version.

      In the images and brief video featured below, provided by X user @You_SuiKoyoAZ, we can observe a compact coupe with large vents behind the doors and striking box flares. The headlights and taillights appear to be from the GR Yaris, reinforcing that connection. It may have a somewhat makeshift appearance, but it still looks fantastic. If Toyota were to put this up for sale tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate.

      In the video, the exhaust sound isn't from the G16E-GTS three-cylinder in the production GR Yaris and GR Corolla, but from a new, 2.0-liter four-cylinder expected to generate around 400 horsepower. This is the same engine Toyota has been testing in what it refers to as “Concept M,” that previously mentioned mid-engine GR Yaris development car.

      @You_SuiKoyoAZ via X

      Like Toyota’s rally vehicles, the MR2 is anticipated to distribute power to all four wheels. Gazoo Racing’s engineering chief Naohiko Saito recently informed the U.K.’s Auto Express that this layout is “new” for the brand, combining a mid-engine with all-wheel drive, but initial testing revealed that this configuration “provides the best layout for high-performance driving.”

      If the recent track record of the GR team indicates anything, it’s quite likely that this advanced version of Concept M will compete either on the track (or rally stage), and possibly make a few camouflaged public appearances before the final MR2 is unveiled. That’s exciting—it’s been thrilling to watch Toyota develop these vehicles publicly, demonstrating that they’re not mere concepts, but cars being refined and validated through motorsports. That’s how it should be.

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