Toyota GR Yaris M Concept

Could this be a mule for next Toyota MR2? On first glance, it would be stranger if it wasn't.

The original MR2, as you probably know by now, was envisioned as a sporty, economical commuter car that Toyota used as a more affordable gateway into sports car ownership.

A mid-engine platform car, with Toyota's engineering and lower price tag made the car a competitive success—from stage rallies to circuit racing and Japanese gymkhana, a well-built and expertly driven MR2 could often punch above its weight.

Not sure if you've noticed, but Toyota has been remixing its past sports car successes one nameplate at a time, from GR86 to Supra.

For historical reference, take the remarkable VHS rip, above, of a Japanese auto slalom event from the late-1980s, where 3/4 of the cars are MR2s and the soundtrack is flawless.

So what? Stay with me.

Today, I stumbled upon @allthingssupergt's post linked below about this new Toyota racing car entered by GR Team ORC (Ogura Racing Clutch) in the Super Taikyu Series' ST-Q class for experimental machines.

Seeing the car drive by at speed left me with only one thought: MR2.

In the caption under the image, it states:

"Entered by GR Team ORC, the GR Yaris M Concept is lower-slung than its hatchback sibling, the engine is mounted behind the driver and the cabin is moved forward enough to mount a rear wing on the boot.

"It is largely expected that this is the model headed to the FIA World Rally Championship and was previously seen testing at Fuji Speedway."

The FIA World Rally Championship, as a matter of fact, is moving to different regulations in 2027 where top Rally1 cars may adopt a mid-engine layout for the first time in decades.

If Toyota's grasp of its past is as good as I think it is, it will no doubt have realized its proven 2026 WRC Manufacturer's Title-winning GR Yaris could be evolved to serve a mid-engined MR2 revival in rally.

Over the last few hours, as photos have come in, I noticed a crucial detail above the driver's door—suspiciously on the left for a Japanese car.

Among the other names slated to drive the car this weekend, one stands out: MORIZO, aka Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman and Master Driver Akio Toyoda.

Call me skeptical, but I don't think he gets out of bed to drive just any prototype racing car…

As the story unfolds, do you think this points to a Toyota MR2 revival happening sooner rather than later?

Stay tuned to @video_option for more this weekend — only time will tell if Toyota's past has been a useful predictor of a future MR2 I know many of us would love to see.

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