Exclusive: Unveiling the Mysterious Mid-Engine Toyota GR Yaris – Could It Be a New MR2 Preview?

The Toyota GR Yaris M Concept: A Mid-Engine, Mid-List Fandom-Builder’s Dream

For over a year, Toyota fans have been buzzing with excitement about the possibility of a new mid-engine sports car. Just what form that performance model will take is still shrouded in mystery (along with the prospect of an electric one, maybe?), but it’s certainly not this humble, subcompact hatchback cobbled together by Toyota’s motorsports team while no one was looking. No – this is just an old-school race car.

[Image: The Toyota GR Yaris M Concept, a mid-mounted, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and rough, aggressive design]

As we take a closer look at the GR Yaris M Concept, built to compete in the Super Taikyu Series (an endurance racing series and frequent test bed for experimentations with powertrains by Toyota), it’s clear that this car is no ordinary road-going vehicle. It’s a purpose-built racing car, with an under-development, mid-mounted, two-liter, inline-four, turbocharged engine, according to the manufacturer.

The team at Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGRR) aims to implement "driver-first" carmaking, involving repeated driving to failure and then repairing in conditions that simulate the strains of racing, incorporating feedback from Morizo, professional drivers, and gentleman drivers alike. This approach affords the company a unique laboratory environment to explore cutting-edge engineering and performance without compromising on. By embracing the rough with the smooth, they’re pushing the limits of what a sports car can be, and what a sports car can tell us about the sports car.

But, it’s the powertrain that really sets the GR Yaris M Concept apart. Notice it doesn’t have a traditional force-fed four-cylinder, but rather a mid-mounted, turbocharged-four-pot – a classic configuration in Formula One and other top-tier racing series. Word has it that Toyota is working on a brand-new, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder performance engine to replace the 2.0- and 2.4-liter offerings in current rear-wheel-drive Toyota and Lexus models. This new engine, rumored to be more potent than the 2JZ, could potentially find its way into both the GR Yaris M Concept and the next generation of the Supra. The world waits with bated breath for the next move from Toyota, and the prospects are tantalizing.

Is the GR Yaris M Concept a Supra-powered Yaris or the Yaris engine a step towards the next Supra’s powerplant? Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain – this enigmatic little toy has captured the imagination of enthusiasts, sparking endless debate and speculation. Here’s to the speculation, and here’s to the Toyota GR Yaris M Concept – a mid-engine, mid-list, and moderately mysterious little gem that’s captured the hearts of many. Got a tip? Send it in: [email protected].