[MCN1SMO]

I wonder where this would sit? Between the 86 and supra? Or would it be a MR2 in name only and be a flagship?

 

[Rusty]

Given how long Toyota has supplied engines to Lotus I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Maybe Toyota scraps the 4 cylinder Supra and this fills that spot?

 

[zenki]

I wonder where this would sit? Between the 86 and supra? Or would it be a MR2 in name only and be a flagship?

Closer in price to the Supra to start and likely to top out past it. I think it'll be a flagship.

Given how long Toyota has supplied engines to Lotus I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Maybe Toyota scraps the 4 cylinder Supra and this fills that spot?

I think they can coexist.

The Supra should continue being a traditional sports car for the ICE crowd and the MR2 for people who want Toyota's next-gen powertrain tech in a mid-engine platform, of course that's if it actually is electrified (I think it will)

 

[325]

It looks as if I'll be holding on to my Z32 just a wee bit longer...

 

[Mattyice]

First the Subaru frs? Then comes along the bmw Supra and now the lotus mr2? It’s not a true Toyota so I’ll pass.

 

[325]

First the Subaru frs? Then comes along the bmw Supra and now the lotus mr2? It’s not a true Toyota so I’ll pass.

It's not like any one manufacturer has the best systems engineering of a sportscar.

 

[Zs on Zs]

First the Subaru frs? Then comes along the bmw Supra and now the lotus mr2? It’s not a true Toyota so I’ll pass.

Well Lotus uses a Toyota engine.. so at least the heart will be built by Toyota.

 

[takemorepills]

Toyota teaming up with Lotus is not a bad thing. I have seen several "Lotus" tuned cars in my years of working on cars. They've never been more than handling tuning. It's not like Lotus has much to offer Toyota.

 

[G37]

Given how long Toyota has supplied engines to Lotus I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened sooner. Maybe Toyota scraps the 4 cylinder Supra and this fills that spot?

One can only hope. Perhaps they’ll give us a treat and scrap the six cyl model as well.

 

[G37]

A source from Japan says the two automakers will likely produce the next-gen MR2

Toyota's secret performance car plan! Lotus firms as production partner for reborn MR2 - reports

Toyota's new MR2 could be developed as a joint-venture with iconic performance brand Lotus, as the Japanese giant looks further afield to make its "three brothers" dream come true.

www.carsguide.com.au

Toyota's new MR2 could be developed as a joint-venture with iconic performance brand Lotus, as the Japanese giant looks further afield to make its "three brothers" dream come true.

That's the word from Japanese auto sleuths Best Car Web, who report that Lotus is firming as the production partner for a new MR2, which would join the 86 and Supra in the brand's performance line-up.

The intriguing part, though, is what might be powering a joint-venture model. Lotus has made no bones about its shift to being an all-electric company by the end of this decade, with the Evija to be the first of an entirely new, and entirely electric, range.

Here’s a Hail Mary: the new MR2 has both an electric motor and the turbo ICE engine from the upcoming Corolla GTS - a hybrid that will never exist because it’d thoroughly embarrass the “Supra” in either trim. It’s the same thing with the Toyobaru twins. They’ll never get a WRX engine for the same reason. If the MR2 is a BEV, it’ll outperform the Dupra but may/may not cannibalize Dupra sales. Both cars would be automatic-only and may very well have an overlapping customer base.

All that said, the MR2 SHOULD have the Corolla GTS’s engine - WRX levels of power in a compact sports car. A great combo which will never see the light of day because Toyota blundered it’s Supra. I suppose I shouldn’t sound so bitter because the Z is the real deal (made in Japan AND a stick) and will be available soon.

 

[zenki]

Here’s a Hail Mary: the new MR2 has both an electric motor and the turbo ICE engine from the upcoming Corolla GTS - a hybrid that will never exist because it’d thoroughly embarrass the “Supra” in either trim. It’s the same thing with the Toyobaru twins. They’ll never get a WRX engine for the same reason. If the MR2 is a BEV, it’ll outperform the Dupra but may/may not cannibalize Dupra sales. Both cars would be automatic-only and may very well have an overlapping customer base.

All that said, the MR2 SHOULD have the Corolla GTS’s engine - WRX levels of power in a compact sports car. A great combo which will never see the light of day because Toyota blundered it’s Supra. I suppose I shouldn’t sound so bitter because the Z is the real deal (made in Japan AND a stick) and will be available soon.

The Supra can still stand out as a traditional FR car layout with a ICE powertrain.
That alone means a lot of many, especially these days, myself included.

 

[G37]

The Supra can still stand out as a traditional FR car layout with a ICE powertrain.
That alone means a lot of many, especially these days, myself included.

The Supra doesn’t sell very well. Not many have bought it and certainly far fewer than will be buying the Z, especially given the Z is made in Japan (“Sony” guts, NOT German stuff), costs less up front, is empirically better-looking, will necessarily have better long-term reliability, be cheaper to maintain/repair and will have a bona fide genuine six speed manual transmission as all true sports cars should have (at least as an option). I was a devout Supra fan and hoped to buy a MKV. Unfortunately, while awaiting the “return of the king” we found out the king was a “Koenig” instead of the expected “Shogun”. Once I found out the Supra would be a BMW and auto-only at that, I knew it wasn’t a real Supra and lost complete interest which led me on a path buy a G37S coupe 6MT to be followed by a strong possibility of a Nismo Z a couple of years from now. That the Supra in its current guise means a lot to you is fine for you. Just understand that most in the enthusiast world don’t view it as a real Supra because it has BMW guts, just as the Toyobaru twins are Subarus, not real Toyotas. I love the twins because they are great, affordable, good looking reliable cars. My feelings about the Supra were already stated.

 

[zenki]

The Supra doesn’t sell very well. Not many have bought it and certainly far fewer than will be buying the Z, especially given the Z is made in Japan (“Sony” guts, NOT German stuff), costs less up front, is empirically better-looking, will necessarily have better long-term reliability, be cheaper to maintain/repair and will have a bona fide genuine six speed manual transmission as all true sports cars should have (at least as an option). I was a devout Supra fan and hoped to buy a MKV. Unfortunately, while awaiting the “return of the king” we found out the king was a “Koenig” instead of the expected “Shogun”. Once I found out the Supra would be a BMW and auto-only at that, I knew it wasn’t a real Supra and lost complete interest which led me on a path buy a G37S coupe 6MT to be followed by a strong possibility of a Nismo Z a couple of years from now. That the Supra in its current guise means a lot to you is fine for you. Just understand that most in the enthusiast world don’t view it as a real Supra because it has BMW guts, just as the Toyobaru twins are Subarus, not real Toyotas. I love the twins because they are great, affordable, good looking reliable cars. My feelings about the Supra were already stated.

Very true. It also doesn't help that it rides on a shorter wheelbase than the 86, among all the non-Supra things we can list.
At least the 86 seems to have a long enough future, even into electrification.

 

[325]

In early 2000"s, a friend of mind put a Camry V-6 into an MR2 Spyder. It weighed only a hundred pounds more, about 20% more HP, and a lot more torque.

A common swap back then was the Celica GT-S engine. Wicked fast...

 

[G37]

In early 2000"s, a friend of mind put a Camry V-6 into an MR2 Spyder. It weighed only a hundred pounds more, about 20% more HP, and a lot more torque.

A common swap back then was the Celica GT-S engine. Wicked fast...

All cool things, no doubt. So much COULD be done but won’t be because there is a lid on the HP or power-to-weight ratio for all of Toyota’s sporting offerings inasmuch as they cannot impinge upon their hallowed non-Supra. A modern mid-engine MR2 with a Camry V6 or a Corolla GTS engine a la your friend’s car would be sick, but just a pipe dream today.

 

[Rusty]

This is likely the rumored MR2. Toyota showed this concept as part of their big EV announcement.

Toyota & Lexus Preview 2 Electric Sports Cars

Toyota and Lexus revealed 15 new electric concept cars to showcase what their EV lineup could look like. 2 of the standouts in their presentation were these electric sports cars. The Toyota one reminds me of the MR2 and I suppose the Lexus one is a LFA successor of sorts...

www.newnissanz.com

 

[G37]

A source from Japan says the two automakers will likely produce the next-gen MR2

Toyota's secret performance car plan! Lotus firms as production partner for reborn MR2 - reports

Toyota's new MR2 could be developed as a joint-venture with iconic performance brand Lotus, as the Japanese giant looks further afield to make its "three brothers" dream come true.

www.carsguide.com.au

Toyota's new MR2 could be developed as a joint-venture with iconic performance brand Lotus, as the Japanese giant looks further afield to make its "three brothers" dream come true.

That's the word from Japanese auto sleuths Best Car Web, who report that Lotus is firming as the production partner for a new MR2, which would join the 86 and Supra in the brand's performance line-up.

The intriguing part, though, is what might be powering a joint-venture model. Lotus has made no bones about its shift to being an all-electric company by the end of this decade, with the Evija to be the first of an entirely new, and entirely electric, range.

Toyota has already destroyed the Supra name by foisting on the Supra community a BMW wearing an ugly suit so imagine they have no qualms ruining the MR2 name by giving it electric propulsion. Were I king, the MR2 would get the WRX engine (271 hp) or that of the GR Corolla (300 hp) which would demolish the MKV in so many ways….that it’ll never happen. The MR2 will be an electric which is quite sad. Had Toyota called the “Supra” something else, people wouldn’t have such a problem with it. The same goes with this likely electric “MR2” - they should call it something else if it’s not ICE-motivated. Unlike the MKV, the MR2 is a beautiful design and it’ll undoubtedly perform great, but without ICE and a stick, it’ll be beautiful but soulless machine.

 

[zenki]

Toyota has already destroyed the Supra name by foisting on the Supra community a BMW wearing an ugly suit so imagine they have no qualms ruining the MR2 name by giving it electric propulsion. Were I king, the MR2 would get the WRX engine (271 hp) or that of the GR Corolla (300 hp) which would demolish the MKV in so many ways….that it’ll never happen. The MR2 will be an electric which is quite sad. Had Toyota called the “Supra” something else, people wouldn’t have such a problem with it. The same goes with this likely electric “MR2” - they should call it something else if it’s not ICE-motivated. Unlike the MKV, the MR2 is a beautiful design and it’ll undoubtedly perform great, but without ICE and a stick, it’ll be beautiful but soulless machine.

Lexus gets all the love it seems. The next Lexus RC will get some GT3 race car DNA apparently.
Sadly, Toyota will likely call it the MR2, automakers love using names that have a lot of history behind them and we should expect to see that happen here.

 

[G37]

Lexus gets all the love it seems. The next Lexus RC will get some GT3 race car DNA apparently.
Sadly, Toyota will likely call it the MR2, automakers love using names that have a lot of history behind them and we should expect to see that happen here.

Toyota may love desecrating hallowed nameplates, and the uninitiated may buy into that, but that’s where they lose customers like me.