Monday 5th December 2011

Supra and MR2 could return, says Toyota

GT 86 chief engineer reckons Toyota has room for a three-tier sports car range

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Not the new Supra...

Toyota could be offering a three-tier sports car line-up in the near future, with spiritual successors to the Supra and MR2 to sit above and below the new GT 86. At least that's what'll happen if the GT 86's chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada, gets his way.

''Right now the 86 will be a mid-size sports car,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''I would like to have one smaller and one larger. One would probably be a Supra follower. Nothing has been decided yet. It would [be] like a Supra successor.''

...not the new MR2

Sounds good to us, Tada san. If a Supra successor did get the go-ahead, it would be likely that the car could be another joint venture with Subaru, possibly using an evolution of the platform that underpins the Toyota GT 86/Subaru BRZ.

Tada wouldn't be drawn on any details about an MR2 successor, nor how close to a green light the idea of more Toyota sports cars is, but it is well known that ToMoCo is keen to be known once again for sporty cars. CEO Akio Toyoda is also a keen petrolhead.

''Personally, I love the smell of gasoline and the sound of an engine, so I hope that this type of vehicle never disappears,'' he told assembled hacks at the Tokyo motor show last week. ''I hope that motor vehicles will continue to provide dreams and inspiration to people for all eras. I believe that if it is not fun, it is not a car," (Stop press! Toyota boss says Prius 'isn't a car' - Ed)

''I truly believe that no matter how advanced cars become, it is important to retain this feeling.''

Sounds good, Akio. Now what about that new Supra and MR2?

[k15tox]

about time!

[EDLT]

Going by the GT86, these should be out around 2020ish.

[Marf]

New MR2 at sub 25k, yes please!

[MiltonRX]

Surely this negates the need for the GT 86 though. If you want a light nimble sports car you would go for the MR2 and if you wanted more power/space you would have the Supra.

[DanDC5]

I like Toyota's new MD, he's proving that he is the petrol head he claims to be.

[Marf]

MiltonRX said:

Surely this negates the need for the GT 86 though. If you want a light nimble sports car you would go for the MR2 and if you wanted more power/space you would have the Supra.

Never stopped em in the past with the traditional Celica MR2 Supra lineup and they all sold pretty damned well!

Edited by Marf on Monday 5th December 11:27

[Daniel1]

a Mk3 MR2 with a better body shape would go down a treat with me.

[kambites]

Daniel1 said:

a Mk3 MR2 with a better body shape would go down a treat with me.

I'd settle for it looking the same if they could somehow give it a boot.

[Japcarnut]

Yes! I for one really hope they do this, followed by the new NSX. But I'm slightly biased (hence username!).

Just cheered me up no end, and hopefully this time around I'll be in a position to afford one (well if the NSX was much more keenly priced!)

I suppose the only Japanese manufacturer that didn't give up on this sort of vehicle was Nissan then!

[80sboy]

I thought that very early rumours of the Lexus LFA described it as a Supra replacement, but at £300k with a V10 it's obviously not. Then I read similar claims that the GT86 was to be the successor to the Supra. With a sub £30k price and Paltry 200bhp, again, no...

It's about time that the Supra was replaced; Nissan have done it with the GT-R. I just hope that Toyota produce a credible match to the GT-R and a worthy successor to the MK4!

[Marf]

kambites said:

Daniel1 said:

a Mk3 MR2 with a better body shape would go down a treat with me.

I'd settle for it looking the same if they could somehow give it a boot.

Considering how practical the Mk2 was, the lack of storage space for anything more than a tooth brush seemed to be a major oversight on the Mk3!

[Wadeski]

Over 20 years on its still a fantastic shape for a car from a mainstream manfacturer. Especially considerings its basically made of bits of Corolla turned backwards.

[mr2j]

so the new supra will be a completely new car in its own right or a development of the GT86 with a 6 cylinder dropped in (as per the original supra born of celica)?

Wadeski said:

Over 20 years on its still a fantastic shape for a car from a mainstream manfacturer. Especially considerings its basically made of bits of Corolla turned backwards.

indeed

[stargazer30]

Dear Santy, please please please brain wash/cash a spell/elf magic the new toyota MD into making a MR2, less than 1100kg and as near to 200bhp as you can get it! Promise I'll be good all year if you do!

[kambites]

It'd be great if they did to an MR2 and used the same engine as in the GT86. It'd be a proper mini-Boxster if they put a longitudinal flat-4 in the middle.

[delays]

This image impelled me to have a look at the classifieds - lusted after one of these when I was younger.

Shame they've all been modified to hell - it's a mission to find one that looks OEM!

Slightly O/T.

[Fittster]

Unless they are going to cost £2.50 they will be judged to expensive.

[Melvin Udall]

Superb news. My tubby was one of the most fun cars I've driven.

[5lab]

if they want a sports car to sit 'below' the gt86 in terms of price, it won't be mid engined - i'd expect something more similar to the honda crz based on the new prius 'c' chassis/drivetrain

[k-ink]

I think you can kiss goodbye to the soft flowing lines of the old cars. The new ones will most likely be all angular, lumpy, and ugly. Just like their new effort.