There has been talks about the Toyota MR2 making a comeback since 2018, but recent information from Toyota’s Australian arm may have hinted at the mid-engine Toyota finally making a comeback. There has been a lot of chatter about the MR2, but we finally have enough information to conclude who Toyota will be partnering up with for the next-gen MR2. Toyota Australia’s website for service repair manuals may have just resulted in the most controversial message (by accident, we are sure) regarding the “next” Toyota MR2.

How does it relate to the next MR2?

Toyota mr2
Toyota

Toyota’s “MR2 New Aircondition Kit” service bulletin is provided so qualified mechanics can perform the necessary interventions should they encounter problems with the aforementioned part. While many of us want this to be a sign that Toyota is already making the necessary arrangements to produce the next-generation MR2, this may be far from the truth.

While Toyota’s Australian service manual website does not post information that’s 10 years or older, a quick browse reveals that there have been plenty of service manuals meant for older models that date back to the 1990s. YouTuber, Kirk Kreifeld, who often elaborates on any content related to Asian vehicles, states that this could be “an updated air conditioner to be more ozone sensitive”. While it may certainly be the case, it’s worth pointing out that the Toyota Celica ST230 and Toyota MR2 SW30 feature the same A/C system. This begs the question why isn’t Celica mentioned?

Is it really going to have an inline-3?

Red 2021 Toyota MR2 Concpt
Toyota

One thing we know for sure is that Toyota will be working with Daihatsu and Suzuki. As we know, Daihatsu is a subsidiary of Toyota, which also has a stake in Suzuki. With that said, Toyota is adamant that it wants to keep the next-gen MR2 as super-lightweight and affordable. The new Toyota midship is said to come with Suzuki’s 998cc turbocharged inline-four, boosted to 150 horsepower (110 kilowatts) instead of the current 109 horsepower (81 kilowatts). A six-speed automatic is the only confirmed transmission option so far – likely the one from the GR86 – but a manual option is also expected.

Toyota’s choice of engine, being as strange as it is for a mid-engine sports car, is not yet final. Clearly, Toyota will not give it the 1.6-liter turbo-three from the GR Yaris and GR Corolla as it would raise the price, but there are other options out there, such as Suzuki’s 1.4-liter turbo-four, found in the Swift Sport, where it makes 144 horsepower (107 kilowatts) and 170 pound-feet (230 Nm). Toyota’s GR86 and GR Supra proved that the Japanese carmaker has no trouble putting non-Toyota engines in its models so the Swift Sport’s inline-four is not out of the question.

An even crazier idea pens the next MR2 as a Hayabusa-powered midship sports car. While the motorcycle engine is tuned for high-end horsepower, numerous “Busa”-swapped project cars have proved it can be adapted for use in cars. The engine has already made it into the Suzuki Vision Gran Turismo as part of a hybrid setup, albeit in the digital racing world, but we are allowed to dream right? While the service manual listed in Toyota Australia’s website is not solid proof of the upcoming MR2 being in the works, at the very least, we know the Japanese nameplate is coming back.