The next PHEV will be a MR2?

This is for you @Tideland Prius . Car-moby.jp website has scooped that the Toyota MR2 will be revived. And get this, it'll have a 3.0L V6 PHEV with 400PS!!! And for about ¥6,000,000, about $45,889 or €42,562. Sure.

トヨタ MR2が四半世紀ぶりに復活？400PS・MR・PHEVで600万円以下か | MOBY [モビー]

Partial translation:
"Toyota MR2 revived for the first time in a quarter of a century? 400PS/MR/PHEV for less than 6 million yen

Revival of the car name after a quarter of a century?

Toyota MR2 (AW11)
In 1984, the first generation AW11 model was released in 1984 as the first mid-engined car produced by Toyota, the MR2. In 1989, the baton was passed to the second generation SW20, and sales ended in 1999. MR-S became the successor.

In Japan, the car name of MR2 has disappeared, but there are rumors that the car name of MR2 will be revived in 2024, 25 years after its disappearance.

Get styling like a supersport

Expected CG of Toyota MR2 successor model
A predicted CG of the model that is supposed to take over the MR2 car name has been created.

It has a low and wide styling that is typical of super sports, and the front design gives a sharp impression with triple LED headlights.

The Supra had a design that was reminiscent of past models, but the new MR2 is a mid-ship sports car with a completely new impression.


Despite being a 3-liter V6-equipped PHEV with 400PS, it costs less than 6 million yen

toyota supra
The powertrain installed in the new MR2 is a plug-in hybrid that combines an electric motor with a 3-liter class V6 engine , achieving a maximum output of 350 to 400 horsepower and high output performance that surpasses the Supra. It is said

While having such high performance, it is expected that the price will be less than 6 million yen by realizing cost reduction through joint development with other manufacturers.

Compared to the past MR2, the price is likely to be more than several times higher, but it seems to be a very affordable car among modern pure sports cars that adopt a mid-ship layout. Look forward to seeing you."

I'm sure they'll produce enough to not see a markup. If it is a PHEV it'll probably have the 2023 Prius Prime battery (13.6 kWh) and not the RAV4 Prime battery (18.1 kWh), but there's no rear seat to stick it under. Man would that be neat runaround car.

 

How do you make everybody forget about BEVs? Make a really, really, really desirable PHEV. The original MR2 had a 1.6L supercharged 4 banger, where are they going to put a 6? I'd really have expected to put the Hybrid Max over the rear axle and call it a day. The last time they had a 3.0L V6 was in my T100 and it wasn't small. The original MR2 was tiny (3,950mm or 155.5 inches) and light (1,131 kg or 2,493 lbs). They'll have to stretch it a bit which to me would be counter productive to the original idea.

 

BMW tried something like that called the i8. Had a 1.5L 3 cylinder turbo driving the rear wheels and a 129 hp (96 kW) motor driving the front wheels with an 11.6 kWh battery. The whole car was carbon fiber so it was light comparatively speaking but it was huge compared to the MR2, 29.1 inches (739 mm) longer and 901 lbs (408 kg) heavier. Hoping that's not what Toyota is thinking.

 

More than likely a miniature version of the LC 500h with a plug-in capability. That's what the drawing looks like to me. I think I figured out why it would have a 3.0L V6 NA engine instead of a Toyota or Lexus 2.4L turbo which have more power and way more torque - sound. Sounds like Akio-san still has his fingers in the design recipes for the sports car department and he loves the sound of gas cars. Somebody should probably tell him it still isn't going to sound like the LC 500 with the 5.0L V8 which is arguably the best sounding Toyota/Lexus car made, quite possible anything from Japan based on reviewer comments.

 

2004 MR2 Spyder

Now that I look at it, yeah they could put a V6 back there and slide the battery under the front seat or front trunk (frunk) as @Tideland Prius suggested. It'll be a little better balanced than the original which as one reviewer said, "When pushed, the MR2 tends to pivot more around its mid-point; when the back comes around to the left, the front is moving to the right at the same time, as if a big push pin were stuck right through the floor." Mazda Miata Vs. Toyota MR2 Spyder - Motor Trend Magazine

Yeah I'd agree with you that it might grow a little but not too much. After all it ain't about the ground clearance or massage seats in this car. As long as you can throw your backpack in the passenger seat before you go to work who cares if it can't haul a couple of flats of plants or mulch. Now they have to compete with Toyota's own French designed Aygo-X and the GR Yaris in Europe. It'll have to be a PHEV if they are gonna sell it in Europe or anywhere that has banned gas engine only.