22 Votes

Toyota Stages MR2 Comeback As The Prius Coupe But Can It Rekindle The Spirit?

Agent009 submitted on 3/18/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 2:01:23 PM

38 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.autoexpress.co.uk

The MR2 is making a comeback, Auto Express can reveal.

Toyota is developing an exciting performance hybrid which would revive the much loved sports car and rival Honda’s upcoming CR-Z. It’s set to swap its predecessor’s roadster shape for that of a compact coupé. Under the skin will be a rear-wheel-drive chassis, a paddleshift gearbox and a specially developed version of the Prius’s hybrid powertrain.

The new model will boast an amazing blend of performance, economy and low emissions, all wrapped up in a stunning body. It would be a fitting successor to the MR2, which ceased production in 2007.

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Toyota Stages MR2 Comeback As The Prius Coupe But Can It Rekindle The Spirit?

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"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

That car in the illustrated pic based on the FT-HS definitely is not mid-engined. Unless it's mid-engined, it can in no way be considered an MR2 (Mid-engined Runabout 2-seater) successor.

Great news if true though.
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 2:14:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

— FanboyOfTheTruth: "Great news if true though"

Would be even greater if the car looked like the original FT-HS concept which is better by a mile!

1. http://images.automobilemag.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0702_b+2007_toyota_ft_hs_concept+4.jpg

2. http://img2.blogcu.com/images/u/l/t/ultraaslan16/lexus_ft_hs_hybrid_concept_1_x.jpg

3. http://www.finalsense.com/news/image/auto/toyota-fths.jpg
— FanboysStink (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 9:55:49 PM | | Votes: 2

Rekindle the spirit of the MR2. Did you see the last generation. Why would you bring that back to life?
— fatandsassy (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 2:15:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

The old MR2 was at least fun to drive. No on says these cars have to be fast, merely fun to drive.
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 3:17:16 PM | | Votes: 4

Not as fun or reliable as the Miata but more pricey. The "Fun" Toyotas ALWAYS lost the battle against the competition.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 4:52:29 PM | | Votes: -1

Show me where the MR2 is considered less fun or less reliable than the Miata. That's right, in your dreams, since that's the only experiences you have with cars.
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:27:11 PM | | Votes: 0

The fact that Toyota stopped making the MR-2 and the Miata is still made today is a good hint. Of course, a Toyota fanboi like you could never accept the reality. Denial, denial, denial...that's what keeps the Japanese fanbois going.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:44:48 PM | | Votes: -6

The only reason Toyota stopped making the MR2 is because Toyota became focused on volume cars, not because the MR2 is an underperforming or unreliable car compared to the competition. Mazda sold the Miata in very small volume too but they continue to sell it only because Mazda cares to cater to niche markets, not because Miata is a better performing or more reliable car.

Of course as a blind German dog you'll twist any truths into whatever jokes you like but in the end of day you're still the same joke we've all come to know.
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 9:26:13 PM | | Votes: 1

LOL....they stopped selling the MR-2 because they were rusting in dealer lots with $10K discount on them, while Miatas were selling like hot cakes.
No manufacturer EVER would stop production completely for a model that sells. Toyota did what they had to do. They realized car enthusiasts were not interested in any Toyota cars so they catered exclusively to the dumb. Most of the Toyotas sold, were sold in America where the average car buyer was completely uninterested in HOW a car drives(not surprising considering that 90% of the people here have no driving abilities). Is really not that hard to understand how Toyota became the number one seller to the dumb.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 10:09:31 PM | | Votes: -2

LOL why am I even wasting time on a joke like you? The MR2 was never discounted. It was limited produced. Its insanely high resale value reflects that. Go drive one when you get your driver's license one day and tell me it's not a true driver's car.
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 11:50:53 PM | | Votes: 0

The MR-2 was never discounted??? Ha, HA, HA...You are clueless Japanese cheerleader with zero knowledge about cars and the car market. What kind of idiot can claim that MR-2 was not discounted when everybody knows they were given away for pennies. The MR-2 FAILED...and badly. Toyota failed with every single car aimed to other than their usual brainwashed customer. MR-2 is HISTORY and the reason is simple...it was NOT a competitive car. Period.
— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 8:26:46 AM | | Votes: 0

Watch what a real professional like Tiff Needell has to say about the MR2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB402O5Tqlk

"A real sports car."

"A real driver's car."

"When you're pushing it down the stretch of a challenging road with the top down, who cares. The MR2 is one of the most rewarding drives at about any price."
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 1:45:29 PM | | Votes: 0

@fatandsassy

Because the SW20 was awsome, 240bhp in the GT model!
— STJ88 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 2:19:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Does this look like the Ford Reflex to anyone? I think it's OK, but have to agree w/ fanboytruth guy on this one -- mid-engine layout I find hard to see. Looks more dramatic than anything else from these guys in a while however. I don't think rekindle is appropriate, restart may be more accurate <see Corolla S & Camry Sport>.
— THESCOOTER (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 2:38:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

It depends which power plant is mid engine. Tandem the electric motor midways and you have a mid motored coupe...
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 3:19:14 PM | | Votes: 1

Okay now Toyota is being stupid and retarded and this is coming from a Lexus fan. What the heck? why don't they just use the exact Toyota FT-HS because it look way better than this one?

I don't get it. Toyota stop screwing yourself over make the car look like the FT-HS.
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 4:43:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

if you actually READ the article, you'd know this is ONLY an artist's concept. actual design is still unknown.
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 6:10:50 AM | | Votes: 2

Toyota will only do something if it is sure to make a profit for them. The last 3 MR's had a very poor sales record. Honda and Toyota are both scared to enter this market because of past history. If this car isn't mid-engined, then it should in no way be called a MR.
— DocMarten (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 4:58:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

@Lexus

There are rumors of a new supra with a 3.5 V6. So this could just be extra and not instead of the supra.
— STJ88 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 4:59:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Based on the picture, I doubt this car is mid-engined. The hood is too long, the cowl is too high, and the interior appears to extend well beyond the front seats. Looks like a sporty 2+ front driver to me.
— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 5:54:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

"Artist's rendering" = this car will look nothing like the picture.
— 800over (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 2:45:24 PM | | Votes: 1

Who cares, I can tune a small-block to get well over 1200hp, big deal.

Here's the big thing... you take a Toyota MR2, rice-tuned, blah blah blah, and I'll take a Merc SL63 AMG. We'll both drive the same crappy roads with the same slow speed limits and an army of useless cops.

Only thing is, the Benz gets women drooling over you, the Toyota will get women laughing at you.
— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:16:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Power to weight will be the key to capturing the essence of the original MR2 (ignore the bloated later versions). The original model (of which I owned a 1984) had 112hp moving 2025 lbs. That's 18 lbs/hp. The Prius comes in at 110hp and 2765 lbs or 25 lbs per hp. If they're going to use the Prius hybrid system then they are going to have to either lose 800 lbs of weight from the existing Prius or bump up the hp to around 150. Somehow, I can't see how either of these combo's result in a sporty car that ALSO makes 60 mpg.
— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 6:20:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Thank you for posting that, that's exactly what I was thinking. Beef the powertrain a bit and keep the weight down.

Keep it under $25,000 and its a hit (provided it has good styling/interior).
— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:18:08 PM | | Votes: 1

thstone you're forgretting that the 3rd-gen has even better power-to-weight ratio, with 140hp pushing 2,150 lbs. The 3rd-gen is the best handling and balanced of the 3 generations too. The only pig is the 2nd-gen, but that's only if you leave it stock, as the 2nd-gen is the most tunable of the 3.
— FanboyOfTheTruth (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:23:17 PM | | Votes: 1

I know that Lexus will have a 2 door Sporty Hybrid out in the next two years !!! Mark my words !!!
— AMiodynski (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:28:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I'm not so convinced that the MR2 is the kind of car that needs a hybrid drivetrain. That's taking things a bit far. In any event, if they can in fact keep it mid-engiened and have a displacement of no more than 2.0L (yes I am an unabashed fan of that figure) with 4 direct-injected cylinders and a supercharger (a blend of Mk1 s/c and Mk2 2.0 MR2s) then I beleive they will be talking my language.
— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:47:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Picture a $22k price
40MPG City
0-60 in 7.5
You in?
DP
— DarkPheonix (View Profile)

Posted on 3/18/2009 8:54:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

more like...

"If the company gets it right, the car could do 0-60mph in seven seconds, yet return 60mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2."
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 2:17:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

@— david969,

I have been on autospies since what 2002 or 2003 and has the same name ever since. Just because I am a Lexus fan does Not mean I have to write positive about Toyota or Lexus all the time.

If Toyota or Lexus I will let them know you know why? Because I am NOT badge whore like you. I actully care about my brand and let them know if they screw up.

And for your information I like all car, you name it, Japanese, German, Italian, and British cars as well. You know why? because I'm Not a Badge Whore.
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 3:39:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

correction, if Toyota or Lexus screw up etc.
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 3:40:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

tango: "I'm not so convinced that the MR2 is the kind of car that needs a hybrid drivetrain. That's taking things a bit far."

actually, a new MR2 would be the perfect vehicle to demonstrate just how far toyota can go with hybrids. a while back, they had a hybrid Supra(?) or Celica in a race at Fuji Speedway. it RAN AWAY from the field, which included a few porsches and beemers.

with supercapacitors, the car grabbed much of the heat energy THROWN AWAY by everyone else when braking for the curves. the capacitors allowed FAST capture and recycling of the energy, which ordinary batteries cannot do.

the Tesla proves an electric car CAN BE FAST. with supercapacitors, toyota has proved a HYBRID can be superfast!
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 6:02:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Remember when Toyota made fun and sporty cars?
I think it died when they killed off the Supra.
This car would take a symbolic crap on the MR2 name.
— DWolff (View Profile)

Posted on 3/19/2009 4:42:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

THESCOOTER..
Ford Reflex ??? The Toyota FT-HS concept's be shwn for a number of year now 2 + if I remember, if anything the REflex looks liek the FT-HS
— mpls (View Profile)

Posted on 3/21/2009 3:50:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

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Toyota Stages MR2 Comeback As The Prius Coupe But Can It Rekindle The Spirit?

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