- Toyota filed GR MR2 and GR MR S trademarks reigniting revival rumors.
- Filings indicate the MR2 is separate from the mid engined GR Celica.
- The model could expand the GR lineup with the GR86 Celica and GR GT.
If you’ve been waiting for Toyota to revive the mid-engined MR2, now might be the time to feel cautiously optimistic. The automaker has just filed trademarks for the GR MR2 and GR MR-S names, following a trail of earlier hints about a fourth-generation model.
The GR MR2 would strengthen Gazoo Racing’s expanding lineup, joining the existing GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatchbacks, the anticipated GR Celica, the next GR86 and GR Supra sports cars, not to mentioning the flagship GR GT supercar that will be revealed on December 4 at 9pm.
More: Lexus Will Drop A New Sports Car Alongside Toyota’s GR GT
As reported by Creative Trend, Toyota submitted the GR MR2 trademark to the Japan Patent Office on November 25, 2025, covering vehicles and parts. Two days later, the company registered the GR MR-S name with the Australian Patent Office.
We’re not sure why Toyota chose to patent two different names, but it’s possible that both have been filed in each country and simply haven’t appeared in public records yet.
While Toyota hasn’t officially confirmed a new MR2, the timing of these filings and the brand’s recent statements suggest development could be underway. If progress continues at this pace, the car could appear on the road by 2027 or 2028.
A Brief History Lesson
The MR2 first appeared in 1984 as an affordable two-seater with a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup. The second generation arrived in 1989 and earned the nickname “poor man’s Ferrari” thanks to its design and performance. By 1999, the third generation had taken a different approach as a lightweight roadster.
More: Toyota GR Celica Might Be Hiding Its Engine Where You’d Least Expect It
The final version wore different names depending on where it was sold, including MR-S in Japan, MR2 Spyder in North America and Australia, MR2 Roadster in the UK and much of Europe, and MR Roadster in France and Belgium. Production wrapped up in 2007 when Toyota quietly retired the model.
Hinting At A Successor
Rumors of the MR2’s return began when Toyota unveiled the FT-Se (Future Toyota Sports electric) concept at the Japan Mobility Show in December 2023. Its proportions and layout immediately drew comparisons to the classic mid-engined sports car.
Although the concept was presented as fully electric, subsequent reports started leaning toward the possibility of a combustion-powered comeback.
More: Mid-Engine GR Yaris Is Back On Track As Toyota Tries To Shrink 2.0 Turbo
Fast forward to January 2025, Toyota unveiled the GR Yaris M development prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon, featuring a mid-mounted turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an AWD system.
Engineers openly hinted at a future production model, referring to it as “MR-something,” and despite some early R&D setbacks that have since been addressed, development appears to be moving ahead.
Earlier this year, several Japanese outlets suggested that the upcoming GR Celica might adopt a mid-engine setup, potentially overlapping with the MR2’s territory.
The recent trademarks, however, indicate that Toyota may plan to keep the two as distinct models. That possibility aligns with the small easter eggs tucked throughout the brand’s GRIP anime series, which appears to have been quietly hinting at the revival for some time.
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