• Akio Toyoda teased a mid-engined two-seater sports car.
  • Toyota Gazoo Racing shared the teaser video on X January 3.
  • The mystery car may be a new MR2 or a reworked classic.

With just days to go before the Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota Chairman, Akio Toyoda, has taken a hands-on role in a teaser campaign that hints at more than just another concept car. Under his Morizo pseudonym, he revealed that he acquired a mid-engined, two-seat vehicle that will be customized for display at the event.

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Toyota’s Gazoo Racing arm released the teaser with few specifics, but it was enough to fan the flames of ongoing speculation. Though the car’s name and silhouette were kept hidden, the setup points to one familiar possibility: the return of the MR2.

The timing lines up with Toyota’s recent trademark filings for the “GR MR2” nameplate. Another option on the table is a follow-up to last year’s GR Yaris M concept, which also appeared at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The teaser came in the form of a cryptic video posted on X by the Toyota Gazoo Racing account. It features a brief exchange between Morizo and a staff member, translated from Japanese:

Staff: Morizo-san, I hear you got a new car?
Morizo: Ehhh!
Staff: What kind of car is it?
Morizo: A mid-engined two-seater!
Staff: That one?
Morizo: Yeah, yeah, that one.
Staff: So, what are you planning to do with it?
Morizo: It’s fine as is, but…
Staff: Don’t you want to do something more with it?
Morizo: Something more… yeah.
Staff: I want to have it ready in time for the Tokyo Auto Salon, but…
Morizo: Will you make it?
Staff: Let’s exhibit it!
Morizo: Is that okay?
Staff: The rest is up to the car!

Unsurprisingly, the clip drew plenty of attention from Toyota fans, most of whom quickly latched onto the idea of an MR2 revival. Then again, Morizo’s latest acquisition could just as easily be an older-generation MR2 brought back to life with a round of upgrades. Either way, we’re inching closer to an official reveal that will shed more light on what Toyota Gazoo Racing has planned next.

Concepts and Clues

Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engined Two-Seater, And MR2 Rumors Are Flying
Our speculative rendering of a potential GR MR2 based on the 2023 Toyota FT-Se concept.

The original MR2 was produced from 1984 until 2007, spanning three distinct generations. Each version stuck with the car’s core layout: a mid-mounted engine and two seats.

Speculation around a fourth-generation MR2 picked up momentum in late 2023, following the debut of the FT-Se concept, short for Future Toyota Sports electric. It gained more traction in early 2025 when Toyota revealed the mid-engined GR Yaris M prototype. That car was built around a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an all-wheel-drive system.

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During last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota engineers hinted that the prototype could form the basis of a future production car. They stopped short of naming it directly but suggested it might evolve into an ““MR-something”. The company also dropped a few visual breadcrumbs in its GRIP anime series, including a veiled silhouette that bore a striking resemblance to the FT-Se.

All Eyes on January 9

Besides the MR2, there’s growing speculation that the upcoming Celica might adopt a mid-engined layout as well, potentially blurring the boundaries between the two nameplates. Toyota has confirmed the Celica’s return, but details on its technical specs and release timeline remain under wraps.

The mystery is expected to be cleared up at Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Tokyo Auto Salon press conference on January 9, with Akio Toyoda set to deliver the reveal in person.