The "M Concept" Toyota GR Yaris Is Secretly A MR2/Celica Preview

Alongside two other GR Yaris prototypes displayed at Tokyo Auto Salon today, lies a mid-engine “M Concept” GR Yaris prototype that’s taking the internet by storm. Could this be Toyota hinting at the actual arrival of the MR2 this time?

According to Toyota, the prototype will be a race car that’s going to participate in the Super Taikyu endurance series. However, my tin foil hat says that the prototype is being used as a test mule for the new engine in the MR2.



Speaking of which, the “M Concept” swaps the original front-mounted 1.6 liter turbo inline 3 to the previously previewed 2.0 liter turbo inline 4, right behind the seats. There’s no confirmation of what drivetrain it has, but judging from what the Japanese media is saying, its drivetrain may still be AWD from the center coupling in the engine bay, though some sources point towards it being RWD instead.

Some may remember the codenamed X20 engine unveiled back in November, and it seems that the “M Concept” has the same engine too but under a different name, the G20E. The only other engine to use the “G” name is the G16E-GTS found in the GR Yaris, suggesting that this is Toyota’s new way of codenaming their performance engines.

“To further explore the potential of the GR Yaris, TGRR plans to compete in the Super Taikyu Series in the GR Yaris M Concept, which features an under-development, midship-mounted, 2.0-liter, inline 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine. The team aims to implement "driver-first" carmaking, in which cars are repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing, and in which feedback from Morizo, professional drivers, and gentleman drivers is thoroughly incorporated,” said Toyota in a brief press release.

While this is all good news, BestCar Japan has previously said that the rumoured MR2 could be the Celica instead, so this could also very well be the Celica instead of the MR2. 

Toyota continues to drip water in an already thirsty crowd, with one of their executives stating they hope that the prototype GR Yaris could be the blueprint for a performance road car.

"We can all imagine various things at this moment. There's no official announcement yet," he said.


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Read More: The New Celica and MR2 Are One Car Now? New Details!

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