Toyota’s unusual mid-engined Yaris M concept has returned to the racetrack in Japan, and it’s looking very different from the hatchback we first saw.
The latest version now has coupe-style bodywork, a much wider rear end and a shape that’s already getting people talking about a possible MR2 comeback.
The Yaris M first appeared at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon as an experimental racing car.
Unlike the regular GR Yaris, which uses a turbocharged three-cylinder engine at the front, this prototype has a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mounted behind the driver.
Toyota has now given the car a completely different look for Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance racing series.
The new bodywork features huge rear wheel arches and a lower, more coupe-like roofline. It’s quite a transformation from the original Yaris-based prototype.
Interestingly, the shape also looks similar to a Toyota rally prototype reportedly spotted testing in Portugal earlier this year, which has been linked to the company’s 2027 World Rally Championship plans.
The engine is just as interesting as the bodywork. Known as the G20, Toyota’s new turbocharged four-cylinder is reportedly capable of producing around 400–450bhp.
It’s already being developed through endurance racing, although Toyota hasn’t confirmed whether it will eventually power a production road car.
There’s another familiar name involved, too. Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda is among the drivers set to race the Yaris M in Super Taikyu, competing under his usual racing name, Morizo.
Of course, none of this confirms that a new MR2 is coming. Toyota hasn’t announced a production version, and the Yaris M remains an experimental racing project.
Still, a mid-engined Toyota with a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder and coupe bodywork is bound to get enthusiasts interested.
If some of this technology eventually makes its way into a road car, it could be something worth getting excited about.
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