The surface strongest four-cylinder engine is no longer safe! Toyota GR faces off against AMG, and a 500-horsepower sports car is about to enter the scene.
Toyota plans to launch the new generation of Celica and MR2 in 2027 and make them available in 2028, aiming to expand its GR sports car lineup. The Celica will be based on the Corolla platform with a front-wheel-drive layout, likely equipped with a 2.0T engine paired with a 6MT or 8AT transmission, along with hybrid technology; the MR2 will feature a mid-mounted layout, equipped with a G20E 2.0L inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine, with estimated horsepower between 400 and 500 units. Both new models will fill the void left by the two-door GT and mid-mounted sports cars, forming part of the complete product line alongside the GR86, GR Yaris/Corolla, and GR GT. Toyota’s move is aimed at addressing the trend of diminishing advantages in electric vehicles, leveraging its mature four-wheel-drive system and the recovering market for fun-oriented gasoline cars to reduce research and development costs through technology reuse, thereby supporting brand development.