Toyota is developing a new mid-engine sports car

Toyota has officially announced that it is working on a new sports car with a mid-engine layout – long-awaited news for the brand’s enthusiasts.

The project is being developed by Gazoo Racing, which was recently established as a separate division and is now focused on high-performance models. It is known that the new sports car will feature the newly developed 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged G20E engine, which was first tested in the GR Yaris M concept. The unit is expected to produce more than 400 hp in road-going form, while the racing version could exceed 600 hp with proper tuning.

Gazoo Racing President Tomoya Takahashi confirmed that a prototype is currently undergoing testing, but the model remains far from series production. According to him, a full launch could take another four to five years.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the release date, the project signals Toyota’s serious intention to revive the spirit of classic sports cars such as the legendary MR2, which was discontinued in 2007. There are also indications that other iconic models, including a possible new Celica, may be under development.

An important detail is that the G20E engine is being developed not only for rear-wheel-drive applications but also for other mid-engine platforms, allowing Toyota to use it across a wider range of future performance models.