Toyota’s next sports car to be roadster Mazda MX-5 rival – report

Toyota is reportedly gearing up to instrumentality connected the Mazda MX-5 with an upcoming roadster.

Japanese work Best Car reports Toyota is preparing to motorboat the adjacent instalment successful its three-part rear-wheel thrust sports car rollout successful 2026.

The Toyota 86 was the archetypal exemplary launched arsenic a portion of the plan, followed by the latest-generation, BMW Z4-based Supra.

While the first-generation 86 and second-generation GR86 are regarded arsenic Toyota’s closest competitors to the Mazda MX-5, neither person been offered arsenic convertibles.

According to Best Car, the upcoming sports car aims to capable a spread successful its planetary lineup which has been vacant since the third-generation Toyota MR2 was discontinued successful the mid-2000s.

It volition reportedly beryllium based connected the S-FR concept, previewed by Toyota astatine the 2015 Tokyo centrifugal show.

The work claims the S-FR – which stands for Small Front-engined Rear-wheel thrust – could beryllium powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, processing astir 112kW. That’s 23kW little than the existent MX-5’s people aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

When the Toyota S-FR was revealed, the carmaker said it measured 3990mm long, 1695mm wide and 1320mm gangly connected a 2480mm wheelbase, portion claiming it would beryllium a 2+2 with abstraction (albeit limited) for rear occupants.

This would marque it 75mm longer successful assemblage and 170mm betwixt the axles than the existent MX-5, though the Toyota conception stacks up 40mm narrower with a extortion that sits 90mm higher.

Like the 86/GR86 (which were partially developed by Subaru and twinned with the BRZ) and the Supra (a reclothed BMW Z4), Toyota is expected to thin connected the small-car accumulation expertise of its subsidiary Daihatsu and part-owned Suzuki for the upcoming sports car.

Best Car claims the accumulation exemplary volition intimately lucifer Daihatsu’s Vision Copen conception from the 2023 Japan Mobility show, which is not lone adjacent successful size to the S-FAR but is powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, driving the rear wheels.

The Vision Copen conception is 440mm longer and 220mm wider than Daihatsu’s existing Copen kei car roadster, which is besides sold arsenic the Toyota Copen GR Sport successful Japan, but 80mm shorter and 40mm narrower than an MX-5.

The work reports pricing of the caller Toyota droptop could commencement from astir ¥3.5 cardinal – equivalent to astir $34,000, oregon successful the ballpark of the MX-5 which ranges from ¥2.9 cardinal ($28,200) to ¥3.7 cardinal ($36,000) successful Japan.

As reported past year, Best Car has claimed Toyota could bring the mid-engined MR2 backmost into production, portion president Akio Toyoda has besides said he’s pushing for a revival of the Celica.

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