According to the roadmap presented by Toyota at the beginning of last year, the company had plans to launch a new sports car, which was presented as a concept under the name of Toyota Sports EV Concept. This model has an attractive sporty design, is made of carbon fiber and offers the option of being convertible, which has led some to speculate that it is a modernized version of the iconic Toyota MR2.
Recently, the Japanese media Best Car has obtained information indicating that Toyota and Suzuki are working together on the development of a small sports car. This model will feature a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine located in the center of the vehicle, as well as low weight, characteristics that are key in the small two-seater that Toyota marketed from 1984 to 2007.
Although not officially confirmed, rumors suggest that the size of the new model will be slightly larger than the last generation MR2, but without significantly increasing weight. This new vehicle is expected to weigh close to 1,000 kilos, only about 25 kilos heavier than the third generation MR2.
The main focus of the new sports car will be to achieve a good relationship between weight and power. As for the engine, it is expected to be a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine that will generate up to 120 horsepower and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. It will also feature a mild hybrid hybridization (MHEV) system to comply with current emissions regulations and reduce fuel consumption.
Suzuki will be responsible for the development of the vehicle’s mechanics, while Toyota will be in charge of the chassis, suspensions and general tuning. It is not yet known when the vehicle will be available, nor its exact design, nor in which markets it will be marketed. According to Best Car, the price of the vehicle could start at around 19,000 euros to change, but we will have to wait for more details to confirm this information.