Akio Toyoda, who is the current president of the Toyota Motor Corporation, has previously expressed his desire to have a new trio of sports cars known as the “Three Brothers,” just like it did in the 90s with the Supra, Celica and MR2.
So far, Toyota has two sports cars to fulfill Toyoda’s vision, with the 86 and A90 Supra forming two thirds of the “modern Three Brothers.” The Japanese carmaker has yet to confirm if a third member is on the way, and to a further extent, there’s no word if the Celica or MR2 nameplate will be revived.
It’s widely regarded that the revival of the Celica is represented in the modern day by the 86, and the A90 Supra is the direct successor to the A80. That just leaves the MR2, which has seen plenty of speculation over the months, with some referring to the S-FR concept, while others speak of electrification for the classic mid-engined model.
Looking at Toyota’s recent track record, the 86 was co-developed with Subaru, while the Supra emerged from a partnership with BMW (the German brand has the Z4). Hypothetically, if Toyota had to pair up with another company for a revival of the MR2, who would it be?
This was the exact question that Autoindustriya posed to Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, and the answer might surprise you, as the man behind the 86 and Supra, replied, “Porsche!”
Of course, one shouldn’t take Tada’s answer as gospel, but it would be possible for Toyota to team up with Porsche for a mid-engined sports car, as Tada did say the Boxster was used as a benchmark for the Supra. Given the low-volume nature of sports cars, especially for something like a new MR2, sharing technology and costs does help lessen the burden on both parties. Production of the MR2, which spanned three generations over 23 years, ended in 2007.
It would certainly be interesting if Toyota and Porsche partnered up for a new MR2, completing the modern Three Brothers that Toyoda is looking forward to, don’t you think? Let’s just hope that Tada is working behind the scenes to make things happen, and not just pulling our leg.
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the 86 – subaru.
Supra – bmw.
MR2 – porsche
Celica – Audi
Sera – Tata motor
MR2 – porsche: Wishful thinking. Toyota better stay with elderly customers which urgently need the ‘anti-acceleration safety feature’ :)
Getting more and more expensive
Toyota sports division is like KL Kampung Baru nasi campur. Wide variety of taste.
nasi campur is abundant throughout Malaysia. Why must you specify Kampung Baru? You never left KL? Pity.
After mr2 revive?
Next toyota sera.
Collaboration with lambo because of those doors.
Wad de fish, a rebaged cayman, might as well join forces with lotus instead, since some of their models are already using toyota engines
There’s a good reason not to choose Lotus; Lotus’ design and manufacturing principles are radically different. Their cars are not relevant to the MR2. Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora chassis are constructed from aluminium and are riveted and bonded together with adhesive (no welding). Highly technological and expensive. You can’t just adapt it for conventional construction, they are designed specifically for that construction method. I doubt Lotus would abandon their fabrication and manufacturing techniques just so they can make a car with Toyota. Nor would Toyota adapt a new construction method just to make one car model (which is supposed to be a budget sports car).
Firstly the GT86 was co-developed with Subaru,then the Supra with BMW.Now MR2 with Porsche.Hmmmm
Nissan should revive back fairlady and silvia to complete their trio’s
Bet you then new incarnation of fairlady would be an suv and silvia would be a mivro minicar.
The 370Z is the successor to the Fairlady. In Japan, it is known as Fairlady Z. Would be nice if Nissan revive the Silvia too, but given Nissan’s financial situation that might be a distant dream for now. Even the V36 GTR is not confirmed.
Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada can contract Porsche Engineering, as this was done by Subaru before. But I doubt that Porsche will share a platform with Toyota.
Kesian Toyota.
Supra is a rebadged BMW Z4.
GT86 is a rebadged Subaru BRZ.
Yaris USDM is a rebadged Mazda2.
MR2 is going to be a rebadged Porsche.
For such a big company with long history of automotive, now doing rebadging, they really have no shame. And this coming from the same engineer that is proud his Supra is just a rebadge. Shame shame shame.
Sad but true. 80 years making cars now end up just a rebadger…
Porsche + Trueno = Porno?
Maybe Toyota thinks that by collaboration with Porsche (and its glamour)…..Toyota can justify to UP, UP and UP their car prices.
Toyota manyak untung from sales….and save lots of money from NOT doing R&D
Lol. Toyota can’t do performance cars!! Only thrift cheap cars and prius. Haha!
Oh and that looks like R32 skyline wheels on the Mr2. Prolly non-Gtrs.
Hey look everyone! We have car “expert” here!
I see there are many more similarities between MR2 to the boxster instead of Supra especially the power train layout (mid engine rear drive). I and the MR2 did serve a purpose of being entry level sports car. Meaning something between 1.6 to 2.0.
So perhaps a 1.6 turbo 4, maybe with electric motor.
If Porsche does like the idea and agreed to proceed, Toyota will has the last laugh. Everybody seems to want to collaborate with Toyota(Mazda, Subaru, BMW) something no other car company can achieve. Maybe proton comes close (Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Honda, Geely)
Who said that Porsche does like the idea? Until now it’s only a wet dream of the Vios lead designer.
Toyota should bring back the Celica. Since they currently have two RWD sports cars in the 86 and A90 Supra, to complete the trilogy the FWD Celica would make more sense.Plus there are plenty of collaborators to choose from for a lightweight FF package. Although a collaboration with Alpine on their A110 platform for the MR2 does give me wet dreams ;)
How about to revive Celica? Will collabrated with Alfa Romeo?
Toyota Boss: We’re being labeled as old men on wheelchairs. Quick! We need a sportscar so we can be cool again.
*Everyone looks at Tada*
Tada, revealing rebadge of BMW Z4: TADDAAA!!!
*Toyota board claps in agreement*
Part 2.
*After toasting their super quick reintroduction of Supra by rebadging Z4*
Kunta: Boss!!! The consumers have found out our new Supra is not a real Supra but just a cheap Z4 knockoff. The market is turning against us!
Toyota Boss: Quick! We need a solution to turn market perception back to our favour. We need another marque car -like new MR2- FAST!!!
*Everyone looks at Tada again*
Tada, revealing rebadge of Porsche: TADDAAA!!!
*Toyota board claps in agreement*
*Kunta headbangs on wall*
I’d happily give kunta rope for him/her/it to do an Epstein.
You can do that only to those who still have their self-worth and self-respect. Kunta (& dupes) lost both a long time ago. He doesn’t deserve a quick exit. A slow painful one suit him fittingly.
next Avanza collabo with P3.
Next Avanza will collabo with TATA.
>calvin
LOL OMG that was epic!
Where is kunta BTW?
Oh he’s around, as usual going by many names. But you can smell his presence behind the fake names when he starts crapping around the forum.
Bet his new name will be Pajeet.
History has proven again, and again that collaboration among car manufacturers resulted unpopular, weird, unloved, sometimes horrible passenger cars that no manufacturers wanted to takes credit or acknowledge
And now, Toyota is going to do it again…..
Seems like Toyota can’t build a sport car by their own anymore…
AMG is the right choice!
Toyota starlet – VW polo GTi
Toyota cynos/paseo – mazda Miata 1.5
Toyota Celica GT4 – Audi S5
Toyota soarer/ Lexus SC430 – Mercedes benz AMG GT
Toyota Sera – pagadi Zonda maybe
In the 80s and 90s, Toyota made very good JV with Yamaha producing legendary engines like 4age 3sge
1jz 2jz 1uz…… now just share share
But Yamaha didn’t make cars so their collabo didn’t interfere into their respective design philosophy.
I would mind if Toyota make 86 with subaru as both is japanase means it is still pure Japanese product, but I can’t accept supra not just not pure, they are clone of Z4 along with engine and platform. Toyota have tnga-L, right? Use in some lexus car and why they don’t adopt it to supra? Couple with dynamic force engine 2.5 from rav4 with turbocharger would make it be the real, pure replacement for a80 supra…… They better develop mr2 with Honda Nsx if they want to keep Japanase Dna to their mr2…. Such a sad think