Akio Toyoda teases mid-engined two-seater for Tokyo Auto Salon – reborn MR2 to make its first debut?

We’re just a few days away from this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, which opens its doors on January 9, 2026. Ahead of the event, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda revealed that he has “acquired” a mid-engined, two-seat vehicle that looks to be the star of Toyota’s booth.

This information comes in the form of a video posted on social media by the Toyota Gazoo Racing division, in which Morizo (Toyoda’s racing pseudonym) is having a faux text conversation with a Toyota staff member. With some help from a translation app, the conversation centres around Toyota’s new car that he plans to modify in time to be exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon, with no further details were mentioned.

It is speculated that the long-awaited return of the MR2 is what Toyota has planned for the event, with the alternative being a follow-up to the GR Yaris M Concept that made its debut at the 2025 edition of the show. The latter takes the shape of the hot hatch that we’re familiar with but swaps the G16E-GTS 1.6 litre turbocharged inline-three petrol engine for a still-in-development G20E 2.0 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol unit.

The engine swap also sees the G20E being relocated behind the rear seats for a midship layout, and the concept has already gone racing at round six of the 2025 Super Taikyu Series. At the time, it was presumed that concept served as a development mule for a MR2 revival.

／／#東京オートサロン まであと「6」日
＼＼#モリゾウ が手に入れたミッドシップ2シーターの新しいクルマとは!?
果たして東京オートサロンまでにカスタムは間に合うのか？#tokyoautosalon2026@tokyoautosalon pic.twitter.com/FvfWujEEre

— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (@TOYOTA_GR) January 3, 2026

Prior to the concept, Toyota’s GRIP anime series saw the automaker hint at the return of the MR2 along with several new performance models such as the Supra Mk6, the Celica Mk8, GR86 Mk3 and GR GT3. From this list of five cars, the GR GT3 has already been revealed, with the rest being rumoured.

Another sign that indicates the MR2 could make a return comes from a report by Creative Trend in December last year. In the report, it was revealed that Toyota has filed trademarks with the patent offices in Japan and Australia for ‘GR MR2’ as well as ‘GR MR-S’.

We’ll only find out what Toyota has planned for the Tokyo Auto Salon later this week. For all we know, Toyoda may have gotten himself an older-generation MR2 that he is modifying for display at the show – maybe this is how the teasing is intensified.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.