A New MR2 Sports Car Is Coming… Without Toyota Badging?!

The legendary Toyota MR2 is gearing up for a long-awaited comeback but there’s a twist nobody saw coming. Reports suggest the new MR2 may not carry Toyota badges at all, instead being developed through a surprising partnership that changes everything we expected from the iconic mid-engine sports car. From design direction to powertrain possibilities, the 2026 MR2 revival might be the boldest reboot in Toyota’s performance history.

Toyota GR86

Now, speaking of small sports cars, the GR86 still slaps. Around $30,000, which is just nuts considering how fun it is. Feather-light, perfect balance, no fake nonsense. It’s the kinda car that makes even a slow corner exciting. But, like, sometimes I wish it just had a tad more torque. You gotta rev the life out of it, which is fun, but also, ya know, tiring when you’re not in the mood. Still, it’s pure.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Miata is always the answer, right? Around $32,000 now, and still that same “top-down, hair-messed-up, grinning-like-an-idiot” experience. Honestly, the MR2 has to be really good to steal attention from this thing. It’s light, simple, and just how do I say this honest. It’s one of those cars that doesn’t pretend to be faster than it is. You just drive and vibe.

Alpine A110

Okay, this one’s not really in the same price range, more like $75,000, but still this is the kind of car the MR2 should aspire to be. Tiny weight, huge fun. It’s that balance of precision and personality that so many new cars just… miss. Every photo I see of the A110, I can practically hear the turbo spool in a French accent.

Lotus Emira

Now if Toyota’s working with Lotus, man, I’m in. The Emira’s like the beautiful troublemaker of the car world. Around $77,000, mid-engine, manual, real driver’s car stuff. You can totally picture a smaller, cheaper MR2-ish version built with that Lotus DNA. That’d be wicked. Except it’d also probably break more often, ‘cause, you know, Lotus.

Nissan Z

The new Z, huh. Around $42,000, twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel-drive everything you need for some weekend hooning. It’s chunkier, heavier, but honestly, still got that retro-cool thing going. If the MR2 ends up being lighter and cheaper, it might actually fill a different niche. While the Z is more brute force, the MR2 could be all about finesse.

Toyota Supra

Now, I gotta bring up the Supra the whole “Toyota that’s kinda a BMW” thing. Starts around $46,000, and yeah, it’s fast, it’s smooth, it’s technically perfect. But… it’s not spiritual like the old Supra or the classic MR2. Still, the GR Supra 6-speed manual made me rethink things a bit. Maybe Toyota learned from that and will give the MR2 its own soul again.

Honda S2000 (well, hopefully new one)

We keep hearing whispers about a new S2000 comeback, right? That’d be sweet. The old one was literally driving perfection in a can. If they made one now, around $45,000, with that same high-revving magic and clean lines, it could throw serious shade on the MR2 revival. Friendly rivalry, though, not war.

Abarth 124 Spider

Oh yeah, remember this little dude? Around $31,000 when it was around. It’s basically a Miata with more noise and Italian drama. I loved that thing. It was flawed, sure, but full of charm. If Toyota’s gonna do an MR2 again, I kinda hope it has that same scrappy energy the “doesn’t care if it’s perfect, just wants to play” attitude.

BMW Z4

The Z4’s the Supra’s twin, so it’s gotta be in this list. Around $50,000 to start, and yeah, comfy, luxurious, faster than it looks. But you don’t really feel the road like an old-school driver’s car, you know? Still, if the new MR2 shares tech with this platform again, uh, I just hope they tune it to feel more alive. Less German efficiency, more Japanese chaos.

Porsche 718 Cayman

Ugh, the Cayman. It’s like that flawless person you admire but also kind of hate because they’re just too good. Around $73,000 and worth every dime, though maybe your wallet will disagree. Mid-engine, tight handling, feels like a scalpel on wheels. If Toyota wants to revive the MR2 legacy properly, they should totally take a few notes from the Cayman manual but keep that affordable charm.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Man, the 4C was wild. No power steering, no baggage, just pure reaction. Around $68,000, and yeah, it’s like living with a beautiful maniacit’ll thrill you and terrify you at the same time. The MR2 could totally borrow that spirit but with a bit more comfort. Just… don’t make it too digital or serious. Cars like this should laugh with you, not scold you.