Latest news with #ToyotaGR
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Did Toyota Just Kill All Hope for the Return of an Iconic Mid-Engine Car?
Recent testing difficulties suggest that the Japanese automaker's 'driver-first' development process isn't going according to plan. Ever since Toyota unveiled the FT-Se back in 2023, the rumor mill has been firing on all cylinders about how the concept would be reflected in the automaker's upcoming sports cars. With its sleek shape, two-seater configuration and all-electric powertrain, the design initially seemed like a natural next step for the long-discontinued Toyota MR2. Since that time, Toyota has only continued to muddy the waters. In addition to hinting at the revival of yet another iconic sports car in a potential Celica successor, the automaker has also announced the ongoing development of a mid-engine model through the GR Yaris M Concept. At this stage, Toyota has yet to confirm if a new MR2 is actually on its way. However, due to recent testing difficulties and some previous naming confusion, it's seeming increasingly unlikely that the model will be making a return anytime soon. Hot hatch hiccups When Toyota pulled the wraps off the GR Yaris M at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, it stated that the concept would compete in the Super Taikyu Series as part of a process it coined 'driver-first' carmaking. In practice, this meant that the test mules would be 'repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing' to gauge real-world performance and get feedback from those behind the wheel. Evidently, things aren't quite going according to plan. As part of a recent announcement signaling its entry into the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series, Toyota gave an update on the state of the GR Yaris M development. Due to the 'difficulties unique to midship-mounted vehicles in terms of braking, steering, and driving,' the GR Yaris M will not be participating at this time. Now, it's worth noting that Toyota hasn't pulled the plug on the program just yet. The automaker also announced that 'many challenges have been identified and improvements are ongoing,' so there's still potential that its mid-engine sports car will eventually come to market. Sports car confusion That said, the news doesn't bode well for the MR2's return. The development of a mid-mounted sports car was the most promising aspect of the rumors for a potential successor, especially in light of previous confusion over naming conventions. That's because, even though there has been an abundance of speculation suggesting that both the MR2 and the Celica are due for a revival, a report from Japanese magazine Best Car indicated that the two Toyota sports cars are, in fact, one and the same. After all, it's not like the automaker has been sitting idle. Between the GR86, the GR Yaris, the GR GT3/Lexus LFA successor and the next-generation Supra, Toyota certainly has its hands full. Considering that the Celica has also been confirmed, the addition of a new MR2 would make for quite the crowded sports car lineup. Celica surety While Toyota has remained pretty tight-lipped about the potential return of the MR2, it hasn't shied away from drumming up hype for the Celica. The automaker initially teased the eighth-generation sports car through its in-house animated series Grip, showing a whiteboard littered with iconic nameplates. Granted, a fourth-generation MR2 also made the list, but Toyota has since extended its trademark for the Celica name and filed a trademark for 'GR Celica' to boot. As if that wasn't enough, at the 2024 Rally Japan event, Toyota vice-president Yuki Nakajima reportedly said that 'there are many people within the company who are eagerly awaiting the Celica. So… I wonder if it's okay to say this in a public forum, but we're doing the Celica!' Only time will tell whether the eighth generation arrives as a mid-engine coupe based on the GR Yaris M. As of now, though, all signs suggest that the Celica is the Toyota sports car set to make a return. Even without a concrete timeline, Nakajima's statement amounts to far more of a confirmation than any hearsay related to the MR2.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Did Toyota Just Kill All Hope for the Return of an Iconic Mid-Engine Car?
Recent testing difficulties suggest that the Japanese automaker's 'driver-first' development process isn't going according to plan. Ever since Toyota unveiled the FT-Se back in 2023, the rumor mill has been firing on all cylinders about how the concept would be reflected in the automaker's upcoming sports cars. With its sleek shape, two-seater configuration and all-electric powertrain, the design initially seemed like a natural next step for the long-discontinued Toyota MR2. Since that time, Toyota has only continued to muddy the waters. In addition to hinting at the revival of yet another iconic sports car in a potential Celica successor, the automaker has also announced the ongoing development of a mid-engine model through the GR Yaris M Concept. At this stage, Toyota has yet to confirm if a new MR2 is actually on its way. However, due to recent testing difficulties and some previous naming confusion, it's seeming increasingly unlikely that the model will be making a return anytime soon. Hot hatch hiccups When Toyota pulled the wraps off the GR Yaris M at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, it stated that the concept would compete in the Super Taikyu Series as part of a process it coined 'driver-first' carmaking. In practice, this meant that the test mules would be 'repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing' to gauge real-world performance and get feedback from those behind the wheel. Evidently, things aren't quite going according to plan. As part of a recent announcement signaling its entry into the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series, Toyota gave an update on the state of the GR Yaris M development. Due to the 'difficulties unique to midship-mounted vehicles in terms of braking, steering, and driving,' the GR Yaris M will not be participating at this time. Now, it's worth noting that Toyota hasn't pulled the plug on the program just yet. The automaker also announced that 'many challenges have been identified and improvements are ongoing,' so there's still potential that its mid-engine sports car will eventually come to market. Sports car confusion That said, the news doesn't bode well for the MR2's return. The development of a mid-mounted sports car was the most promising aspect of the rumors for a potential successor, especially in light of previous confusion over naming conventions. That's because, even though there has been an abundance of speculation suggesting that both the MR2 and the Celica are due for a revival, a report from Japanese magazine Best Car indicated that the two Toyota sports cars are, in fact, one and the same. After all, it's not like the automaker has been sitting idle. Between the GR86, the GR Yaris, the GR GT3/Lexus LFA successor and the next-generation Supra, Toyota certainly has its hands full. Considering that the Celica has also been confirmed, the addition of a new MR2 would make for quite the crowded sports car lineup. Celica surety While Toyota has remained pretty tight-lipped about the potential return of the MR2, it hasn't shied away from drumming up hype for the Celica. The automaker initially teased the eighth-generation sports car through its in-house animated series Grip, showing a whiteboard littered with iconic nameplates. Granted, a fourth-generation MR2 also made the list, but Toyota has since extended its trademark for the Celica name and filed a trademark for 'GR Celica' to boot. As if that wasn't enough, at the 2024 Rally Japan event, Toyota vice-president Yuki Nakajima reportedly said that 'there are many people within the company who are eagerly awaiting the Celica. So… I wonder if it's okay to say this in a public forum, but we're doing the Celica!' Only time will tell whether the eighth generation arrives as a mid-engine coupe based on the GR Yaris M. As of now, though, all signs suggest that the Celica is the Toyota sports car set to make a return. Even without a concrete timeline, Nakajima's statement amounts to far more of a confirmation than any hearsay related to the MR2.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
McErlean and Treacy struggle with oversteer on opening day at Rally Islas Canarias
Struggling with understeer, the Irish crew of Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy finished outside the top ten on the opening day of Rally Islas Canarias, round four of the World Rally Championship. The Kilrea/Killeagh pairing are 12th overall. The Toyota GR outfit have an impressive lock-out of the top five places with Finland's Kalle Rovanpera finding form and pace to lead team mate Sebastien Ogier by 26.8s with championship leader Elfyn Evans a further 9.6s behind in third after the day's six stages. Rovanpera imposed his authority from the very start and with three stage wins on the morning loop he arrived at the Las Palmas service park with a lead of 17.8s from Ogier, who was on his first WR event since his Monte Carlo victory with Evans a further 2.4s behind in third. Rally leader Rovanpera admitted he couldn't get the tyres to work on the third stage where his Toyota Yaris had some understeer, Ogier's tyres had too much pressure on the opening stage but he moved ahead of Evans on the next stage. Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux, 34.2s off top spot in fourth place interrupted the Toyota dominance as Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnson placed fifth and sixth for the Japanese team. Set-up issues with their Hyundai i20 N Rally1 saw Ott Tanak and reigning champion Thierry Neuville languish in seventh and eighth respectively. Luxemburg driver Gregoire Munster (ninth) was best of the M-Sport Ford team, however, he too suffered with understeer as did McErlean, who was eleventh. Following his tenth place on SS1 (Valsequillo) the longest stage of the rally at 26.32km, McErlean said, "We struggled a bit towards the end with some precision. (It's) so easy to miss a braking point or a note, everything is happening so much." The Wexford/Waterford crew of Eamonn Boland/MJ Morrissey (Ford Fiesta Rally2) were 28th in the RC2 category. On the repeat loop, Tanak continued his unrelenting pace to complete the full set of fastest stage times. McErlean improved on all his previous stage times. "It's been nice team work today. Greg (Gregoire Munster) has been a big help today to learn off. Two more days of trying to learn this beast and these roads. Obviously, the times haven't been great, but it's been a crazy experience just to drive these roads. I didn't realise that there were so many people in this country, never mind fans." There are seven stages today (Saturday) and six on Sunday. Rally Islas Canarias (Round 4, World Rally Championship) Gran Canaria: 1. K. Rovanpera/J. Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)1h. 10m. 31.8s; 2. S. Ogier/V. Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+26.8s; 3. E. Evans/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+36.4s; 4. S. Pajari/M. Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+55.3s; 5. T. Katsuta/A. Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 06.0s; 6. T. Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+1m. 13.3s; 7. O. Tanak/M Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally)+1m. 14.1s; 8. A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+1m. 14.8s; 9. G. Munster/L. Louka (Ford Puma Rally1)+2m. 11.1s; 10. Y. Rossel/A. Dunand (Citroen C3 Rally2)+2m. 50.7s; 11. A. Cachon/B. Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+3m. 09.4s; 12. J. McErlean/E. Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1)+3m. 16.2s.
