Celica and MR2 to Return?

Industry News 31 March 2025

Story By Lee Bailie

Stop me if you’ve heard this one already—but yes, rumor has it that Toyota is contemplating bringing the Celica and MR2 sports coupes back to life. The ’90s are back! Maybe.

We just published a story about the demise of famed two-doors such as the Lexus RC and Nissan GT-R, both of which were getting a bit long in the tooth and suffering from declining sales. But now, it appears Toyota might add to the coupe population—and we couldn’t be more excited.

While Toyota hasn’t officially confirmed the return of either model, speculation has been heating up over the past few months. As a recent Car and Driver story recounts, both cars appeared last fall in Grip, an anime series produced by Toyota. Shortly thereafter, a company executive told a Japanese magazine that a new Celica is in Toyota’s plans. The statement—made at a Rally Japan event—was later partly walked back, and Toyota has been radio silent since. So, draw your own conclusions.

But what really sent speculation into overdrive was the reveal of the mid-engine GR Yaris M Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon this past January. Could this mean a new MR2 is on the way?

Right now, all we can say is: maybe. The current GR Supra’s days appear to be numbered, as BMW has indicated the Z4 convertible—which shares its platform, engines, and assembly plant with the Supra—will be discontinued in early 2026. This could theoretically leave a hole in Toyota’s lineup that a new MR2 might fill.

Relax, Supra fans—Toyota has said the nameplate will not disappear, regardless of an MR2 return. It will survive even after Z4 production ends, although there could be a gap between current and next-gen models. It might even morph into something else. Bottom line: stay tuned.

So, what could the MR2 look like? The FT-Se concept, revealed at the 2023 Tokyo Mobility Show, could offer some clues. Incidentally, that show is back this October—so we may learn more about the fate of a new Celica and MR2 then.

Corvette Grand Sport returns for 2027 with new 6.7L V8

After being dark since 2019, Chevrolet is bringing Grand Sport back to the Corvette lineup for 2027. And this time, there will be two Grand Sport...

Report: Two 600hp+ QX80s in development

While Infiniti is currently experiencing a bit of a fallow period, with just two 2026 models in its lineup – the mid-size QX60 SUV and its full-size...

Toyota Shows Off Custom FJ Cruiser Concepts with Retro and Off-Road Flair

Toyota is leaning into nostalgia and customization with a series of unique builds based on the revived Toyota FJ Cruiser—but there’s a catch: you won’...

2027 Nissan Z NISMO Finally Gets a Manual Option

The updated Nissan Z NISMO is bringing back something enthusiasts have been asking for a proper manual transmission. After returning a few years ago...