Toyota's new mid-engine testbed has been put on hold due to 'challenges' in its development.

      Toyota’s mid-engine sports car initiative has encountered a challenge. The GR Yaris M Concept, announced in January, has yet to debut in Japan’s Super Taikyu racing series. With five out of seven races for 2025 already completed, the likelihood of the GR Yaris M participating this year diminishes.

      The reason? Designing a successful mid-engine performance vehicle proves to be complex.

      “The GR Yaris M Concept showcased at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 in January is undergoing comprehensive team development to explore further potential for the GR Yaris, with plans to enter the Super Taikyu Series,” Toyota's statement noted.

      “While numerous challenges have been recognized and improvements are in progress, there are specific difficulties related to mid-engine vehicles concerning braking, steering, and driving. Therefore, Toyota has chosen not to participate with this vehicle at Autopolis to enhance it further,” it mentioned.

      With the new mid-engine race car still on hold, Toyota instead presented the #32 GR Yaris (a standard front-engine model prepared for the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race in June) and the ENEOS-built #28 GR86.

      Mid-engine platforms can be challenging to optimize—just ask General Motors, which invested more time developing the C8 Chevrolet Corvette than expected. It's significant that even Toyota, which can leverage its experience from the MR2, is facing difficulties.

      If there's a silver lining to this situation, it's that Toyota has transparently acknowledged the delay. Projects like this typically fade quietly amid growing market demands. Such public communications indicate that this is more than a mere side project, hinting that it may have consequences for Toyota's future in sports car development. So, when can we expect a new MR2?

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