Toyota to collaborate with Suzuki and Daihatsu to build small sports cars
Toyota's 2015 Tokyo auto show debut lineup was led by the S-FR concept, which stands for Small, Front-Engine, Rear-Drive and currently, it is reported that Toyota has begun developing a new small sports car that will slot under the GT86 which is expected to be based on the 2015 S-FR concept and could be called the MR2. Toyota will collaborate with Suzuki and Daihatsu to bring this project to life.
The S-FR concept automobile featured a front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) lightweight sports car that was smooth and clear to drive. Toyota's Gazoo Racing unveiled a more aggressive version of the vehicle in 2016, but it was shelved and never put into production. The concept showed off an automobile that would be enjoyable to drive because it would be lightweight and small.
There are rumors that the new tiny sports car will be powered by a 1.3-liter turbo-petrol engine with 152 horsepower. It is anticipated that this engine will also be utilized in the production-spec S-FR, which will be unveiled in 2026–2027. With this engine selection, Toyota would be able to reduce R&D costs for a scaled-down version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine found in the hatchback GR Corolla and GR Yaris.
At the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, Daihatsu unveiled the Vision Copen concept, a rear-wheel drive vehicle that emphasizes the viability of a collaborative effort. The 3.8-meter-long Daihatsu idea, which shares similarities in size and form with the 2015 Toyota S-FR concept, is a sneak peek at a competitor to the Mazda MX-5. Additionally, the Vision Copen sports a 1.3-liter engine, however, Daihatsu has not released particular details.
Through this partnership, Suzuki may also be able to bring back the Cappuccino, a front-engine, rear-wheel drive roadster. Rebadging each other's vehicles has proven successful for Toyota and Suzuki in international markets, and this might be used to their advantage in this situation as well. This partnership may result in a greater variety of possibilities for consumers and heightened market rivalry.
Although the three Japanese corporations have not yet released an official statement, the new tiny Toyota rear-wheel-drive sports car could be released as early as 2026 or 2027. It is anticipated that the production-spec S-FR will make its public debut in 2026–2027, and the next tiny sports car may follow suit in short order.
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