The Toyota MR2 Could Lead To The Revival Mazda's Iconic Rotary Engine

[DOBIEMKZ]

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The Toyota MR2 Could Lead To The Revival Mazda's Iconic Rotary Engine 

With the development of new battery tech, we could see a 500 horsepower next-gen MR2 by 2026.

by Daud Gonzalez, on August 14, 2022, 13:00

There is a lot going on in the world of Toyota. Holding the title of the largest automaker in the world requires constant progress. Every day we are getting breaking news about the possible Toyota MR2 successor. One day it’s a small four-cylinder turbo and the next day it’s a hybrid.

Yet, respected Japanese publication Best Car, states it will be an EV. A possible collaboration with Mazda also may be in the pipeline. From what we know, it may be a 500-horsepower, 4WD sports car around the size of the GR Supra. Development has already begun for this projected model. If everything goes according to plan, we should see them stateside by 2026.

WORD FROM INSIDERS - THE MR2 IS HAPPENING

An inside source at Toyota states that they are in development of their next-gen EV sports car. Toyota revived the fire of enthusiasts with the GR Supra. Can they do the same without the help of a combustion engine?

Japanese manufacturers Nissan and Honda have also begun to push into the sports EV market. Does Toyota feel the pressure? In December of 2021, they held an event for future EV models. Amongst them was a variety of sports cars. Yet, there are few details about the concepts presented at that event. A Toyota source says the intention of making an EV sports car is real, however, so there is some legitimacy to the concepts.

GAME-CHANGING BATTERIES?

One of the most difficult aspects of making an EV sports car appealing is performance of the battery. Current lithium-ion options have seen many optimizations. Yet, they still can’t be seen as the true replacement to combustion engines. To solve this issue, Toyota has teamed up with Panasonic to develop new battery tech. Known as "solid-state" batteries, they are more efficient in every aspect. Cruising range is twice that of an equal lithium-ion with the same capacity. Charging times should be half that of current technology along with less deterioration.

This will be a game-changing tech and Toyota plans to have it in production by 2026. This lines up exactly with their timeline of their next-gen sports EV. Toyota is the company that first introduced electrification at a production level. They have over 1,000 patents related to hybrid and battery tech. The first prototype of the solid-state battery could be as early as Q4 2022.

FASTER AND MORE CAPABLE THAN WE IMAGINED

This emerging tech is still very expensive and unfit for mass production right now. This is why their first venture with the tech will be in a niche market, such as sport EVs.

Yet, the power capabilities are well beyond what we expected out of a possible MR2 successor. The first generation MR2 struggled to make even 100 wheel horsepower. According to the Toyota source, the new battery and motor combo will have a power output of 500 horsepower. Can you imagine that?

Even more impressive is that the system will be 4WD with dual front and rear motors. Yet, don’t expect the mini proportions we know of the Toyota MR2. Instead, the car will be the body size of the current GR Supra. It is even possible that this technology will lead to a solid-state battery GR Supra first.

Mazda has also hinted at a collaboration with Toyota in the sport EV space. Yet, their offering will be a crazy rotary-powered EV. The rotary-engine will serve only for power generation for the battery. We have never seen any powertrain in a sports car do that before, so it will be revolutionary. As technology continues to develop, we will see exciting changes in the sports EV market.

 

[ER-3682]

Prepare $550,000 inc COE.

[Jamesc]

Rotary-powered EV makes a lot of sense.

The Rotary engine is very small, very light weight have few moving parts and very economical if not running at full load.

The Rotary engine is very thirsty if you rev the hell out of it and as a range extender it can be set to run at its most economic level.

[Arogab]

Big Fat Old man like me cannot drive this kinda car🤪

[DOBIEMKZ]

  On 8/16/2022 at 5:49 AM, ER-3682 said:

Prepare $550,000 inc COE.

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I guess there will be somebodies who will buy these cars to eat Lamborghini like lamb chop and eat Bugatti like burger.

[Vratenza]

  On 8/16/2022 at 6:55 AM, DOBIEMKZ said:

I guess there will be somebodies who will buy these cars to eat Lamborghini like lamb chop and eat Bugatti like burger.

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No need....people already spend half that amount, $250k (incl COE) to get the Tesla Dual motors to run circles round AMGs/Ms/RS.

[inlinesix]

  On 8/16/2022 at 6:55 AM, DOBIEMKZ said:

I guess there will be somebodies who will buy these cars to eat Lamborghini like lamb chop and eat Bugatti like burger.

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Bugatti got 1,500hp, these cars no fight la.

Moreover, Bugatti is likely to be unregistered and kept in Bonded Warehouse.

 

[Mkl22]

Only Mazda thinks rotary has a chance. I would say good luck in going down that rabbit hole. Rotary has no place with modern emission standards in place. 
 

[Vid]

How much?

[Stratovarius]

MR2 is not about hp... geez... i think call it the ev supra better. 

[1fast1]

'member when Toyota not only used to make its own engines for its own cars, but their engines were used in other makes, like Lotus?

I 'member!!

Now Toyota seems to be "borrowing" from Subaru lah, BMW lah, now Mazda lah. What's going on?

[ER-3682]

@Turboflat4 In Business point of View,it is cheaper.

[Raychay]

Make & sell the bread & butter cars to make $.

Leave the R&D engine development to others.

 

[1fast1]

  On 8/16/2022 at 1:35 PM, ER-3682 said:

@Turboflat4 In Business point of View,it is cheaper.

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I wouldn't be loyal to a brand like that. It's like the watches using in-house movement vs ETA argument. 

[Soya]

  On 8/16/2022 at 7:59 AM, Mkl22 said:

Only Mazda thinks rotary has a chance. I would say good luck in going down that rabbit hole. Rotary has no place with modern emission standards in place. 
 

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The world has moved on long time ago. Somebody forgot to tell them 

 

[Watwheels]

Dont think rotary will work. It has to combust engine oil. How to be clean? It had its moment in time. Move on.

[Aventa]

From the observations of the much needed TLC and thirsty RX-8, I hope this rotary engine will be significantly improved

No offence; I love RX-8 too

Edited August 17, 2022 by Aventa

[toccarakinder98]

As technology continues to evolve, we will see exciting changes in the sports EV market. But more money to satisfy him. I hope I'll be able to do this by then.