{"id":915441,"date":"2026-06-25T20:12:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T01:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/25\/toyota-is-quietly-building-a-mid-engined-all-wheel-drive-sports-car\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T20:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T01:12:51","slug":"toyota-is-quietly-building-a-mid-engined-all-wheel-drive-sports-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/25\/toyota-is-quietly-building-a-mid-engined-all-wheel-drive-sports-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Toyota Is Quietly Building A Mid-Engined, All-Wheel-Drive Sports Car"},"content":{"rendered":"<div xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"infobox\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Toyota is working on a new mid-engine sports car. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The automaker learned in testing that a mid-engine all-wheel drive layout is the \u2018best layout for high-performance driving.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>It is still four or five years away from production.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier this year, Toyota confirmed plans to develop a new mid-engine sports car. It\u2019s expected to be the spiritual successor to the MR2, the two-seater Toyota sold from the 1980s to the mid-2000s, and when it does arrive, it will have all-wheel drive. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoexpress.co.uk\/toyota\/365687\/new-toyota-mr2-being-developed-plain-sight-track\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Auto Express<\/em><\/a>, Naohiko Saito, Toyota GR\u2019s chief engineer, revealed that the company\u2019s initial testing uncovered &#8220;that the combination of an all-wheel drive mid-ship layout offers the best layout for high-performance driving.&#8221;<\/p>\n<section data-is-mosaic=\"0\" contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"image\" data-border data-id=\"7576764\">\n        <span><br \/>\n            <svg>\n                <use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/design\/dist\/critical\/icons\/sprite-common-0-379cb53607b1315d0e2d6ede78c5cd01.svg#semidir\" \/>\n            <\/svg><br \/>\n        <\/span>\n    <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\" \nhttps:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s5\/toyota-ft-se-concept.webp 213w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s6\/toyota-ft-se-concept.webp 445w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s4\/toyota-ft-se-concept.webp 889w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s3\/toyota-ft-se-concept.webp 1280w\n        \" ><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" srcset=\" \nhttps:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s5\/toyota-ft-se-concept.jpg 213w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s6\/toyota-ft-se-concept.jpg 445w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s4\/toyota-ft-se-concept.jpg 889w,\n            https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/mgl\/Kb1Gp0\/s3\/toyota-ft-se-concept.jpg 1280w\n        \" ><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/static\/16x9-tr.png\" alt=\"Toyota FT-Se Concept\" width=\"16\" height=\"9\" loading=\"lazy\">\n    <\/picture>\n<p><em>Toyota FT-Se Concept<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>Toyota has been testing half of this equation in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/746836\/toyota-mid-engine-gr-yaris\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"0\" data-params=\"%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22746836%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-mid-engine-gr-yaris%22%7D\">mid-engine Concept M prototype<\/a>, which competes in Japan\u2019s Super Taikyu Series and is rear-wheel drive. The car was in the first of four development stages in January when the automaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/785112\/toyota-confirms-new-mid-engine-car\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"0\" data-params=\"%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22785112%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-confirms-new-mid-engine-car%22%7D\">confirmed it was working on the model<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Toyota does not expect a production version to arrive for at least four more years, if not longer. It will likely feature a design similar to that of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/693057\/toyota-ft-se-concept-reveal\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"0\" data-params=\"%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22693057%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-ft-se-concept-reveal%22%7D\">FT-Se concept<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr>\n<hr>\n<p>When it goes on sale, it will likely feature the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/791499\/toyota-mid-engine-sports-car-details\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"0\" data-params=\"%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22791499%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-mid-engine-sports-car-details%22%7D\">G20E<\/a> engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rumored to make over 400 horsepower. The car should also feature the eight-speed automatic gearbox designed for the GR Corolla and GR Yaris.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>Motor1\u2019s Take:<\/strong> Toyota\u2019s upcoming sports car sounds like it will be a winner, especially at the right price. It will also likely wear the GR badge as Toyota expands the sub-brand&#8217;s lineup with a range of performance cars. \u00a0<\/p>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"related-content\" data-widget-size=\"content\" data-params=\"%7B%22type_id%22%3A0%2C%22title_id%22%3A%22%22%2C%22items%22%3A%5B%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22798173%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Toyota%20Veteran%20Reveals%20His%20Worst%20Fear%3A%20'Everybody%20Is%20Shifting%20To%20EVs'%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-chairman-reveals-worst-fear%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%220%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2Fg4OrYm%2Fs5%2Fakio-toyoda.jpg%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22798131%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Toyota's%20Fake%20Manual%20For%20EVs%20Might%20Be%20Too%20Real%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-fake-manual-ev-stall-patent%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%220%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2Fxqbme2%2Fs5%2F2024-toyota-gr-corolla-circuit-edition-blue-flame.jpg%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22798030%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Toyota%20Stuffed%20Two%20Engines%20Into%20A%20Seven-Cylinder%20Camry%20With%20700%20HP%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22two-engine-toyota-camry%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%220%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2F2N4znM%2Fs5%2Ftoyota-camry-with-two-engines.jpg%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22797537%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Toyota's%20Best%20Hot%20Hatch%20Will%20Get%20Even%20Better%20With%20A%20New%20Morizo%20Trim%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-gr-corolla-morizo-rr%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%220%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2Fg4O8nm%2Fs5%2F2026-toyota-gr-corolla-morizo-rr-concept.jpg%22%7D%7D%5D%7D\">\n<p>Check Out More Toyota News<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"widget-newsletter\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/custom\/share\/m1_newsletter_widget_logo.svg\" alt=\"Motor1.com INSIDER - logo\">\n        <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>\n                                    Source:<\/p>\n<p>                                                                            <span><span>Auto Express<\/span><\/span>                                                                    <\/p>\n<section>\n<p>\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\">\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M18 8.46875C18.7956 8.46875 19.5587 8.78482 20.1213 9.34743C20.6839 9.91004 21 10.6731 21 11.4688C21 12.2644 20.6839 13.0275 20.1213 13.5901C19.5587 14.1527 18.7956 14.4687 18 14.4688M10 8.46875V19.4688C10 19.734 9.89464 19.9883 9.70711 20.1759C9.51957 20.3634 9.26522 20.4688 9 20.4688H8C7.73478 20.4688 7.48043 20.3634 7.29289 20.1759C7.10536 19.9883 7 19.734 7 19.4688V14.4688M12 8.46876L16.524 4.69876C16.6555 4.58927 16.8154 4.51951 16.9851 4.49766C17.1548 4.47582 17.3271 4.50279 17.482 4.57541C17.6369 4.64803 17.7679 4.7633 17.8597 4.90771C17.9514 5.05212 18.0001 5.21968 18 5.39076V17.5468C18.0001 17.7178 17.9514 17.8854 17.8597 18.0298C17.7679 18.1742 17.6369 18.2895 17.482 18.3621C17.3271 18.4347 17.1548 18.4617 16.9851 18.4399C16.8154 18.418 16.6555 18.3483 16.524 18.2388L12 14.4688H4C3.73478 14.4688 3.48043 14.3634 3.29289 14.1759C3.10536 13.9883 3 13.734 3 13.4688V9.46876C3 9.20354 3.10536 8.94919 3.29289 8.76165C3.48043 8.57412 3.73478 8.46876 4 8.46876H12Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/>\n\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t<span>We want your opinion!<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>What would you like to see on Motor1.com?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.motor1.com\/survey\/2025\/\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tTake our 3 minute survey.\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8211; The Motor1.com Team<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p> Maribel Ramage <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/798368\/toyota-sports-car-mid-engine-awd-details\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toyota is working on a new mid-engine sports car. \u00a0\u00a0 The automaker learned in testing that a mid-engine all-wheel drive layout is the \u2018best layout for high-performance driving.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 It is still four or five years away from production.\u00a0 Earlier this year, Toyota confirmed plans to develop a new mid-engine sports car. It\u2019s expected to be<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":915442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[210,23030],"tags":[6845,8242],"class_list":["post-915441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-quietly","category-toyota","tag-quietly","tag-toyota"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/915441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=915441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/915441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/915442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=915441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=915441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=915441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}