Gotcha: Toyota's New Mid-Engine Sports Car Possibly Caught Testing On Video

Toyota’s mid-engine sports car rumor gains traction after a prototype appears on video testing near Fuji Speedway, potentially reviving the Celica name or, as some reports suggest, the MR2. The short clip was posted to X by user @You_SuiKoyoAZ and shows a two-door coupe prototype on track, with a distinctive burbly exhaust note and a shift pattern that may hint at a manual transmission. Visually, it features slim, downturned headlights, a large hood vent, and taillights that resemble Toyota’s current design language. While the footage does not confirm the engine placement, reports suggest a mid-mounted layout with an all-wheel-drive system under the GR banner, using Toyota’s new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Expected output is about 400 hp for the road version, with a hotter variant rumored around 600 hp, plus some level of electrification. If aligned with prior sightings, a WRC-spec version could debut before the production car, possibly as soon as 2027.