Toyota, Suzuki and Daihatsu are Collaborating to build a new Sports Car

The upcoming sportscar will be inspired by the Toyota Sports EV concept and driven by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 120hp.

Toyota, Suzuki, and Daihatsu are working on a mid-engined, lightweight sportscar. According to Best Car Online Japan, the new sportscar will be built on a Toyota basis, with a Suzuki engine and Daihatsu design features. It is believed to be the replacement for Toyota's MR2.

The Japanese manufacturer trio's unnamed sports car will be built on Toyota's TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. On the other hand, the platform will be designed specifically for the forthcoming sportscar and will use the front suspension from the Yaris' GA-B platform for tiny cars.

The joint sportscar will also be driven by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine based on Suzuki's Boosterjet engine, providing 120hp and 196Nm. According to the source, the sportscar would also have a mild-hybrid setup to deliver a 5hp boost and increase fuel efficiency. The engine will likely be paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automated transmission.

The next tiny sportscar will likely have a length of 4,200mm and a wheelbase of 2,550mm. It will be 1,720mm broad and 1,220mm tall, weighing roughly 1,000kg.

Expected design

While no concept sketches or prototypes of this joint sportscar have been revealed, reports say the Toyota Sports EV concept will inspire it. Additionally, the S-FR idea from 2015 is projected to have a design influence.

Expected price

According to reports, the next sportscar would cost between JPY 2.2 million and JPY 2.5 million (approximately Rs 13.51 lakh-Rs 15.36 lakh). While no official date has been set, the lightweight sportscar is slated to compete with the Mazda MX-5, with the next-generation MX-5 set to debut in 2024.

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