Report: Toyota Is Cooking Up a Rival for the Mazda Miata
Citing a report from the Japanese car magazine Best Car, Forbes reports that Toyota is developing a compact sports car that would slot below the existing GR86 and take on the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Toyota’s tiny sports car will allegedly get the name S-FR—not all that creative. The letters supposedly signify ‘Small,’ ‘Front-engined,’ and ‘Rear-wheel-drive,’ which alludes to the sporting personality such a car would have. The S-FR is reported to be based on a svelte concept revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2015, which boasted a 2+2 layout draped over a rear-drive platform.
Toyota is no stranger to 2+2, rear-drive cars: Look at the GR86 and the Supra, both already available here in the States. Interestingly, both cars were developed in partnership with another automaker—Toyota teamed up with Subaru for the GR86, and with BMW for the Supra. Like its two larger brethren, the S-FR would reportedly also be the byproduct of a collaboration between Toyota and another automaker—two, in this case: Daihatsu and Suzuki. Daihatsu already makes a little runabout roadster called the Copen, and its recently revealed concept called the Vision Copen certainly carries the same silhouette as the 2015 S-FR.
According to the report, the S-FR will be powered by a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing around 150 horsepower. While there’s no explicit mention of a manual gearbox in the Forbes article, the 2015 concept certainly featured one (pictured above), and we don’t see any reason why that would change. (Toyota, along with Mazda, proudly remains one of the few automakers still offering manual-equipped cars here in the U.S.)
The S-FR will reportedly debut sometime in 2026 for Asian and European markets. Any potential for such a little spitfire to reach U.S. shores is, for now, optimistic speculation.
Let’s speculate, then! The three-cylinder engine may be a bit off-putting to some folks, but Toyota has already proved the efficacy of a three-pot to stateside buyers with the snarly, rally-bred GR Corolla. That car has a 1.6-liter three-cylinder; the S-FR would allegedly use a smaller, 1.3-liter version. Given how common it has become for automakers to engineer the same engine block for different displacements, there’s a decent chance the hypothetical powerplant would share most of its componentry with an engine already sold in the states, a huge plus in the regulatory environment.
While making assumptions on pricing for a car that isn’t A Real Thing yet is a stretch, the Forbes article does note that Best Car expects such a car to cost around 3,500,00 yen, which at current exchange rates would equate to roughly $22,500. The GR86 starts just a smidge above $30K, so that pricing hierarchy would certainly hold water, if we put ourselves in the shoes of Toyota product planners.
As for the supposed rival of the S-FR? Mazda squeezes 181 hp from the current Miata’s free-breathing, 2.0-liter inline four; that would put it around 30 ponies north of the Toyota. However, when it comes to torque, the Miata is rated for a mere 151 lb-ft, a figure which the S-FR may be able to beat with a turbocharged powertrain.
But if a North American version of the S-FR were to get the 1.6-liter three-pot from the GR Corolla? Hooooo buddy, that changes the calculus. The GR Corolla’s engine is rated for a whopping 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, stats which handily trounce those of the Miata.
Let’s pump the brakes; that was, after all, pure speculation. When we asked a Toyota North America spokesperson about the rumored development of the S-FR and the potential of it coming stateside, the response was: “Toyota has no product news to announce at this time.” About what we were expecting to hear, then.
Fine by us. Dreaming is free.
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The Miata forgot how to be small light and basic. They added power hard tops snd a coupe. Most still love the original formula.
This new car looks small but lose the top and make it look nice. No need for the large bass grill.
Yep. It may just be the color of the title picture car, but my first impression was that of a largemouth bass coming out of the reeds to take a small frog for lunch!
I’m not sure where you are getting your data, but the Miata is probably the poster child for knowing how to stay small and light. Show me one single car that has a current version that weighs less than the same model built 35 years ago. Heck, show me one car that weighs even within 150 pounds of its 35-year-old self. The original Miata weighed 2210 pounds without power steering or power brakes. The current version weighs 2332 with a plethora of advancements and modern safety standards. And if that 122-pound weight gain is too much, (I’d argue that most people who dare whine about that have surely added more than 5.5% to their own weight in those 35 years) get the SkyActiv version, which weighs only 2119.
Adding a hard top version is not necessarily a bad thing–especially for those who prefer the better handling that a stiffer chassis provides in a coupe over a convertible. That Mazda gives owners a choice in a vehicle that sells in such low numbers is something that should be celebrated.
Great post Tim. Miata is a great little car, Unfortunately for me, my feet are much too big for it to be an option for me. ( my body, too ). I couldn’t manage the footwell in an MGB either but really enjoyed it on the curvy roads. Drove it for one summer, then gave it up after too many close calls with my right foot getting jammed under the brake pedal.
Now if Toyota would do a convertible version of the S-FR! I still remember seeing a prototype FR-S convertible at the Shanghai Auto Show years ago. It was stunning. I would have never imagined it would not go into production.
It looks like the illegitimate child of the clown shoe BMW and a MINI, but it is nice to know someone out there is still trying to make a bare basics sports car
Not even Lotus anymore.
I got strong Mini vibes from the first photo. What if the build partner was Mini/BMW and not Daihatsu and Suzuki? Let’s face it, both Daihatsu and Suzuki built vehicles for the U.S. market of questionable quality. And Toyota seemed to outdo BMW at their own version of the Z4, so why not continue a good thing? Unless BMW didn’t want to play second fiddle another time.
Front end looks like a MINI that has been squished and stretched.
The pics don’t get me excited and a 1.3 liter three-banger makes me even less excited. I’d rather have any of the old MR2’s than this possibility. Miata has nothing to worry from this.
Agreed. Why even make a 1.3 when you already have the 1.6 that even in a detuned version would be a heckuva performer? I don’t think I’m the intended buyer, though, so my opinion doesn’t count for much here. I can’t get past the looks to even come visit it in a showroom if it were to become available.
I think Mazda has nothing to fear.
It should get 60 mpg which is pretty cool and something you can use every time you drive it. Excess horsepower, not so much.
Toyota should have kept complete control of the Supra, that car was the ticket. Bring back the MR2 also.
Change the model name to Grouper.
Toyota is like what, 25 years too late? “Well, let’s see if the Miata Idea works before we jump in with one foot”. Toyota is taking tips from the Prius design team. Make it small and ugly and it will sell like hotcakes.
I own both 2007 Miata and 4RUNNER. The gaping, cheese grater grills on current Toyota vehicles are hideous, while your ‘Miata-competitor’ photos are vomit inducing.
Enough of this fake grill/air intake deformed mutant ninja turtle crap.