Toyota just gave sports-car enthusiasts something more interesting than another rendering: two very different development cars doing real race distance.
At the October 24–25, 2026 Super Taikyu round at Okayama International Circuit, the entry list included the No. 32 TGRR GR86 Future FR concept and the No. 28 GR YARIS M concept. Both ran in the experimental ST-Q category. One puts a fresh spin on the familiar front-engine, rear-wheel-drive formula. The other takes Toyota's mid-engine development program much further from its hatchback origins. [1]
The second car has fueled plenty of Celica and MR2 conversation. But the important distinction comes first: the Okayama car was not officially entered as a Celica, and the GR86 prototype is not a confirmed specification for the next production GR86. There is still a lot worth getting excited about without turning either experiment into a showroom announcement.
Why Toyota Is Developing These Cars in Super Taikyu
Super Taikyu is an endurance-racing series, but its ST-Q category also gives manufacturers room to develop technology in competition. Toyota Times explains that the class was established in 2021 for vehicles under development, with projects involving alternative fuels and different powertrain approaches joining the field. [2]
For a development team, a race asks different questions than a single fast lap. Does the car remain predictable through a stint? How do temperatures and tire behavior change? Can different drivers use its performance consistently? Those are the kinds of questions that make endurance racing useful—and why a car can be valuable to engineers long before its production future is settled.
The Two Prototypes at a Glance
| Detail | GR86 Future FR concept | GR Yaris M Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Race number | 32 | 28 |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive | Mid-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Engine | Development 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four | G20E 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four |
| Notable changes | New engine; double-wishbone suspension front and rear | Coupe-style body; revised chassis and aerodynamics; six-speed manual |
| Production takeaway | An FR development experiment, not a next-generation launch | A mid-engine development platform, not a confirmed Celica reveal |
The GR86 Prototype: An Inline-Four Without a Turbo
The headline change in the GR86 is its development 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four. Car Watch's October 26 trackside report connects it to Toyota's G20E engine program, in a non-turbo configuration. Driver Kazuya Oshima also described an engine that revved beyond the development team's expectations. A specific production redline was not established by that report. [3]
This is separate from both the showroom car and earlier experimental racers. Car Watch documents that the GR86 development car had previously used a modified G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder. The move at Okayama was therefore from one racing test configuration to another—not Toyota removing a factory turbo from a production GR86. [4]
What About Horsepower?
The honest answer is that the initial estimates differ. Car Watch's October 23 coverage quoted a mechanic at around 200 PS; its October 26 follow-up put output at approximately 220 metric horsepower. We would treat this as a reported development range, not a finalized rating. PS is metric horsepower, so these figures also should not be compared directly with U.S. SAE horsepower numbers without conversion. [4] [3]
For context, Toyota lists the U.S.-market 2026 production GR86 with a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated boxer, 228 horsepower, and 184 lb-ft of torque. It remains rear-wheel drive, with a six-speed manual or automatic. Those are showroom specifications; the Okayama engine is a different proposition. [5]
The Chassis Is Part of the Experiment
Car Watch also reports double-wishbone suspension at both ends, with geometry still being evaluated. The team has informally used the Levin name, while Akio Toyoda characterized the project as Oshima's independent research into future FR possibilities. Neither nickname is a new production-model announcement. [3]
Our take: The interesting part is the combination of engine response and chassis experimentation, not a promised horsepower increase. An inline-four does not automatically make the complete car lighter, better balanced, or more enjoyable than a boxer. The point of development is to find out how the whole package works.
For a closer look and engine sound, see Car Watch's trackside GR86 prototype footage. This is independent coverage, not a Driven.Media road test.
