Car nerds, grab your helmets or whatever: Toyota and Mazda might be cooking up a small sports car collaboration, and the rumors are flying straight out of Japan. According to Best Car Magazine, the next-generation GR86 and MX-5 could be developed together, blending Toyota’s engineering muscle with Mazda’s legendary sports car DNA.
Details are still thin, but just imagining a Mazda-infused GR86 is enough to make the pulse quicken. We already know Toyota and Mazda have a history of sharing technology—the CX-50 compact SUV, for instance, uses Toyota’s hybrid tech—so another joint project could benefit both companies while keeping costs reasonable.
Toyota X Mazda Collab
Now, let’s talk Mazda. The MX-5 Miata is already a masterclass in lightweight, agile fun, but it has two glaring shortcomings. First: color choices. Soul Red Crystal Metallic is a masterpiece, no doubt, but why no Solar Yellow? Or better yet, proper British Racing Green? Second: seating. Two seats are fine if you’re childless and mostly friendless, but what if you want a touch more practicality? Imagine a 2+2 coupe version of the MX-5—same finely tuned handling and driver joy, with room for a couple of extra passengers. Mazda has flirted with this idea before (think RX-8), but this time, a partnership with Toyota could make it a reality.
Why does this matter? Small sports cars are increasingly rare. Niche vehicles like the MX-5 and GR86 are fun, affordable, and beautifully balanced, but they’re expensive to develop and maintain in a world where automakers are laser-focused on EVs, SUVs, and trucks. A co-developed model would spread R&D costs across two companies while giving enthusiasts something to get excited about.
Subaru BRZ Paved The Way
The current GR86 and Subaru BRZ partnership shows what’s possible. Both are affordable, fun, and perfectly pitched for driving purists, yet neither sells in huge volumes. A Mazda/Toyota collaboration could deliver similar thrills with the added benefit of a Mazda sports car touch—potentially even creating the first affordable 2+2 sports coupe that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Of course, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Best Car has a tendency to get a little optimistic with predictions, and small sports cars aren’t exactly the cash cows of modern auto production. But if this collaboration comes to life, it could mark one of the most exciting developments for sports car enthusiasts in years—a compact, affordable, and beautifully balanced coupe with a hint of Mazda soul and Toyota engineering polish.
Meanwhile, Mazda fans can dream of one simple thing: a dark green MX-5 special edition, because some classics should never be limited to just one jaw-dropping color.
TopSpeed’s Take
The idea of a joint Toyota-Mazda sports car is tantalizing, but until official announcements arrive from Toyota City or Hiroshima, it’s a case of “wait and see.” Still, for those who live for the thrill of a perfectly balanced, affordable sports car, the future just got a little more interesting.