New sports Car by Toyota ?

Toyota Motor Corp. is hinting that a new sports car might be in the works, meant to fill a gap left by the retirement of the MR2 two-seater.

“We used to have a lot of sports cars, but not anymore,” Kazuo Okamoto, executive vice president for R&D, told Automotive News. “So now we want to try it again.”

Okamoto made the comments after speaking last month about Toyota’s midterm business plan and said the company must launch more “appealing products” that are “fun to drive.” Okamoto added that the strategy will involve the “development of a new sports model.”

The presentation was accompanied by a slide show depicting a Lexus sports car along with two other sporty concept cars. One car bears the Toyota logo on the hood. After the presentation, Okamoto said there were no concrete plans.

Toyota’s midengined MR2 dates back to 1984. It was retired this year.

Other sportyish models over the years have included the Celica, discontinued in 2006, and the Supra, on the road from 1978 to 2002.