Toyota MR2
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| Manufacturer | Central Motors (a part of the Toyota Motor Corporation) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1984–2007 |
| Assembly | Sagamihara, Japan |
| Class | Sports car |
| Layout | RMR layout |
The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Central Motors, a part of Toyota, from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in Japan. There are three different generations of the MR2: 1984–1989, with angular, origami-like lines, 1990–1999, which had styling that some compared to Ferrari sports cars, and 2000–2007, which somewhat resembled the Porsche Boxster. It was designed to be small, with an economical powerplant, but sporty in style and handling. Basic design elements, such as McPherson strut front and rear suspensions and transverse-mounted inline-four engines, are common to all three generations of MR2, though each generation differs greatly from the next in particulars.
Origins
The MR2's life began in 1976 when Toyota launched a design project with the goal of producing a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide decent fuel economy. Initially, the purpose of the project was not a sports car. The actual design work began in 1979 when from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate different alternatives for engine placement and drive method. It was finally decided to place the engine transversely in the middle of the car. The result was the first prototype in 1981, dubbed the SA-X. From its base design, the car began evolving into an actual sports car, and further prototypes were tested intensely both in Japan and in California. A significant amount of testing was performed on actual race circuits such as Willow Springs, where former Formula One driver Dan Gurney tested the car.
Toyota made its SV-3 concept car public in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, gathering a huge amount of publicity both from the press and the audience. The car, scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 1984 in the Japanese market under the name MR2 (which stands for "midship runabout two-seater"), was to become the first mass-produced mid-engined car to come from a Japanese manufacturer. In France the name was shortened to MR to avoid the similarity in pronunciation of MR2 with the French words est merdeux, meaning "(it) is shitty".
First generation (W10; 1984–1989)
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| Production | 1984–1989 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Engine | 1.5 L 3A I4 (AW10) 1.6 L 4A-GE DOHC I4 (AW11) 1.6 L 4A-GZE supercharged I4 (AW11) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 91.3 in (2319 mm) |
| Length | 155.5 in (3950 mm) |
| Width | 65.6 in (1666 mm) |
| Height | 48.6 in (1234 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,350lbs (1,070kg) (1988 NA) 2,493lbs (1,131kg) (1988 SC) |
Changes by year
1986
The MR2's legacy
The press received the AW11 with open arms and praised its innovation, great feeling, and responsive engine. American car magazines Road & Track and Car and Driver both chose the MR2 on their lists of ten best cars which included some tough competition, such as the Ferrari Testarossa. The Australian Wheels magazine chose the 1988 MR2 as its favourite sports car. The MR2 was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1985. (It is worth noting that the MR2 was not eligible for the Car of the Year award, because only vehicles produced in the US were eligible until 1999. The 1985 winner, the Volkswagen GTI, was produced in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.) The MR2 was also on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1986 and 1987. In 2004, Sports Car International ranked the MR2 number eight on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.
In January 1989 Toyota produced a final run of fully optioned "Super Edition" MR2s. The 'Super Edition' included all the extras of the G-Limited models along with extra features such as a MOMO-commissioned steering wheel and gear knob, Recaro "Milano" seats with matching door panels, and "SUPER EDITION" decals on the rear visor and side stripes). Super Edition cars were sold in special Midnight Blue or white/gold two-tone paint; 270 were produced in each color.
Popular Swaps
The Toyota MR2 has a popular fan base still to this day. Its Twin Cam 1600 engine has lots of potential, but its power has been surpassed since many years ago. Many enthusiasts have decided to turbocharge the engine as an upgrade, but many have also decided to bypass this route and simply swap the engine out entirely. Popular swaps include both the Fourth Generation 4A-GE Twin Cam 20 valve Silver and Black Tops, the Toyota MR2 MKII's 3S-GTE and the BEAMS 3S-GE engines, and the Supercharged 4A-GE 16 valve engines typically found in Supercharged MR2's. Others even go as far as to change the 4cylinder engine to a 6 or 8 cylinder engine to make the little car faster, but this isn't without some extensive modifications.
Toyota 222D rally car
Second generation (W20; 1989–1999)
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| Production | 1989–Sep 1999 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupé or T-top |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Engine | 2.2 L 5S-FE I4 (SW21) 2.0 L 3S-GE I4 (SW20) 2.0 L 3S-GTE turbo I4 (SW22) |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 94.5 in (2,400 mm) |
| Length | 164.2 in (4,171 mm) |
| Width | 66.9 in (1,699 mm) |
| Height | 48.6 in (1,234 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,782lbs (1,262kg) (1991T T-top); 2,599lbs (1,179kg) (1991NA) |
| Designer | Kazutoshi Arima Tadashi Nakagawa (roadster) |
The MR2 went through a complete redesign in 1989 (though North America did not receive them until late 1990 as 1991 models). The new car was larger and weighed 350 to 400 pounds (160 to 180 kg) more than its predecessor.
Because the resemblance between the Ferrari 348 and the Ferrari F355 and the new MR2 was quite striking, it is sometimes referred to as a "poor man's Ferrari." Indeed, many body kits became available to make the MR2 imitate the Ferrari F355.
Revisions and model year changes
The second-generation MR2 underwent a variety of changes during its 10 years of production, grouped in four different periods:
Late 1992:
TRD2000GT
In 1998, Toyota Racing Development offered an official kit body conversion and tuning program for MR2 owners to transform their existing SW20 MR2 into a wide-body TRD2000GT replica car. This was to pay homage to the TRD2000GT wins in the GT-C Japanese racing series, since the TRD2000GT racing series cars were based on the SW20 floor pan. Toyota also did the same with their Supra Twin Turbo model, offering a conversion service to transform these cars into a TRD3000GT.
Motorsport
Le Mans: SARD MC8-R
The Sard MC8-R was a modified and lengthened version of the SW20 built for GT racing by Toyota's works team SARD (Sigma Advanced Research Development). The MC8-R housed a twin-turbo version of the 4.0 liter Toyota 1UZ-FE V8 producing 600 bhp (450 kW). Eligible for the GT1 category, the MC8-R lacked pace against the new generation sports cars and homologation specials such as Porsche 911 GT1, but did compete alongside a similarly modified Toyota Supra. One MC8 road car was built in order to meet homologation requirements, but its current whereabouts are unknown.
Japanese Grand Touring Championship (now Super GT)
1998
Third generation (W30; 1999–2007)
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| Also called | Toyota MR-S (Japan) MR2 Spyder (North America) MR2 Roadster (Europe) |
|---|---|
| Production | Oct 1999–Jul 2007 |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Engine | 1.8L 140 PS (103 kW) I4 (ZZW30) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 6-speed manual (Europe) 6-speed Sequential Manual |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in (2,451 mm) |
| Length | 153 in (3,886 mm) |
| Width | 66.7 in (1,694 mm) |
| Height | 48.8 in (1,240 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,195 lb (996 kg) |
The third generation MR2 had three different names, depending on country; Toyota MR-S in Japan, Toyota MR2 Spyder in the US, and the Toyota MR2 Roadster in Europe. With the previous MR2 having been in the market for almost ten years, the newest MR2 took a drastically different approach than the outgoing model. The new MR2 was a part of Toyota Project Genesis, a plan to attract buyers from the younger age bracket in an effort to increase sales in the US. The most obvious change was the switch from a hardtop/open-roof option to a true convertible soft top, giving the car the 'Spyder' designation.
Many claim that this car was inspired by Porsche Boxster which was released in 1996, due to its similar appearance. However, the first prototype of MR-S appeared in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show, which had slightly more angled and rigid appearance than the current production model, which included additional curves for a more aerodynamic and appealing look. The MR2 Spyder chief engineer Harunori Shiratori said, "First, we wanted true driver enjoyment, blending good movement, low inertia and light weight. Then, a long wheelbase to achieve high stability and fresh new styling; a mid-engine design to create excellent handling and steering without the weight of the engine up front; a body structure as simple as possible to allow for easy customizing, and low cost to the consumer."
The only engine available for the ZZW30 was the all-aluminium 1ZZ-FED, a 1794 cc straight-4. Like its predecessors, the engine used dual overhead camshafts and 16 valves. The intake camshaft timing was adjustable via the VVT-i system, which was introduced earlier on the 1998 MR2 in some markets. Unlike its predecessors, however, the engine was placed onto the car the other way round, with the exhaust manifold towards the rear of the car instead of towards the front. The 138 hp (104 kW) maximum power was quite a drop from the previous generation, but thanks to the lightness of the car it could still move quite quickly, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 to 8.7 s depending on the transmission option, the Sequential Manual being unable to launch and shift as quickly as the clutch operated manual. Curb weight was 2,195 pounds (996 kg) for manual transmission models, making this model the lightest of the MR2 series.
In addition to the 5-speed manual transmission, a 5-speed or 6-speed Sequential Manual Transmission (SMT) was also available starting in 2002. SMT is standard feature in Australian market; however, air conditioning was optional. After 2003, a 6-speed SMT was an option. The SMT had no conventional H-pattern shift lever or clutch pedal. The driver could shift gears by tapping the shift lever forward or backward or by pressing steering-wheel mounted buttons. Clutch engagement is automatic, and the car will automatically shift to neutral when stopping. Cruise control was never offered with the manual transmission, but was standard for SMT cars.
The MR2 Spyder was also distinguished from most of its competition (including the Honda S2000, Mazda Miata, and Porsche Boxster) by a standard-equipment heated glass rear window. At the time of its debut, most convertibles were still using a plastic rear window. A hard top was also available from Toyota in Japan and Europe, though it was expensive.
Introduction configuration and changes by year
The MR-S was originally introduced in October 1999 to the Japanese consumer market in three distinct trim models - the "B", the "Standard", and the "S". The "S" trim level included power windows, locks, mirrors, AM/FM/CD radio, cloth seats, tilt steering wheel, and alloy wheels.
In March 2000, the car was introduced into the US and Europe as a "monospec" level, which included the same features as Japan's "S" trim level.
Performance and handling
The feedback for the new model was somewhat mixed - some liked its all new design concept, while the fans of the SW20 would've liked it to continue along the path of the previous model. All agreed, however, that the ZZW30 had nearly perfect handling. The ZZW30 is considered to be the best-handling MR2 in both overall limit and controllability. For example, Tiff Needell, a very experienced race driver and the former host of the BBC TV show Top Gear, praised the handling of the ZZW30. Although some complained of the relative lack of power, many owners have opted to switch out the 1ZZ-FE engine in exchange for the 180 PS (130 kW) 2ZZ-GE found in the Celica and Lotus Elise.
Motorsport (Super GT)
The end of the Spyder
In July 2004, Toyota announced that sales of the MR2 (as well as the Celica) would be discontinued in the US at the end of the 2005 model year because of increasing competition and lack of sales. The ZZW30 sold 7,233 units in its debut year, falling to just 901 for the 2005 model, for a total of 23,868 through its six years of production in the US. The 2005 model year was the last for the MR2 in the US. While the MR2 Spyder was not sold after 2005 in the US, it was offered in Japan, Mexico, and Europe until 2007. Production of the car ceased permanently in July 2007.
Special editions
As a farewell to the MR2, Toyota produced 1000 limited-production V-Edition cars for Japan and the UK. They are distinguished by different color wheels, titanium interior accents, minor body changes, a helical limited slip differential, and different steering wheel trim.
Also for model year 2007, the United Kingdom received 300 models in a special numbered TF300 series. A special 182 bhp (136 kW) turbocharged variant called the TTE Turbo (TTE standing for Toyota Team Europe) was available as a dealer-installed package. This package was also available for fitting to customer MR2s.
VM180 Zagato
The Toyota VM180 Zagato was designed by Zagato, based on the MR-S, and built at Toyota Modelista International for sale in Japan only through the Toyota Vista dealer network. It was first shown on 10 January 2001 in Tokyo and then at the February 2001 Geneva Motor Show. The body panels are attached to the original MR-S chassis, as can be seen by the recess around the door handles. The stock engine was tuned to produce 155 bhp (116 kW).
References
External links
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