what kind of car is a mr2

Toyota MR2 Quick Facts

• First year of production: 1985
• Last year of production: 2005
• Total sold: 293,847 (globally)
• Original price (base): $10,999
• Characteristic feature: Fun to drive, reliable to own, and cheap to run, the Toyota MR2 is the everyman's mid-engine exotic sports car.

Full Answer

Is the new Toyota MR2 a mid-engine sports car?

But the MR2 was priced as an entry-level mid-engine sports car. This new mid-engine Toyota will be quite a bit more like a Honda NSX or Nissan GTR. Here is what we know for a Toyota that won’t be in production for five years if ever.

What is the best book on the Toyota MR2?

Burton, Nigel (2015). Toyota MR2: The Complete Story. Ramsbury, Marlborough: Crowood. ISBN 9781847979322. Heick, Terrell (2009).

Are there any special variants of the MR2?

Special performance variants of the MR2 are rare. A single all-wheel-drive Group B rally prototype of the Mark 1 MR2 dubbed "222D" began development in Japan but was left unfinished with the demise of the race class in 1986. Today, the car resides in the Japanese Toyota factory collection.

When did the MR2 come out?

The MR2 appeared around the same time as the Honda CR-X, the Nissan EXA, the VW Scirocco from Europe, and the Pontiac Fiero and Ford EXP from North America. Toyota debuted its SV-3 concept car in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, gathering press and the audience publicity.

Is the Toyota MR2 a rare car?

The Toyota MR2 is easy to forget about unless you're a die-hard Toyota fan. It was a midengine (M), rear-wheel-drive (R), 2-seater (2) sports car that saw three distinct generations and served as an affordable roadster with fantastic driving dynamics and Toyota reliability.

What is the MR2 known for?

The Toyota MR2 has a reputation for snap-oversteer. Snap-oversteer, predictably, describes the same scenario but with more speed and power behind it. The MR2 was designed with a heavy rear end. Its mid-engine platform meant the car could easily spin out of control if a snap-oversteer scenario occurred.

What does MR2 stand for?

MR2 stands for Mid-Ship Runabout 2 Seater – some also believe it stands for Mid-Engined, Rear-Drive 2 Seater (which perfectly describes the car). The “Midship Runabout 2 Seater” name comes from the original 1984 press release that Toyota put out to announce the launch of the MR2 in Japan.

How much does MR2 cost?

A: The average price of a MR2 is $16,146.

Are Toyota MR2 fast?

The stock US market MR2 Turbo model was able to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 6.1 seconds and finish the 1/4 mile in 14.7 seconds.

Are MR2 going up in value?

In the US, one of the most affordable cars in the previous report, the unassuming Toyota MR2, became the best performer as it rose in value by an average of 30 percent. In the 2018 list, the BMW M3 was the strongest performer as it rose an average of 20 percent in value.

Why did Toyota stop making MR2?

The Toyota MR2 was one of very few mid-engined rear-wheel-drive affordable sports cars, but its demise was due to a few reasons including increasing competition and a lack of sales.

Is Toyota MR2 a good car?

The Toyota MR2 is absolutely capable of being a very fun, reliable daily driver if you live in a place where the climate allows for it. It's comfortable, reliable (it's a Toyota after all), and relatively safe considering its age. The cost of upkeep is also relatively cheap compared to modern cars.

How many mr2s are left?

21) According to the website How Many Left, fewer than 11,000 examples (both officially supplied and imports) of the MR2 are now officially registered in the UK. 22) Toyota president Akio Toyoda has commented that he would like “Three Brothers” within Toyota's sports car line-up.

Is Toyota MR2 a classic?

It all started in 1976, when Toyota felt the need to develop and work on a fun little car to drive, taking into consideration a good fuel economy.

Does Toyota still make an MR2?

But there's one modern revival fans have been clamoring for that has yet to come to fruition. Toyota still doesn't have a modern successor to the famous MR2. That could all change as a report from Japan's Best Car Web suggests Toyota is enlisting the help of Suzuki and Daihatsu to build a mid-engined sports car.

When did Toyota stop making MR2?

2007Toyota MR2: end of the line Sales of the MR2 (and Celica) were concluded in the US and Australia at the end of the 2005 model year but continued in Japan, Mexico and Europe until 2007 when production finally ceased.

Is an MR2 a classic car?

Toyota's MR2 is the classic sports car you should still buy today.

Are MR2 cool?

The Toyota MR2 is a cool, yet affordable, mid-engined sports car that saw 3 vastly different generations brought to market. Toyota certainly knows a thing or two about making a good sports car.

Is the MR2 a good car?

The Toyota MR2 is absolutely capable of being a very fun, reliable daily driver if you live in a place where the climate allows for it. It's comfortable, reliable (it's a Toyota after all), and relatively safe considering its age. The cost of upkeep is also relatively cheap compared to modern cars.

What is the rarest MR2?

Model year 2005 was the last for the MR2 Spyder in the U.S., with cars being sold into 2006 in other markets. Just 27,941 MR2 Spyders were sold Stateside, making it the rarest version of all MR2s.

What is MR2 in Toyota?

The MR2 derived from a 1976 Toyota design project with the goal of a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide good fuel economy – not necessarily a sports car. Design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate alternatives for engine placement and drive method, finalizing a mid-transverse engine placement. Toyota called the 1981 prototype SA-X .

What is MR2?

rear-wheel drive. The Toyota MR2 is a line of two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports cars manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 to 2007 over three generations: W10 (1984–1989), W20 (1990–1999) and W30 (2000–2007). It is Japan's first rear mid-engined production car. Conceived as a small, economical and sporty car, ...

How much does a MR2 weigh?

996 kg (2,195 lb) The third-generation MR2 was marketed as the Toyota MR-S in Japan, Toyota MR2 Spyder in the US, and the Toyota MR2 Roadster in Europe, except for France and Belgium, where it was marketed as the Toyota MR Roadster.

What is the code for MR2?

Toyota introduced the first-generation MR2 in 1984, designating it the model code " W10 ". When fitted with the 1.5-liter 3A engine, it was known as the "AW10". Likewise, the 1.6-liter 4A version is identified by the "AW11" code.

What does MR2 mean?

The name MR2 stands for either " m id-ship r un-about 2 -seater" or " m id-engine, r ear-wheel-drive, 2 -seater". In French-speaking markets, the MR2 was renamed Toyota MR due to the similarity of the word "MR2" to a French profanity.

How many cc is a MR2?

With five structural bulkheads, the MR2 was quite heavy for a two-seater of its size. Toyota employed the naturally aspirated 4A-GE 1,587 cc (1.6 L; 96.8 cu in) inline-four engine, a DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder motor, borrowed from the E80 series Corolla.

Where is the MR2 made?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Toyota MR2 is a line of two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports cars manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 to 2007 over three generations: W10 (1984–1989), W20 (1990–1999) and W30 (2000–2007). It is Japan's first rear mid-engined production car.

How many generations of MR2?

Bear in mind that with the MR2 there are three distinct generations. We have therefore made comment on each.

When was the SW20 MR2 introduced?

SW20 MR2 – If you’ve read our SW20 MR2 buyer’s guide, then you’ll know this car was introduced in 1989. We think that qualifies at least as a “modern classic”.

How fast is the W30 MR2?

W30 MR2 – Although this generation didn’t live up to the SW20 (at least when comparing the turbo version) it is still relatively quick in a straight line with a 0-60mph around 7.5 seconds, and also the handling is generally considered to be excellent. In fact, many consider the W30 to be the best handling MR2 of all, in terms of capability and controlability.

Is the Toyota MR2 a classic car?

In our opinion, the Toyota MR2 is a classic car, especially the first two generations (although many tend to view the MR-S/3rd generation MR2 as a fairly distinct model altogether … kind of like a “step brother” to the MR2 family).

Is the W10 MR2 a cult car?

W10 MR2 – Unquestionably a cult car – there is a loyal following of “protectors” of this increasingly rare machine. A true icon of 1980s Japanese motoring.

Is the W30 MR2 desirable?

W30 MR2 – This would have to be the least desirable generation of the MR2, perhaps due to its softer appearance and more “manageable” characteristics. However, we think that the market has slept on the W30 for too long and it will become more desirable over time.

Is the W10 MR2 better than the SW20?

W10 MR2 – Paradoxically, the W10 MR2 (despite being the oldest generation) is generally seen as less desirable than its successor, the SW20. However, certain models such as the supercharged variant have an undeniable cool factor about them. Prices have been climbing steadily as well.

What is MR2 car?

The MR2 was a car that came and went and came again and went again and then had a 5-year hiatus, so when it came back again in a different form and with a slightly different name, people weren’t sure what it was supposed to be. Compare the MR2 to a greater roadster success story, like the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Even though Mazda was a much smaller ...

What is a MR2?

It was a midengine (M), rear-wheel-drive (R), 2-seater (2) sports car that saw three distinct generations and served as an affordable roadster with fantastic driving dynamics and Toyota reliability. Despite the car itself being a great idea and serving as what was arguably the coolest and most interesting car in the Toyota lineup in its day, you just don’t see that many of them for sale or in the wild. Why is that?

What is the MR2?

10 Things Everyone Forgot About The Toyota MR2. The Toyota MR2 is a cool, yet affordable, mid-engined sports car that saw 3 vastly different generations brought to market. Toyota certainly knows a thing or two about making a good sports car. They are responsible for building quite a few historic and well-known sports cars over the years, ...

When did the MR2 come out?

The first-generation MR2 from the 80s was available with a supercharged engine, which made it reasonably brisk. When the second generation, also known as the SW20, arrived in 1989, Toyota decided to crank up the forced induction to 11, by way of a turbocharger.

What is the coolest thing about the MR2?

One of the coolest things about the MR2 was undeniably its name. Toyota's focus groups and marketing teams scramble d to find an appropriate name for the little two-seater, until they decided to look at some of the technical details of the car that the company created.

What is the origin story of the MR2?

5 The Origin Story. drivermod.ca. One of the most interesting things to know about the MR2 is its origin story. Back in the 1970s, Akio Yoshida, a member of Toyota's testing department, had the idea of a compact car that would provide great handling and dynamics, without hampering fuel economy all that much.

What was the end result of the MR2 Spyder?

The end result was a race car that looked like a mid-engined, touring car Lightning McQueen. It even included a small pair of eyes in the windshield.

What is MR2 Turbo?

The snail that Toyota bolted to their tiny sports car resulted in the aptly named MR2 Turbo, also called the GT-S in foreign markets. The 3S-GTE in the back produced 200 hp and 200 lb/ft of torque, mated solely to a 5-speed manual transmission. The best part is, after 1993, the MR2 Turbo was only available with T-tops.

How much horsepower does a 222D have?

Judging by the figures alone, the 222D was absolutely insane. The engine could be tuned to produce up to 750 hp, in a car that weighed only 1,650 lbs. Sadly, by the time it was completed, the writing was on the wall for Group B, and Toyota never actually got to race it.

How much horsepower does a MR2 have?

In Japan, a turbocharged MR2 was popular, with 221bhp at first, rising to 242bhp in 1993. The turbo was also sold in the USA, albeit with an emissions-checked 201bhp.

Why is it important to learn your MR2 before looking at cars for sale?

It’s vital to learn your MR2s before looking at cars for sale because there is so much variation in specification and desirability.

How much more horsepower does the Mk2 MR2 have than the GT?

The Mk2 MR2 was progressively improved through production so the last ones look the best bet – especially because they have 15bhp more than the original GT. However, that extra power was higher in the rev range and peak torque was both lower and delivered higher up, too.

What are the modifications in cars?

Modifications are so popular – body, wheels, exhaust, engine, suspension and more – that it was hard to find an unmodified car for our pictures, so every car you look at is likely to be different.

Do mid engine sports cars have health warnings?

Mid-engined sports cars come with a health warning, though: in inexperienced hands, particularly in damp, slippery conditions, they can catch out the unwary and manufacturers have to balance sharp, sporty handling with reducing the tendency to swap ends. The Mk2 MR2 was progressively improved through production so the last ones look ...

Is the Mk1 MR2 a grown up car?

Light, lively and fun in an edgy kind of way, the Mk1 MR2 gained a strong following, but Toyota made the Mk2 (the SW20 series) more grown-up.

What does MR2 mean?

MR2 stands for M id-Ship R unabout 2 Seater – some also believe it stands for M id-Engined, R ear-Drive 2 Seater (which perfectly describes the car).

What About MR-S?

As you might be aware, the third-generation MR2 was called the MR-S in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM).

What is the best sports car in Japan?

The Toyota MR2 is one of the best sports cars ever to come from Japan.

When will the MR2 be released?

Mid-Engine Toyota MR2 Coming In 2025 . So our title says that an MR2 is coming in 2025 but that’s slightly off. Meant to give you an idea of what to expect, Toyota is looking to build a successor to the MR2. But the MR2 was priced as an entry-level mid-engine sports car.

When was the last MR2 sold?

The last MR2 was sold until 2007. So it will be almost 20 years long gone since a mid-engine Toyota has seen the light of day. The first MR2 W10 debuted in 1984 and was in production for five years. The W20 arrived in 1990 and ran through 1999.

Is the MR2 a mid engine?

But the MR2 was priced as an entry-level mid-engine sports car. This new mid-engine Toyota will be quite a bit more like a Honda NSX or Nissan GTR. Here is what we know for a Toyota that won’t be in production for five years if ever. Supposedly, Toyota wants a car in the classification of an NSX.

Overview

Origins

First generation (W10; 1984–1989)

Second generation (W20; 1989–1999)

Third generation (W30; 1999–2007)

The future

Bibliography

External links