JDM Traditional Japanese Car “Toyota MR2”

The Toyota MR2 is Japan's first mass-produced mid-ship car.

The mid-ship is a MR layout that enables excellent front-rear weight distribution, which is important for the kinetic performance of the car, by mounting the engine near the center. Until the early 1980s, this MR layout was a special one used only by racing and super sports cars. The Toyota "MR2", which appeared in 1984, was the first mass-produced vehicle in Japan to use this system.

The prototype of the 1st generation MR2 is the "Toyota SV-3" exhibited at the Toyota booth at the 25th Tokyo Motor Show held in the fall of 1983. The following year, in June 1984, the SV-3 was officially released under the name of "Toyota MR2." The origin of the name of MR2 is a coined word created by abbreviating the acronym "Midship Runabout 2 seater".

The MR2's exterior featured retractable headlights at the tip of the lower front, a high deck behind the wedge shape, and air intakes behind the doors. The body color is mainly 2 tones. The interior was particular about the stylish cockpit for two people, and satellite switches were arranged on both sides of the meter.

The power unit of MR2 is 1587cc 4A-GELU type in-line 4-cylinder DOHC, and there was also a 1452cc 3A-LU type SOHC equipped car. In addition to the 5-speed MT, there was a 4-speed AT.

In the minor change in 1986, a car equipped with a 4A-GZLU type engine equipped with a more powerful supercharger appeared. A car with a T-bar roof is also available, and this model is currently popular.

The 2nd generation MR2, which appeared in 1989, has evolved to be sportier than the 1st generation.

In the exterior, the total length was 220 mm, the wheelbase was extended by 80 mm, and the soft surface composition like FF Celica gave it a relaxed form. And we set T-bar roof cars for all cars. The retractable headlights were inherited like the original MR2.

At that time, the interior used abundant leather, a high-class material not found in domestic cars: Leather-wrapped handle, leather-wrapped shift knob, side brake. GT grade was equipped with artificial leather and genuine leather seats as standard equipment.

The power unit of the 2nd generation MR2 is equipped with the same 3S-GE 2L in-line 4-cylinder DOHC engine as Celica. There was also a naturally aspirated engine and a twin-entry ceramic turbo 3S-GTE type.

In the final model, the turbo engine has been powered up to 245 horsepower and the naturally aspirated engine has been powered up to 180 horsepower.


In 1999, MR2 was remodeled to the open 2-seater "MR-S". The "MR-S" took a new step in consideration of the enjoyment of manipulating rather than excessive power.

It was exhibited for reference at the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 1997, and was put on the market in October 1999. For the power unit, a 1.8L 1ZZ-FE in-line 4-cylinder DOHC incorporating VVT-I was selected. This is a regular gasoline specification, 140ps / 17.4kgm, and the transmission is a 5-speed MT and an electronically controlled sequential 5-speed MT that is at the forefront of the times. It was the first clutch pedal less semi-AT in Japan.

In July 2007, the MR-S was discontinued with the V edition final version of the special edition car, ending the history of the mid-ship 2-seater MR2.