Since years, Toyota has been hinting towards a brand-new sports car, and in December 2021, we got the finest glimpse yet at what is most certainly the all-new MR2.
Toyota launched 17 electric concept cars on the same day, nearly drowning it out, but the GR-badged, mid-engine sports car stood out in its yellow finish. Even while it wasn’t referred to as a “MR2” in the official release (it was merely named a “Sports EV”), the size and style are unmistakably similar to the company’s mid-engined sports vehicle, which was produced across two generations from 1984 to 2007.
Here is what we currently know about Toyota’s ambitions to add a fourth sports vehicle to its growing Gazoo Racing lineup, joining the GR Supra, GR 86, and GR Yaris.
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Why did Toyota cease MR2 production?
The Toyota MR2 was a remarkable car that gained notoriety for being “a poor man’s Ferrari.” The Toyota MR2 was more than capable of letting its performance speak for itself despite the unintentional compliment.
There were three different models of the MR2 coupe produced between 1984 and 2005: the W10, W20, and W30. Toyota later stopped making the MR2 due to weak sales and the emergence of additional rivals.
The MR2 is one of the most popular models for performance and enthusiast purposes, weighing slightly under 2,200 lbs. The MR2 has a great power-to-weight ratio and all the necessary components. Here is some information on the departed Toyota MR2.
What is the remaining Toyota MR2 fleet?
21) Less than 11,000 MR2 models (including legally provided and imports) are currently officially registered in the UK, according to the website How Many Left. 22) According to Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, “Three Brothers should be part of Toyota’s sports vehicle lineup.
Will Toyota bring the Celica back?
It would be foolish for the division to rest on its laurels now that Toyota’s Gazoo Racing (GR) performance branch is firmly established.
Then there is the Celica, a reasonably priced coupe that went through seven incarnations from 1970 to 2006 and soon gained a reputation for offering a lot of enthusiast appeal at a reasonable price.
Similar to the final-generation Celica, Theophilus Chin’s reimagined 2022 Celica is built on a borrowed Corolla platform, which isn’t the most interesting foundation but offers plenty of room for customization as a member of Toyota’s modular TNGA chassis family.
This adaptability makes a variety of powerplant alternatives possible. Again, going back in time, there is space for engines from both the Corolla and the Camry, resulting in base engine tuning of at least 125kW and 152kW from the 2.0-liter and 2.5-litre engines of the source cars, respectively.
The 2.5-liter engine would make a fantastic base model for Australia, with the 2.5-liter hybrid Camry serving as the “flagship” model, tuned to produce at least 170kW with, hopefully, development room to pair it with a manual and conventional automatic, as opposed to the Camry’s less-exciting 160kW with a CVT.
Our eighth-generation Celica carries on from where the angular seventh-gen car left off rather than ripping up the rulebook and starting from scratch. Similar low profile, with an improvement over the previous triangular headlight.
Although the body is still a liftback design, it is now more horizontal in nature like those found on Toyota’s popular models.
The front bumper intake makes a connection to the present Corolla, but the thin slit grille calls to mind the previous Celica.
Even while the vehicle is still, the inflated wheel arches, wider front and rear tracks, vented front guards, rising bodyside feature lines, and sill panels give the appearance of motion.
With LED lighting and bumper garnishes in the shape of vents, the rear of the car is highlighted by a tail-light panel that wraps around the corners like a strut brace, emphasizing the forward-motion design.
We’d want to see the maximum output 220kW engine from the GR Corolla combined with the 390Nm output from the GRMN Yaris because the outputs for the GR Celica can only be range-topping. Similarly, ‘circuit’ suspension, forged alloy wheels, and Torsen limited slip differentials front and back are non-negotiable.
The GR-exclusive stepped central air intake, the larger vents behind the front wheels, the GR Corolla’s trio of functional exhaust tips, the ST205 GT-Four-inspired bonnet scoop, and, of course, GR’s distinctive Frosted White paint were all exterior features we simply had to have.
Sadly, there are currently no signs that Toyota will produce a new Celica; instead, the firm seems pleased with the GR86 and GR Supra. We can fantasize.
Does MR2 merit purchase?
Classic JDMs have probably become more well-known in the past ten years thanks to their global cult status, the tuning culture spillover from the 1990s, and the thrilling action scenes in Hollywood movies. However, when rarity and price are combined, the result is some incredibly expensive cars that most gearheads just cannot buy.
Thankfully, the MR2 is still worth the hype, and the affordable price for an MK I or MK II in top condition won’t break the bank. Hagerty’s estimate states that an MK I often sells for $15,000, a regular MK II for $13,000, and an MK II Turbo for up to $20,000.
What does MR2 represent?
Toyota produced and sold the MR2 line of two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports vehicles across three generations, from 1984 to 2007: W10 (19841989), W20 (19891999), and W30 (20002007). It is the first rear mid-engined production vehicle from Japan.
The MR2’s fundamental design features, which included fully independent MacPherson strut front and rear suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes, and an inline-four engine positioned transversely, were used to create a tiny, affordable, and sporty vehicle.
Either “mid-ship run-about 2-seater” or “mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater” are the meanings of the moniker MR2.
[2] Because “MR2” sounds like the expletive “Merde” when spoken in French, the car was renamed Toyota MR in French-speaking markets. [3]
Which MR2 is the rarest?
Toyota returned to the fundamentals with the MR2 Spyder for the third version of the MR2, which was introduced for the 2000 model year. The MR2 Spyder was only available as a complete convertible, but its total size wasn’t much bigger than the earlier MR2s, which led to a smaller weight (2,200 lb) and a return to more subdued power levels. Unfortunately, because to its diminutive size, it had less storage space than either MR2 that had come before it: just under 2.0 cubic feet overall, the majority of which was divided between two storage boxes below the seats. For the first time, only a 1.8-liter, all-aluminum inline-four engine with 138 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque was available. Up until 2001, a five-speed “Sequential Manual Transmission” (SMT) offered automated shifting but had inferior performance than a five-speed manual transmission. SMT automobiles need close to 9.0 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour while normal manual cars needed approximately 6.8 seconds. With redesigned seats, 16-inch staggered rear wheels, an additional gear for the SMT gearbox, updated suspension tuning, and a new underbody bracing for structural stiffness, the MR2 Spyder received a mild refresh for 2002. A Torsen limited-slip differential was optional in 2003, and the ride height increased little. The MR2 Spyder’s final model year in the United States was 2005, however cars continued to be offered overseas until 2006. The MR2 Spyder is the rarest model of all MR2s, having only 27,941 units sold in the United States.
Will the price of MR2 rise?
The Toyota MR2 has always had more of a cult following and less of an all-encompassing fame than the legendary Japanese sports cars of the 1990s like the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra.
The second-generation MR2 (chassis code SW20), a bit more of a JDM dark horse from the 1990s, has remained a relative value despite its unconventional mid-engine layout, agile handling, and distinctive style influenced by Ferrari, all of which were constructed with Toyota’s exceptional quality.
Has the ideal time to purchase a SW20 passed due to the recent explosion in the price of 90s JDM vehicles, or will this special car continue to be a JDM bargain?
The value of Toyota MR2s will probably continue to rise in the future, but not as much as that of more well-known Japanese automobiles like the Supra, NSX, and RX7. The SW20 MR2 is a great deal in the collector car market thanks to its reasonable price, distinctive appearance, and performance numbers.
What should you expect to pay for an MR2?
The cost can range from $8000 for a non-turbo example in #3 condition (Good) to $35,000 for a concours-quality turbo MR2, but it’s well worth it. The SW20 MR2 is incredibly dependable, much like many Toyotas from the 1990s.
What’s the value of a Toyota MR2?
Depending on the trim level you select, the pricing range for the Toyota MR2 changes. ranging from $6,100 to $9,460 for the most recent year the model was produced. The following body types are offered for the model range, starting with the specifications for the engine and transmission underneath.
Which Toyota vehicle is the fastest?
Toyota’s GR Supra. Toyota now makes the fastest automobile, the GR Supra. In order to match its performance and power, it also sports the most obnoxious and athletic exterior design yet.
Does the Celica Supra exist?
The A60 Celica XX, which debuted in Japan in July 1981, marked the next development in the Toyota Supra’s history. This new model, which was built on the slick, third-generation Celica platform and emphasized athletic prowess, was marketed as the Celica Supra in all export countries.
In August 1982, the new Celica Supra was introduced to the European market for the first time. In the UK, where there was a limited supply of just 100 vehicles per month, the Celica Supra enjoyed an added air of exclusivity.
The Supra’s renowned long wheelbase and stretched front-end allowed Toyota to once again equip its top-of-the-line sports car with a straight-six powerplant, particularly its new 2.8-litre 5M-GE flagship twin-cam engine, even though it was identical to the regular Celica coup from the B-pillar backwards. Retractable headlamps, a more pronounced flare to the wheel arches, and, most crucially for enthusiasts, independent rear suspension were other distinguishing features of the second-generation Celica Supra.