- Toyota MR2 SW20, MK2
- 3.0ltr V6 engine conversion from 1MZFE.
- Conversion of a 2GRFE 3.5ltr V6 Engine.
- Conversion of a 3SGTE 2.0ltr Turbo Engine.
- ZZW30 Toyota MR2 Roadster –
In This Article...
What type of engine powers the MR2?
For a two-seater of its size, the MR2 was quite hefty with five structural bulkheads. Toyota used the E80 series Corolla’s naturally aspirated 4A-GE 1,587 cc (1.6 L; 96.8 cu in) inline-four engine, a DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder engine.
How many HP can an MR2 produce?
I’m an addict of horse power. No matter the make or model, whether it’s a Yugo or a Daihatsu, I can make more power out of it. As a result, I was the first person on his list to call for assistance when a friend of mine bought an MR2 turbo. It was encouraging to learn that a close friend of mine was becoming a seller of MR2 turbos. The Toyota had a whole new engine that had been manufactured, a Turbonetics-upgraded CT26 turbo, a HKS VPC and GCC, a Blitz Dual SBC Spec-R boost controller, a Blitz Nur-Spec exhaust, a Blitz downpipe, and a GReddy intercooler.
My friend completed the required 1,500-mile break-in period for a new engine to properly seal the piston rings. Immediately following the break-in, it was off to the dyno. The MR2 produced 168.7 horsepower and 165.9 lb-ft of torque to the wheels at 0.43 bar (6.32 psi) of boost on its first run.
The 3SGTE engine, however, was unable to rev over 6000 rpm. We identified the issue after looking at the dyno graph. The air/fuel ratio monitor function on the Dynojet chassis dyno we utilized allowed us to observe that the MR2 was running incredibly rich at the top end (5500 rpm and up).
The HKS VPC and GCC only needed a few clicks to turn the rollers. This time, at the same boost pressure, the horsepower increased to 179.1 and the torque to 166.1 lb-ft (6.32 psi). This time, the 3SGTE engine was able to reach its 7200 rpm manufacturing redline. The Toyota ran in a more ideal range of air/fuel combination when we checked the reading, but the mixture remained rich at 6500 rpm. It was time to start spinning the rollers once more after making a few more significant tuning tweaks to the VPC and GCC. This time, the peak output increased by 20.0 horsepower from the baseline run to 188.7 horsepower and 172.1 lb-ft of torque. More significantly, we were able to add 33.5 horsepower at 7000 rpm while maintaining the same boost pressure.
We would never have been able to wring out the extra power from the MR2 without a chassis dyno. Modern turbo performance’s tried-and-true veterans include the HKS VPC and GCC. This tag team is still a useful and effective way to tune, as was shown here.
What Toyota MR2 is the fastest?
The Toyota Camry’s 2.2-liter inline-four engine produced 130 horsepower in the base Mk2. According to MotorTrend, customers might choose a 2.0-liter turbo engine, which is significantly more potent.
The Mk2 Turbo had a turbocharged engine authorized for racing instead of the Camry’s motor. Its 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque made it the quickest MR2 model that was offered. The Mk2 Turbo could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds when fitted with its engine. Comparatively, the standard 2.2-liter engine could reach 60 mph from 0 in 8.0 seconds.
The max speed of the Mk2 Turbo was likewise higher than that of previous MR2s. While other MR2 variants could reach speeds of 120 to 130 mph, it could reach 142 mph. Models with above 240 hp that were sold in Japan were unable to pass U.S. emissions tests, hence they were never driven on American soil.
Can a Toyota MR2 be turbocharged?
Re: Can I turbocharge my NA Mr2? It has a sw20 engine. If you want a turbocharger, either buy one or make an engine, gearbox, shaft, hub, and ecu rear clip replacement. One problem is compression. Although the ecu cannot be programmed, you might turbocharge the vehicle.
Why are MR2 prices so low?
The later model MR2 built by Toyota between 1997 and 2007 is known as the MR2 Spyder. The Toyota Midship Runabout 2 made its premiere in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show, fitting for a vehicle intended for the Japanese Domestic Market. The name MR2 wasn’t merely a strange collection of letters.
The MR2 has a traditional mid-engine design, which makes driving it superior to some other sports vehicles of the same price. You can typically buy an excellent used car for under $10,000 on the used car market. Because they are a Toyota, they require little upkeep, and repairs are frequently affordable.
They don’t have much power, with only 138 bph from the dependable 1.8L engine. Popular options for the car that can boost its power and speed are aftermarket turbochargers.
The fact that the MR2 is also available with a manual transmission, which has the same Toyota dependability and is simple to shift but increases driving enjoyment, would also be of appeal to many prospective purchasers.
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.
When was the MR2 the fastest?
Nathan: “Every road car I’ve ever owned has been a Toyota, and I’ve finished tuning projects on everything from an AE92 Corolla GTi-16 to a couple of SW20 MR2 Turbos, the first of which actually broke the world record for fastest production car back in 2009. Unfortunately, that MR2 (below) met an untimely end on the way back from an event, so it was a rather nostalgic move on my part to start another drag project.
“It’s funny because I already had the basic MR2. In order to get our Century drivers to the proper level to get their National A competition race license, I had purchased this specific vehicle years before and transformed it into an MR2 Championship car. But after that was finished, I suppose the MR2 was useless. It was placed in a back room of the workshop and nearly completely ignored. Until I had the brilliant notion to retake the title of fastest man in the world.
The MR2 Spyder is quick.
Toyota created the MR2 Spyder by fusing modern technology with traditional sports car attributes. It had incredible agility and reactivity because to the mid-engine and a perfect wheelbase to length ratio. This configuration also gave the car a diabolical rear-end weight bias, which was a significant cause of “snap oversteer” and nearly no understeer, which led to serious accidents. Additionally, Spyder is not an exception; all MR2 versions have a reputation for having unpredictable snap oversteer. At first glance, having the engine in the middle seems like a smart idea because the car can now accelerate more quickly and handle more steadily (this is true for the Spyder), but it might be catastrophic. If it is not managed properly or if a novice driver is at the wheel, the automobile can spin off the road into the nearby tree, ditch, or worse, oncoming traffic in a matter of nanoseconds.
The MR2 Spyder is also dangerously quick, strong, and sharp. One of the fastest vehicles on the road, according to Top Speed, is the Spyder. The engine produces a significant amount of power (particularly the Turbocharged engines), which is not a problem on its own, but when paired with the Spyder’s relatively smaller weight, it makes expert car control abilities necessary to prevent exceeding the limitations. It won’t give you much notice and will only take a split second to strip you of all control. Additionally, this car has awful traction problems all over it. It may be very challenging to drift the car at times without it snapping back, and this is made even more challenging by rain or slick road surfaces.
How quickly can an MR2 move?
Despite having narrow front wheels and large rear tires, this second-generation MR2 actually conceals a powerful engine beneath the rear hood. This unusual dragster is powered by a Honda-built K20 engine, which the Japanese company has been providing in a range of vehicles since the early 2000s. But it’s also not your typical Civic engine.
The four-astonishing cylinder’s 1,200 horsepower propels the MR2 over its boundaries and toward drag strip records.
By simply looking at it, you wouldn’t expect it to run the quarter mile in less than nine seconds and cross the finish line at 180 mph. How is that even doable? You may learn more about it in this 10-minute video from That Racing Channel.
Are MR2 vehicles good?
I’ve had five Toyota MR2s in the past ten years, all with different levels of upkeep and customization. All five of them were second-generation models with turbocharged engines and a handful with naturally aspirated engines (19911995 in the United States). All repairs and maintenance, with the exception of the times one of them needed bodywork, have been completed by me.
If you live in an area where the climate permits it, the Toyota MR2 is unquestionably capable of being a very enjoyable, dependable daily driver. Considering its age, it’s safe, cozy, and dependable (after all, it’s a Toyota). Compared to current autos, maintenance costs are also rather low.
You might want to give it more thought if you live somewhere that receives a lot of snow, like I do in Central New York. Any sports car should never be driven in the snow, let alone one that appears to be increasing in value. But aside from that, it’s a terrific idea to drive an MR2 every day.
Permit me to expand on a few of these ideas now:
What Toyota is the quickest in the world?
Toyotas That Are Fastest Ever
- #1. Toyota GR Supra 2.0 (A90) The Toyota GR Supra 2.0 shares first place with its 155 mph peak speed.
- #1. Toyota GR Supra 3.0L (19-) (A90)
- #1. Toyota Chaser 2500T, 19962001 (JZX100)
- #1. Toyota Supra Turbo, (93-96).
- #5. Toyota Celica GT-Four (19941997) (ST205)
- #5. (91-93)
- #5. (87-91)
- #8. (94-99)