From the archives: The MR2 is back and looking to play.
Since its introduction in 1985, the Toyota MR2 has been about low-cost, big-thrills driving fun. Initially intended to offer exotic car looks at an everyday price, the original MR2 made it easy to feel like a racer for a fraction of the cost. Better still, thanks to its mid-engine layout and excellent power-to-weight ratio, it delivered the performance to back up its racy looks.
A 1991 redesign introduced a sleeker, sportier MR2 that grew both in size and power. The addition of a 200-bhp turbocharged model suddenly moved the car from a strong performer to a genuine screamer. With 0-60-mph times in the mid-sixes, the MR2 was no longer just a “cute little car.” It had become a real sports car contender. Even so, wavering interest in the early 1990s proved its undoing and sales of the MR2 in the U.S. were discontinued following the 1995 model year.
This story originally appeared in the 2001 Sports and GT Cars issue of Road & Track.
Fast forward to 2000 when the spirit of the original MR2 returns in the fresh form of the new MR2 Spyder. Adopting the same simple back-to-basics approach of its predecessor, this modem iteration cleverly blends low weight and compact dimensions to produce a lively performer worthy of the MR2 name.
Offered only as a convertible (unlike previous fixed/targa top MR2s), the Spyder comes across as very compact at first glance. Short overhangs and a long wheelbase reinforce the impression that this car is quite diminutive. In reality, it is and it isn’t. Dimensionally, it’s almost exactly the same size as a Mazda Miata, albeit marginally shorter and slightly wider. So yes it’s small, but not abnormally so.
Styling, however, couldn’t be more disparate. Where the Miata is derived from, say, the Lotus Elan, the MR2 Spyder has a more Porsche Boxster-like slant to it. Sharing the same mid-engine configuration as the popular German roadster, the MR2 also shares a similar headlight and side intake treatment. That said, its lines don’t follow the same fluid Porsche curves. Instead. they take a straighter, edgier, form-over-function path all their own.
Toyota’s little mid-engine 2-seater offers lots of interior room but almost no storage space.
BRIAN BLADES
Inside, Toyota’s simplistic approach to the MR2 Spyder becomes even more evident. The interior contains everything that’s necessary for a satisfying driving experience and nothing that isn’t. Clean, white-face gauges (with the tach in the middle) are complemented by accessory controls all within easy reach. The thick, short-throw shifter falls immediately to hand and delivers quick shifts with just a hint of mechanical crispness.
The seats are. again, simple yet effective. There’s just enough padding to be comfortable and sufficient side bolster support for spirited runs through the hills. Cloth is the standard seating material with leather available, interestingly, as the car’s only option.
Analog gauges are befitting a sports car, as is the Spyder’s simple convertible top.
BRIAN BLADES For a car this small, interior space is surprisingly good. Some of this can be attributed to the mid-engine layout, which avoids the intrusion of a center transmission tunnel, or perhaps it’s simply the non-cluttered design approach to the dash and seating area. Either way, the MR2 Spyder doesn’t feel cramped in the same way as the similarly sized Miata.
In the name of weight savings, the top is manually operated. Releasing two overhead latches and a quick behind-the-head toss pretty much get the job done. A final push to secure the roof into its lowered position completes the process. Particularly slick are the glass rear window and how the roof snaps into place to form its own tonneau—nice touches that add a degree of refinement to this otherwise basic car.
Storage space, on the other hand, is so minimal as to be nonexistent. Unlike the Boxster, neither the front nor the rear hatches of the MR2 Spyder offer any usable luggage space. The rear is taken up by the engine, while the front has room for little more than a sweater tucked around the spare tire. Inside, two small compartments behind the seats provide just enough room for a couple of small duffels. Unless your wardrobe consists mostly of shorts and T-shirts, don’t expect to pack much for a weekend getaway.
Jump behind the wheel of the MR2 Spyder, however, and you’ll soon forget all about any storage shortcomings. From the first turn of the steering wheel, this car is about good clean automotive fun.
Outside of town, the MR2 exhibits another, more interesting side of its personality. No longer content to just zip in and out of traffic, it anxiously scampers from corner to corner. The same mid-engine chassis that makes for such agile in-town maneuvering continues to deliver the goods as speeds climb. The Spyder remains near unflappable at moderate speeds and very predictable at the limit.
Understeer remains ever-present inmost instances, but the car can still be coaxed into nice mid-engine drifts when pushed hard. On the skidpad, the MR2 scored a respectable 0.9 lg while clocking a 62.6-mph speed through Road & Track’s 700-ft. slalom.
Many of its excellent manners can be attributed to its mid-engine layout, and very light weight. From a physics standpoint alone these factors offer a distinct handling advantage. Adding to the mix are MacPherson struts at all four corners, combined with the Spyder’s relatively long wheelbase and wide rear track. This produces an exceptionally stable platform despite the car’s small overall dimensions.
On the horizon in 2001 will be an optional all-new sequential manual transmission (SMT). Similar in operation to the sequential gearboxes used in many forms of auto racing, the SMT offers the convenience of a clutchless automatic transmission with the interaction of a true manual gearbox. The MR2 Spyder will be the first U.S.-market Toyota model to feature this new transmission.
Pricing of the MR2 Spyder puts it squarely in the low-to-mid-$20,000 territory of other import competitors like the Mazda Miata, Acura Integra, Mitsubishi Eclipse GT and even Toyota’s own Celica GT-S. With most everything already standard on the MR2, it shouldn’t be a problem getting out the door for less than $24,000.
In exchange, the new MR2 Spyder delivers a driving experience all its own. Thanks to its lightweight design approach and do-anything attitude, it makes driving across town every bit as involving as a quick blast down a backroad. So pack your sweatshirt (and little more), drop the top and have some fun. The MR2 is most definitely back and looking to play.
Keyword: The MR2 Spyder Is All About Automotive Amusement