1991-1995 Toyota MR2: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

After a half-decade on the market in its prior form, Toyota's mid-engined, rear-drive sports car earned a redesign for 1991. Dubbed "Mister Two," the 2-seater skipped the 1990 model year completely. The reworked version arrived in spring of that year, as an early '91 model. Bigger and racier in appearance than its predecessor, the 1991 MR2 displayed Ferrari-like styling and offered more power than before. Base models got a 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, borrowed from Toyota's Celica GT/GT-S. A turbocharged, 200-horsepower 2.1-liter engine, also used in the Celica All-Trac Turbo, went into the Turbo MR2. Both engines were dual-overhead-cam designs with four valves per cylinder, mounted transversely behind the 2-passenger cockpit. A supercharged engine, available in 1989, was not used in the new generation. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard, with 4-speed automatic optional for nonturbo models. Unequal-size tires and wheels were installed: 195/60 on 6-inch wheels up front, versus 205/60 on 7-inch wheels at the rear. T-bar roof panels were available on the Turbo and the base MR2, but an optional pop-up/removable moonroof could be installed instead. Riding a wheelbase that had been increased by 3.2 inches, measuring 9.3 inches longer overall, the new MR2 weighed 350 to 400 pounds more than its predecessor. A driver's airbag was standard, and antilock braking was a new option. So was electro-hydraulic power steering.