← Toyota Global Product Strategy
Toyota Motor Co. has issued the following press release:
In the last three years, the current generation of the Toyota MR2 received the praise of several motoring journalists for its uncompromised driving pleasure and great value-for-money.
Cool look inside out
Toyota MR2’s exterior and interior design has been improved in line with the most recent design trends, focusing on sports appeal.
The front and rear bumpers have been redesigned to provide a more aggressive look, with round fog lamps now integrated into the front bumper.
Headlamps and rear lamps have also been restyled. The new dual-bulb headlamps not only look dynamic but also provide better night-time visibility. The rear lamps exhibit new graphics – the red lenses have two oval graphics for a cool, sporty look. — revitalised Toyota Celica sports coupe.
The front of the car has been restyled with a trapezium-shaped bumper to emphasise the wide, stable stance and a bolder, more aggressive front grille. Round fog lamps are now integrated into the bumper to give a more sporting look.
Another noticeable feature from the rear is the new big-bore exhaust tailpipe which clearly marks out the Toyota MR2 as a performance machine.
More chrome applications can now be found in the revised interior, which creates a more premium atmosphere.
The switch layout of the instrument panel has been improved, with redesigned heater control knobs, and the graphics of the main instruments look sportier and are clearer to read. — Toyota Modellista's Vitz RS Turbo performance variant.
More reassured driving pleasure
VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), TRC (Traction Control) and BA (Brake Assist) are now available in the MR2. Without diluting MR2’s qualities as a great handling car, these active safety systems provide a wider safety margin.
The Torsen Limited-Slip Differential is now available as standard equipment on all versions. Although many times often unnoticed, the LSD is a precious aid in extracting all the performance out of the 1.8 VVT-i engine. It provides extra traction by continuously transferring torque to the wheel with more grip, without losing engine speed.
The already familiar manual and SMT (Sequential Manual Transmission) gearboxes are now 6-speed, dramatically improving the MR2’s intermediate-speed acceleration and providing an even more pleasurable drive.
With SMT the driver can perform quick gearchange through buttons located on the steering wheel or using the conventional gearlever. These control systems have been retuned for a quicker response and a more sporting feel. The gearbox’s ECU now recognises when the Toyota MR2 drops below a certain speed and will automatically downshift gently to second gear for smoother driving and more instant acceleration. — Toyota's Frankfurt Motor Show presentation.
At the same time, to further improve the Toyota MR2’s outstanding handling and stability, the suspension, steering, tyres and wheels have been enhanced.
Extra bracing has been added to the rear suspension to create a more rigid mounting. Shock absorber valves and damping forces have been refined to create a flatter ride with a better balance between handling and stability.
Larger tyres are now fitted on 16-inch wheels at the rear (15-inch at the front). The use of needle bearings in the steering shaft also improves response and steering feel by reducing friction.
