TOYOTA MR2 (Mk1)

Japan's first mid-engined sports car was a brilliant package that is becoming increasingly collectible

- WORDS MALCOLM MCKAY

Toyota took a lesson from the Fiat X1/9, scaling the concept up just enough to capture the former MGB market sector with a beautifully balanced, mid-engined coupé powered by an oversquare, twin-cam four-cylinder. The Yamaha-designed, 16-valve heads for the 123kg 4A-GE engine were brand new in 1983, and Toyota's Variable Induction System (T-VIS) used fewer ports at low revs to speed gas flow and aid flexibility of the high-revving unit.

This was Japan's first mid-engined mass-production car, and it boosted worldwide sales of the layout far beyond the X1/9. Toyota part-owned Lotus, but insisted the MR2 was wholly in-house engineered (although Roger Becker of Lotus was later widely credited with input, along with racer Dan Gurney). The 44% front, 56% rear weight distribution gave superb traction and great balance, with only a slight susceptibility to crosswinds. The Toyota was a brilliant cross-country car and a capable cruiser, but care was needed on wet roads.