The new mk4 mr2?

[PW@Woodsport]

Holy celica batman! found this magazine page showing details of how the new mr2 is possibly going to look.....looks to me like toyota have cut the rear off the mk3 and whacked the front end of a celica onto it!

This car is rumoured to be a hybrid,that is a 1.5 4 cyl petrol with an electric motor,how is that a sportscar?...also rumoured to come in a V6 version,please god let it be a V6!

Have toyota lost the friggin plot? what has happened to the mk1 days of being class beating lightweight high performing sportscars that broke the mould? this thing looks like its the lovechild of two different toyota designers,bloody hate it....i really hope that is just a guess at the new mr2 and not the actual car,there was me thinking things couldnt get any worse than the mk3....id be willing to bet a years subscription to banzai that this thing has a cupholder.Opinions? im sure someone likes it.

[Ben]

Sorry ... Don't like it.

I think they spoilt the MR2 when they decided to make it into a convertable. It's starting to look like a little dinky car now, and no-longer a sports car.

Shame to see it go that way.

Ben

[D3xt3r]

Looks more like a Renault Spider Front.

[Lauren]

Its okay, maybe it'll grow on me.

Would expect production version to be toned down a bit as they normally are.

I do like the MK3 though.

[Rogue]

This car is rumoured to be a hybrid,that is a 1.5 4 cyl petrol with an electric motor,how is that a sportscar?...also rumoured to come in a V6 version,please god let it be a V6!

Initially I was scepitcal about the news that the MR2 was to be a hybrid, but the more I thought about it, the more I warmed to the idea. The MR2 was a ground-breaking sports car when it was first released, why not break a little more ground now? There are some plus points to having a hybrid car though (woolly headed liberal issues aside). Thinking about the batteries alone, you could locate them (the heaviest components) in the exact centre of the car. The pokey 1.5 litre engine most likely wouldn't have to drive any ancillaries either - there'll be no alternator and the pumps will be electric and powered by re-gen breaking and dynamo (okay, the dynamo would take a hit, but that wouldn't run all the time). Has anyone yet considered the tuning potential of electric motors? More voltage baby!

Still a conventially high powered version would also get my vote. I don't care either way as long as we're taking sub 6 seconds performance.

Have toyota lost the friggin plot? what has happened to the mk1 days of being class beating lightweight high performing sportscars that broke the mould? this thing looks like its the lovechild of two different toyota designers,bloody hate it....

As opposed to the ground breaking different designs of previous MR2s? Despite their striking similarities to the Fiat X1/9, Ferrari and Porsche Boxter respectively.

i really hope that is just a guess at the new mr2 and not the actual car,there was me thinking things couldnt get any worse than the mk3....id be willing to bet a years subscription to banzai that this thing has a cupholder.Opinions? im sure someone likes it.

It's doing the business for me, although I reckon the image is most likely a composite of several other cars (there's a bit of 350Z about the headlights, and I'm sure the wheels shouldn't stick out past the arches...). It's about time they made the MR2 look like it could eat peeple and then gave it the teeth to do it!

Rogue

[Mikejc]

I agree that they do tend to tone things done some what before hitting the streets. Have you see some of the concept designs for the MKI/MKII and MKIII? Some wild stuff I tell ya

Question for you Lauren...

Is their anything about the MKII that you do like?

Not a dig hun, just a serious Q

Mikejc

[waynestoyotamr2]

What magazine is that from Paul?

[Lauren]

I agree that they do tend to tone things done some what before hitting the streets. Have you see some of the concept designs for the MKI/MKII and MKIII? Some wild stuff I tell ya

Question for you Lauren...

Is their anything about the MKII that you do like?

Not a dig hun, just a serious Q

Mikejc

No, not really as its so far removed from the original concept which is why i'd always prefer the MK3 over the MK2 with the exception of the MK1 of course.

[Mikejc]

So you really have nothing good to say about it? Surely you can't think that it's that bad can you? Even though it's so far removed from the original concept as you say. You really should judge it upon it's own merit!?

Mikejc

[Lauren]

So you really have nothing good to say about it? Surely you can't think that it's that bad can you? Even though it's so far removed from the original concept as you say. You really should judge it upon it's own merit!?

Mikejc

GLOL! I'm not trying to wind you up honest.. I guess i like my cars to be 'drivers' cars being that i'm driver focused with all my trackdaying and racing antics. The MK2 falls very short for me and does not rate as a drivers car in my book. But bear in mind i like my cars a bit raw and focused. Also i like 80s cars and only a few modern type cars like the elise, caterham, noble, Integra Type-R etc.

There is one thing that i think is good about the MK2. I think it would be a good GT type car, ie for doing long distances as its fairly comfortable, but tbh there much more practical cars around for doing that that are quieter too.

I also loathe the GT4 if that helps?

[Mikejc]

In that case i'm not gonna talk to you any more!

On a side note, I recken that John Rees could give you more than a run for your money on the track. He's a MKII tubby owner by the way

Mikejc

[Bry]

He should have been a pro,he's got the talent(and the car )

[Lauren]

In that case i'm not gonna talk to you any more!

On a side note, I recken that John Rees could give you more than a run for your money on the track. He's a MKII tubby owner by the way

Mikejc

LOL. Maybe he could/maybe he couldn't, but either way i'm not really fussed. Just because a car laps quicker than my (now defunct) SC doesn't mean i'd rate it as a better car as there is more IMO to driving cars than how quick they lap.

I've driven tubbies on road and track and was wholly unimpressed tbh. They just don't have the tactility and feedback i crave when i'm driving. If i had to have a performance car of that size then i'd go for an RX8.

[Mikejc]

I'm still not talking to you

mikejc

[Lauren]

I'm still not talking to you

mikejc

No worries Mike, nice not talking to you.

[Mikejc]

I can't hear a thing

Take it easy

Mikejc

[MegatronUK]

Could well be true. The next gen Supra is rumoured to have a 3.3V6 and twin electric motors rated at 100hp each.

Sounds like Toyota are going to attempt to break into new ground if they do go ahead with these designs.

[branny crashed turbo]

he link doesnt work...

i searched and found this though.. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t59560.html

are they the same pics?

i like it, looks like an audi tt... kinda.

[PW@Woodsport]

no thats just a widebodied mk3.

wayne i found the page on tinterweb,it didnt say what mag it was from.

Opinions seem to be varied but whats all this electric hybrid cars are mould breaking nonsense? they have been around for decades!

There is no place for a hybrid engine in a supposed sportscar,a sportscar should be an all out driving machine with no compromise in the handling or engine department.An electric motor coupled to a p1$$ weak 1.5 engine is a compromise and not in the true flavour of an Mr2 at all.

Not wishing to kick off mk1 v mk2 2005 i do have to agree totally with lauren,the mk1 is the only true drivers sportscar that toyota have made,the mk2 is a heavy,wallowing brute in standard form that relays very little driving feedback from the road,owned one,been there,sold it.Its more of a grand tourer than a sports car even in highly unreliable turbo form but toyotas idea to make it more mainstream certainly worked.Na V Na the mk1 will lap quicker than the mk2.

^^^theres a nice quoteable paragraph for the mk2 owners to jump down my neck with...lol

Now the mk3 regained a lot of the mr2 ethos and returned to a nippier more chuckable shorter wheelbased car but its up against cars in its class that quite simply kick its ar$e...the elise and even the dreadful mx5 are way better.You have to remember when the mk1 was launched it destroyed everything in its class and remained in that position during its entire production,that hasnt happened since with the mr2.I was kinda hoping toyota would return to the old format with the mk4 with a car that would be a clear market leader in the sportscar class.....given the choice between an elise (not to mention others) and a car that even vaguely resembles the celica2 at the start of this thread id be a lotus owner evertime.Come on toyota give us a raw sportscar that can be taken on a trackday with the addition of a helmet,not these shopping trolley/eco friendly fashion accessories powered by cow xxxx! fingers sore,rant over,im off for a lie down.

[Rob]

I really like it - it looks very classy and purposeful. Not sure what the red one is above it but I like that too!!!