Road and Track was the first US magazine to test the
MR2 – in Japan – and reported their impressions in the November 1984 issue, in a
report extending to 8 pages.
When the car was launched in America in February 1985, it soon became a
sensation with the first years sales topping 32,000 and journalists voting it
“1985 Import car of the year” The basic price was $x and options included Air
Conditioning at $840, AM/FM stereo radio cassette $365, Electric windows and
central locking $305, Sunroof $300, Cruise control $185, rear spoiler $150.
Saddled with U.S. emission control regulations, the engine produced 112 bhp at
6600 rpm and 97 lbft at 4800 rpm, giving a 0-60 time of 8.4 seconds and a top
speed of 121mph.
Colours available were Super White (040) with black and grey trim, Super
Silver Metallic (150) also with black and grey trim, Super Red (3ES) with black
and red trim, Light Beige Metallic (4E3) with black and beige trim, and Light
Blue Metallic (?) with black and blue trim. (American cars had automatic climate
control.)
By June 1986 Automatic versions of the car started to appear, this $600
option consisted of a 4 speed electronically controlled unit with a lock up
torque converter, manually selectable overdrive and gear changes switchable from
“Normal” to “Power”
The original five colour options were augmented by Black Metallic (204) and
Sherwood Toning (2S8) – Jade (Dark Green ) Metallic over Light Beige (Pale Gold)
Metallic – available in the U.K. since the MR2s launch and already beginning to
loose favour.
A new leather package costing $x for seats, door panels and centre console
was offered along with an exterior “Aero” package consisting of Rear Spoiler,
Side skirts and rear mudguards in the body colour at $x A factory alarm system
cost $198 and two upgrades of radio cassette were available. Air conditioning
was reduced to $705 and Automatic Climate Control became an option. The glass
sunroof now cost $310 and Electric windows and central locking were put together
as a “Power Package” priced at $315 mudguards were listed at $30.
The basic car now cost $11,298 and boasted a third brake light.
The MR2 enjoyed great success in IMSA and SCCA racing and even had its own
one make series which it won easily (!)
During 1986 the rear sway bar disappeared and the TOYOTA badge appeared on
the front bumper and the eagle appeared on the rear.
1987 saw the arrival of the revised 1B car, light blue metallic (8B8) was
replaced by dark blue pearl (8E3) and the codes for beige metallic and sherwood
toning altered to (4G8) and (28B) but it is not known if this affected the
actual colours. Standard equipment included an FM/AM radio cassette, tilt
steering wheel and electric mirrors. Options were leather trim, air
conditioning, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, cruise control and electric windows.
The most important news was the launch of the T-Bar and the Supercharger,
which in American versions gave 145bhp at 6400rpm and 140lb ft at 4000rpm. This
gave a 0-60 time of 7 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. A basic Sc cost
$17,580 rising to $20,382 with all the extras. Toyota hoped to sell 14,400 Sc’s
in 1988. Around the same time what was also known as a “Stripper version”
appeared on sale in the U.S. with cheap seats and carpets, no side skirts or
rear spoiler, and steel wheels – this seems to be an American version of the
Japanese home market 1500s – only powered by the twin cam engine.