JAA
JAEN
Two-tone grey first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11) 1.6 Twin Cam, front three-quarter view.

MR2AW10

V0006

MAKER
TOYOTA
YEARS
1984–1989
CODE
AW10 / AW11
TYPE
SPORTS CAR / COUPÉ
ORIGIN
JAPAN
Photo: Joost J. Bakker from IJmuiden / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

01 — Overview

Described as the first Japanese rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car, the first MR2 won the 1984 Car of the Year Japan. Lotus engineer Roger Becker contributed to its suspension development.

02 — Historical context

Historicalcontext.

  1. 01

    Wikipedia describes the MR2 as the first Japanese rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car.

    Source: Toyota MR2 — Wikipedia (English)
  2. 02

    The first-generation MR2 won the 1984 Car of the Year Japan.

    Source: Toyota MR2 — Wikipedia (English)
  3. 03

    Its suspension and handling were developed with help from Lotus engineer Roger Becker.

    Source: Toyota MR2 — Wikipedia (English)
  4. 04

    In Japan it was sold through Toyota Auto Store and Toyota Vista Store dealerships.

    Source: Toyota MR2 — Wikipedia (English)

03 — Engineering

Technicalspecifications.

Engine exhibit

4A-GE

Inline-4 · 1587 cc

Manufacturer
Toyota
Chassis / model codes
AW10 / AW11
Production
1984-06 – 1989
Body styles
2-door coupé / 2-door T-top coupé
Layout
Transverse rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine
4A-GEInline-4 (DOHC 16-valve) · 1,587 cc · naturally aspirated130 PSNote: Japanese market at launch; later detuned to 120 PS. Other markets 112-128 hp.
4A-GZEInline-4 · supercharged145 hp @ 6,400 rpmNote: Roots-type supercharger, introduced 1986 (1988 in the US); market not specified in source
3A-UInline-4 · 1,452 cc · naturally aspirated83 PSNote: AW10 base model, home market
Transmission
5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic
People
Seiichi Yamauchi

Figures follow the sources listed below. Values vary by market, variant and year; anything we could not verify is omitted. Power is shown in the unit the source used (PS / hp / kW).

04 — Gallery

Two-tone grey first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11) 1.6 Twin Cam, front three-quarter view.
Joost J. Bakker from IJmuiden / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

05 — Related

Relatedmachines.

06 — Sources

  1. 01Toyota MR2Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  2. 02トヨタ・MR2Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26

07 — Photo credits

  • Two-tone grey first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11) 1.6 Twin Cam, front three-quarter view.

    Toyota MR2 (first generation)

    Two-tone grey first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11) 1.6 Twin Cam, front three-quarter view.

    ByJoost J. Bakker from IJmuiden

    CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons