Toyota MR2 Mk2 History

MR2 Revisions - Rev 3 to 5

MR2 SW20 Revision 3

More pictures of MR2 Mk2 Rev 3

Production of Revision 3 started at the end of 1993 though some UK 94 cars will still be revision 2 as the new model wasn't immediately available in this country.

The revision 3 was visually the biggest change to the MR2 Mk2 throughout its lifespan.  The sills and the rubber strip along the side of the car are now colour coded (to match the colour of the car) and the shape of the spoiler is very different from those fitted to the earlier cars.  At the rear the panel between the lights is completely different - again matched to the colour of the car - and the rear lights themselves are now rounded.

The Rev 3 also gets further handling improvements and changes to the 3S-GE engine. 

Side impact bars are now standard rather than an optional extra as they were on the Revision 2, and at the beginning of Rev 3 optional airbags were available.

MR2 SW20 Revision 4

This version arrived in late 1995 and again lasted about two years until the end of 1997.  Changes over the Revision 3 were very subtle;  indicators changed from amber to white and the alloy wheels were different.

The engine's power was reduced slightly (by just 5bhp from 173 down to 168) as a result of work on the engine to improve emissions. 

Revision 4 also includes lots of other detail changes inside, including changes to the stereo equipment.

For some the Revision 4 detail changes add up to a big improvement over the revision 3.  For others they're just details.

MR2 SW20 Revision 5

The final revision of the MR2 MkII is another facelift featuring another major change to the shape of the spoiler which, on the Rev 5 is adjustable and is known as the 'Combat' spoiler!  The style, but not the diameter, of the Alloy wheels was changed and there were other minor detail points to the internal and external styling. 

The big difference beneath the engine cover was the upgrade to the 3S-GE engine which was give Variable Valve Timing to boost its power output to around 200bhp without any significant increase in standard petrol consumption figures.  This is one of the first implementations of the new engine technology now used by Toyota in most of its current day cars and for many owners the extra cost of Revision 5 models is justified by the changes to the engine alone.

Toyota MR2 MkII Revisions I and II