For some JDM loyal fans, perhaps from a young age, they have been influenced by the atmosphere of anime works such as "Head Text D" and "Bayshore MIDNIGHT", and the faith of JDM has become a totem in their hearts.
However, JDM culture has also gradually begun to decline from the beginning of the 21st century with the decline of Japanese performance cars, so today there is no JDM culture to speak of, which has become a major regret for many car fans and even in the automotive field.
However, after Japanese manufacturers have received good global response from Toyota Supra, Subaru BRZ and other models, it has once again been rumored that Toyota is about to return to a popular JDM performance sports car, which will be between the Supra and the 86, and it is the Toyota family's former owner Huadan MR2.
(Rendering)
According to the forecast of overseas media, MR2 is likely to be revived by Toyota, and it is expected to be priced at 6 million yen in the future, about 337,000 yuan, and it is likely to officially reappear in front of the world in 2024.
Judging from the renderings this time, the styling design of the new car has become more radical and sporty, which has a clear contrast with the rounded shape of the previous MR2, and even adopts a low wind resistance style similar to the Acura NSX.
Of course, there may be many small partners do not understand the meaning of MR2, the professor also explained here, in fact, MR2 full name is "Mid engine, Runabout, 2 seater", the literal translation is the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seater.
As for why Toyota MR2 is so popular with users, it is because the original MR2 was jointly created by Lotus (Lotus) and Toyota in the United Kingdom, and the chassis system of the whole vehicle was also adjusted by Lotus himself, so that the total weight was only 950kg, and the body ratio was 40:60, which was a proper pure rear-drive layout.
I believe that domestic users who have seen the movie "Ancient Puzzle Boy" will not feel strange to this original MR2, at that time it was the car of the protagonist "Chen Haonan" in the movie, so it was also sought after by a group of Hong Kong and Macao car fans.
Although the second generation of MR2, there is no cooperation with Lotus research and development, but the body ratio is still maintained at 42:58 before and after the ratio, and also equipped with a 2.0T turbo engine codenamed S-GTE, the maximum power reached 163kW, in the era of industrial development, can use turbocharged engine is definitely a cruel goods. At the same time, the second generation of MR2 has also been introduced to China in small batches, and it is also a generation that domestic car fans are more familiar with, and it can still be seen in Guangdong today.
The third generation of MR2 seems to have a big change in temperament, the vehicle positioning has also become a more "entertaining" sports car, the performance of a sharp decline, only equipped with 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, the maximum power of 104kW, compared to the previous two generations of MR2 does lack some brilliant places.
At present, Toyota's performance sports cars on sale, 86 and Supra, are developed in the form of cooperation with other manufacturers, so the Japanese media is also speculating that it is very likely that the new generation of MR2 will also adopt the same strategy, after all, such an approach can effectively reduce research and development costs to a certain extent.
As for who Toyota likes, there are also news that it may cooperate with Porsche, Mr. Akio Toyoda's favorite brand, but it is not excluded that it will work with Lotus again. However, today's Lotus has been included in the Pocket of Geely Automobile, in other words, it is about equivalent to toyota and Geely Automobile cooperating.
In terms of power, foreign media expect that the new car may use V6 engines or plug-in hybrids, and the details will not be known until the plan is determined to advance.
Under the environment of new energy, many car companies have long abandoned this type of sports car that does not go and turned to new energy research and development, so it can be seen that Toyota is also a type of sword and blade, and has been continuously launching a variety of performance sports cars, which is also a good thing for some performance car enthusiasts.
From the perspective of Toyota's unusual path now, if the new MR2 is officially launched, it is likely to be introduced into China, after all, with the precedent of 86 and Supra, the natural new MR2 is also likely to follow its pace. If you really enter the domestic market, will you be impressed by it?