Autoblog

Supra successor may be all-electric sourced from Tesla; MR2 returning too?

Chris Tutor — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota, Tesla, Electric

Rumors of a revival of the Toyota Supra and MR2 have been swirling for years right up until just this week when high-level Toyota employees all but confirmed their return.

But now The Detroit Bureau has put together news from different sources suggesting that the next Supra might be all electric. The report cites recent comments from Toyota senior executives hinting at plans to work with Tesla on a new joint project. The FT-HS Concept (shown above) seems a logical inspiration for a new Supra.

And on the other side of the equation is Tesla's design chief Franz von Holzhausen who was quoted last year saying his company was looking at its next project, probably a sports car, that would follow next year's intro of the Model X. He went on to suggest the car would compete directly with BMW's 3 Series, which, in coupe form, could be a worthy competitor to a Supra as well.

Such a sporty, up-market car could easily take advantage of the Model S platform while the electric drivetrain would fit with what Toyota's chief engineer Tetsuya Tada says is an effort to balance a green image with products that offer "driving fun."

Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company was already working on "a few other variants of the Model S" that would be "pretty exciting."

Toyota's Tada says there's no target date for introduction of either a Supra or MR2, but he would expect development to take up to five years to engineer the pair and for the Supra to take priority over the MR2.

Supra successor may be all-electric sourced from Tesla; MR2 returning too? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota planning Supra, MR2 successors within five years?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

Every sighting of a MkIV Toyota Supra compels a wistful pause and the rhetorical query, "Ah, Toyota... what happened?" The FT-HS concept has been adorning auto show plinths since 2007, taking rumblings of a Supra successor everywhere it went. Last December, four years of hoping out loud led to Motor Trend reporting a Supra return with a 3.5-liter V6, perhaps to be ready in 2015. For any chance of that happening, the Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S needed to do well.

Seven months later Toyota's little 300-horsepower coupe is still accelerating enthusiast hearts, and in May of this year MT added hybrid mechanicals, 400 horsepower, a CVT from the Lexus RX and a $60,000 price to its earlier report of a Supra redux.

A new report in Asia One doesn't divulge details, but does make it appear that a new Supra is inevitable: at a European event for the FR-S, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said, "The president (Akio Toyoda) has asked me to make a successor to the Supra as soon as possible." This could be revisionist history, but the larger plan according to Tada has been that the GT 86/FR-S is the middle child in Toyota's sports car strategy, with a lower-tier entry like a new MR2 and an upper-tier entry like the Supra on the company's mind since the beginning.

According to the engineer, reasoning for the sports car push is that Toyota needs to add "driving fun" to its green-car credentials, and it needs to create a stronger bond with buyers that continues beyond the dealership. Tada said both new sports cars would take at least five years to develop and Asia One predicts that the Supra (or whatever it's eventually called) will come first, but Tada gave no indication of where it stands in the development process and he doesn't know when they'll be ready. We're of the opinion that tomorrow isn't too soon.

Toyota planning Supra, MR2 successors within five years? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carbon monoxide nearly costs this track day racer his life

Zach Bowman — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Safety, Videos, Toyota

There are plenty of dangers to contend with at a track day. High speeds, inexperienced drivers, faulty equipment and foul weather can all play havoc on an otherwise friendly fender-to-fender weekend. We can now add carbon monoxide poisoning to the list of potential threats.

One Finnish Toyota MR2 owner took his machine out for a quick sprint at Ahvenisto just outside of Hameenlinna. After a few minutes behind the wheel, the driver begins struggling to keep control of his car, eventually spinning into the infield. He maneuvers back on track and pulls off, and it isn't long before he blacks out entirely. Later, he would have no recollection of anything after the car hit the grass.

He stays unconscious for nearly 11 minutes before rescue workers resort to smashing his passenger window to gain access. By the time he receives medical attention, his blood was packed with 67 percent carbon monoxide. Any longer in the vehicle's cabin and the day very well could have been his last. Check out the scariness for yourself.

Continue reading Carbon monoxide nearly costs this track day racer his life

Carbon monoxide nearly costs this track day racer his life originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dad disapproves of son's 530-horsepower MR2

John Neff — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Toyota, Humor

Reaction vids certainly aren't in short supply. Whether it's a mom screaming her head off during a hot lap of Laguna Seca, a little boy freaking out over the silent rush of acceleration in a Tesla Roadster, or a wife screaming expletives at her husband in Italian during a Sunday spin in a Honda Civic Type-R, these candid-camera-style videos are usually good for a few laughs.

More recently, the meme has been slathered with sex appeal to attract even more eyeballs. There's this well-known example, plus someone on YouTube who just has pretty girls ride shotgun as he takes them for a ride.

We like it best when the passenger's reaction is honest and unscripted, though. Like this example, in which a son takes his father for a ride in his pride and joy: a 530-horsepower Toyota MR2. Shot back in 2010, it's not new, but we'd never seen it before and still get a kick out of the father's response.

Take a trip with Dad after the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading Dad disapproves of son's 530-horsepower MR2

Dad disapproves of son's 530-horsepower MR2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MR2 lives on with Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota, Specialty

With everyone predictably swarming over the Toyobaru Twins here at the Tokyo Motor Show, one bit of performance geekery has been largely overlooked.

Toyota brought out the second iteration of its MR-S/MR2-based GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept, with an all-new look, more carbon fiber and a reworked hybrid powertrain. The standard 2ZZ four-cylinder (or lesser 1ZZ in the States) has been swapped out for a 3.5-liter V6 mounted amidships and outputting 247 horsepower. While that's not much juice from a big V6, the addition of an electric motor powering the front wheels brings overall output up to just under 300 hp, allowing the 3,300-pound roadster to run to 60 mph in the mid-five-second range.

If you're wondering about the name, it's an acronym for "Gazoo Racing tuned by Meister of the Nürburgring," referring to Toyota's ace test driver, the late Hiromu Naruse. Along with the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition, this was the final vehicle Naruse-san worked on before his untimely demise, and it's one of maybe three vehicles at the show that we'd drive home tomorrow given the chance.

MR2 lives on with Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Toyota MR2 Supercharged is minty fresh

Zach Bowman — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Auctions, Toyota

We have no qualms admitting that we miss the first-generation Toyota MR2. The spry little mid-engined racer was proof that you didn't need a summer house on the cape to enjoy a perfectly balanced, lightweight sports car. Of course, with its accessible price tag, it's no surprise that very few MR2 models survived without encountering substantial neglect or abuse. That's what makes this supercharged, 1989 gem particularly attractive. With a shave under 22,000 miles on the odometer, all of the factory paperwork and accessories, this machine is bone stock as close to mint as you're likely to find in the wild.

The seller is the original owner and says that he's sending the MR2 on its way because he's focusing his efforts on maintaining a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that he also bought new. Different strokes for different folks, we guess. If you've got $20,000 lying around with nothing better to do, you can pick up the the 1989 Toyota MR2 in South Windsor, Connecticut at its Buy It Now price, or you can just bid in hopes you meet the reserve. Head over to eBay Motors for more information.

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Toyota MR2 Supercharged is minty fresh originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DDR launches McLaren F1-influenced Miami GT with Acura RSX or Chevy Corvette power

Aaron Richardson — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Acura, Chevrolet, Specialty, MISC

The guys at DDR Motorsport have put their brand-new Miami GT kits on the market. The kits all sell for right around $20 grand, and can be set up to accept the four pot from either an Acura RSX or Toyota MR2 in Sport Prototype 4 form, or the LS Series small block from the Chevrolet Corvette in Sport Prototype 8 form. The idea, DDR says, is to put a truly affordable supercar on the market.

For your $20k, you get a full tube chassis, an unpainted fiberglass shell, lights, signals and all the glass. What you don't get is an engine or any running gear. Though they can't supply the drive trains, DDR will happily explain how to get your McLaren F1 lookalike up and running.

DDR launches McLaren F1-influenced Miami GT with Acura RSX or Chevy Corvette power originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill (again): Toyota working on MR2, Supra successor

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Toyota

Toyota FT-HS Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Knowing how long it takes to get a car from clean-sheet to showroom, we have a tough time believing that automakers can simply turn new car programs on and off seemingly every quarter. The rumor is back, at least in Autocar, that Toyota is working on a new MR2 and a hybrid Supra. A cursory glance through the Autoblog archives has found no less than eight stories on the return and demise and return of the Supra, going back to 2006 (here, here, here, here, here, here and here).

The latest "evidence" is that with hybrid sales on the upswing, the idea of a V6 hybrid sports car makes sense. Again. However, it's being developed alongside the FT-86, a car that appears to be resurrected only so that it can be delayed. The most recent date for seeing either car is 2013.

It's suggested that the MR2 will get a 1.5-liter hybrid, following the template of the popular-in-Japan Honda CRZ. According to the report, though, the MR2 "is the pet project of Hiromu Naruse, Toyota's chief test driver." Sadly, Naruse died this week while testing another one of his pet projects, the Lexus LFA. Being only in the stage of a "pet project" and having lost its leader, the only truth about a new MR2 might be that it's on hold again. Or maybe not - stay tuned next week when we announce the new RX-7 and NSX are officially a go...

Gallery: Toyota FT-HS Concept

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill (again): Toyota working on MR2, Supra successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome

Chris Paukert — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 Sports Concept - click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota Motor Co. president Akio Toyoda has stressed that his family's company must work to create more emotionally engaging products as part of its bid to reinvent its now-battered image. Central to that effort will be the production version of its well-received FT-86 Sports Concept, the two-door rear-driver that made its European debut at this week's Geneva Motor Show, where it drew quite a crowd.

Toyota now appears to be pushing its brand's enthusiast heritage, something it hasn't truly done with fresh products in some time - at least not outside of its Lexus brand. In any case, the Japanese automaker has just released a series of new photos, including a family portrait of sorts that places the FT-86 in the context of the Corolla AE86 (its most obvious spiritual predecessor) as well as the Celica and Supra. Although the press release available after the jump pays lip service to the MR2, none is pictured.

While there is no substantive new information about a production timetable for the comely coupe, Toyota has released a series of images of the FT-86 that are certainly worth perusing. You can check them out below while you're waiting for more info about the car's future.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Sports Concept 'Family Portrait'

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome

Toyota FT-86 concept gets a family-style welcome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TAS 2010: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid concept packing 400-hp 3.3-liter V6, AWD [w/video]

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Japan, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept - Click above for image gallery

Back in November, the rumormill was set ablaze when reports began to surface that Toyota was working on a new MR2 packing hybrid power. Today, those rumors have been laid to rest... kinda.

In addition to the G Sport Series FT-86 and Prius, Toyota trotted out a concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon based on the third generation MR-S (ZZW30). Although the MR2 was nixed in the U.S. in 2005 (and in Japan in 2007), Toyota and its partners at Gazoo saw fit to resurrect its midship drop-top by fitting a 3.3-liter V6 where the old 1.8-liter four-cylinder used to reside and an electric motor mated to a THSII hybrid system up front. That's right, the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept is all-wheel drive, and between the two mills, it's churning out over 400 horsepower through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

But despite its boosted output, the 2,800-pound concept is a bit on the porky side compared to its 2,200-pound predecessor. Toyota claims it can run to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds - still better than the stock ZZW30, but at what a cost to the MR2's supreme chuckability? While there's no chance of Toyota putting the MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept into production, this could point the way for things to come - for better or worse. Make the jump for a promo video.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid

[Source: Gazzo via Carscoop]

Continue reading TAS 2010: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid concept packing 400-hp 3.3-liter V6, AWD [w/video]

TAS 2010: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid concept packing 400-hp 3.3-liter V6, AWD [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota MR2 to be reborn with hybrid power

Noah Joseph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Japan, Toyota, Rumormill

Tell us if this sounds familiar: Hybrids will kill the driver-oriented sportscar. It's the line taken by no small share of enthusiasts, and some of them are among us here at Autoblog. But the skeptics were silenced - or temporarily hushed, at least - when Honda took the wraps off of its CR-Z coup concept. After all, anything that could bring back the CRX hatchback with added oomph at no extra cost at the fuel pumps has to sound good to anyone's ears, right? But you didn't think Toyota would let Honda have the fun all to itself now, did you?

It's far from official, but reports out of Japan suggest that Toyota may be working on a reborn hybrid sportscar of its own. The company once known for its sports-coupes recently unveiled the FT-86 concept, and could be set to follow up with a gasoline-electric resurrection of the cult classic MR2. The budget-friendly mid-engine/rear-drive sportscar had a big following who led the legions of the disappointed when the third-generation model was discontinued two years ago. But if the latest reports are to be believed, Mr. Two could be back - in hybrid form.

Details are scarce, but according to Japan's Best Car, we're looking at a two-seat two-door coupe with a gasoline engine mounted amidships behind the cabin, coupled to an electric motor in a more performance-oriented version of the Toyota Synergy Drive popularized by the Prius. Reports suggest it could adopt the MR-S nameplate, which is what the last MR2 was known as in Japan, so there's just as good a chance that it could wear the MR2 nameplate on this side of the Pacific. That's about all we've got for now, but if we all (Toyota included) play our cards just right, Japan's beloved budget mid-engined car could be coming back...with a charge.

[Source: Best Car via CarScoop]

Rumormill: Toyota MR2 to be reborn with hybrid power originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Outraged Italian police set to crush fake Ferrari

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Toyota, Ferrari

Right up front, we must state that there is a very high likelihood that the following is not entirely true. With that said, here's the skinny on what we think we know: Thanks to local copyright laws, cops in Ostuni, Italy have reportedly confiscated a Toyota MR2 cut to look an awful lot like a Ferrari 355 Berlinetta. And they intend to crush it.

So much so that the British-made phony Italian was being touted as the real thing -- an obvious scam. As to why the authorities intend to destroy the car, let's listen to what one of the cops involved had to say: "It was a good fake but just a fake, Ferrari is one of Italy's crown jewels. We can't allow cheap copies."

Yes, well, we guess that makes sense. But are the cops allowed to crush the car out of some odd sense of damaged Italian pride? Looks like it. We here at Autoblog feel it's our duty to go ahead and give you a surefire tip on how to keep your faker from meeting the same fate - nobody suspects a Fiero-bodied Ferrari 308. Hint, hint. Thanks to Cosmin for bringing this to our attention!

[Source: Austrian Times]

Outraged Italian police set to crush fake Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day

Jonny Lieberman — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Buick, Toyota

Toyota MR2 chasing down a Buick LeSabre at Nelson Ledges - click above image to watch the video

You might have heard of this 24 Hours of LeMons traveling sideshow by now. You know, a bunch of $500 cars dropping mufflers all over the place as they pointlessly race around a track. Cruel weirdos dressed up like judges forcing confused, sweaty drivers to write, "Even though I wrote I will not go four wheels off one hundred times on my car, I still went four wheels off." Or Worse. Oh, and if you win the race you get $1,500 in nickels.

Despite all that, the one thing you might not know about the 24 Hours of LeMons is that it's real racing. Some of it pretty good, too. The cars might look a little off, and the drivers might not know a racing line from a fishing line, but what takes place on track is about as real as wheel to wheel racing gets. Proof? Make the jump and watch the video of a Toyota MR2 straight up battling with a Buick LeSabre for over seven minutes on the famous Nelson Ledges race track during last weekend's The Lamest Day. Good stuff, if you're into that whole cheapo car racing thing. Tip of the budget Pyrotect to Dave for the vid!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day

VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MR2 redux snagged on transporter?

Justin Gardiner — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:23:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Japan, Toyota

Nah. Highly unlikely. In your dreams. That's what the folks at Toyota said as I handed the keys to the MR-S V-Edition back to them earlier this year and asked if Toyota had another mid-engined sports car on the drawing board.

So what, pray tell, is this litle number spotted on the back of a Toyota transporter near Nagoya earlier this summer? Toyota is keeping mum, but could this be another prototype from the Committee to create Interesting Cars? Let's hope so.

[Source: BestCar magazine]

MR2 redux snagged on transporter? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Project Garage: Project MR2 - Part One - Making it stick

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, In the Autoblog Garage, Technology

Click the image above for a high-res pic.

With the 2ZZ motor in its new home, the additional 29 pounds of mass behind our heads was causing an excessive amount of understeer. That, coupled with the hard life our stock suspension has had to endure over the last 60,000 miles, made a new set of coilovers a necessity.

Continue reading Autoblog Project Garage: Project MR2 - Part One - Making it stick

Autoblog Project Garage: Project MR2 - Part One - Making it stick originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fun things to do with your MR2: Ferrari 360 replica

Dan Roth — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Etc., Toyota, Ferrari

click the pic above to view a gallery

Why is it that people feel the need to saddle perfectly good cars with replica bodywork to make them look like exotics? There's nothing wrong with the last generation Toyota MR2, true, it's no Ferrari, but then again, you can buy an entire MR2 for very much less than a Ferrari 360; an amount closer to the downpayment, most likely. We'd keep the bodykit away from the MR2 and spend the extra dough on suspension and engine mods. If you really must project the image that a Ferrari brings (you know - this car costs more than your house, and I'll sell it for more, too. Yes, that does make me better than you) you could follow the lead of this MR2 Spyder's owner.

If you can stomach the truncated proportions that haven't survived scaling well, your MR2 will make a solid basis for you to become a total poseur. From what we can see, the car pictured has had time and energy lavished on it. The extra-wide door gap is not pretty, but overall, there's a lot of detail here, and the pictures show something that's reasonably turned out, instead of a total hack job. It's a very well done tribute, in fact. At least you can be fairly certain that the MR2 will have more uptime than the Ferrari, and when it does need to go see the doctor, the prescription's cost will lean more toward ibuprofen, not radical walletectomy.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Ferrari 360 replica

[Source: Carscoop]

Fun things to do with your MR2: Ferrari 360 replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paging Sarah Connor, your ride is here -- and it's glowing

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:52:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

A Russian gentleman has a thing for The Terminator and for glow-in-the-dark paint. In a lot of other places -- or a lot of other heads -- that might add up to a painting hung in the tastefully private confines of one's bedroom. Not this time. Instead of a keeping it to himself, he has showcased those twin affections with a mural that covers every panel of his black Toyota MR2. During the day, it is your everyday two-seater covered in what looks like a Terminator modeling shoot. At night, the fun kicks in when all that paint starts to glow, and the car looks like a stray from the Ghostbusters set. Does anyone know how to say "Feast your eyes on this!" in Russian?

[Source: English Russia via Jalopnik]

Paging Sarah Connor, your ride is here -- and it's glowing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 May 2007 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poor man's Elise: 1,500 pounds, 170 HP, $25k

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Our infatuation with the lightest means of four-wheeled transport has put a number of cars on our must-have list. Today, it's grown by one. La Bala, Spanish for "The Bullet" is the brainchild of Steve Graber, "an average guy in an average garage," whose only goal was to distill outright performance into a compact package.

Beginning with a friend's MR2, Mr. Graber, now the founder of Graber Cars, stripped the mid-engined coupe down to the frame, performed a number of chassis modifications, and then clothed his masterpiece in simple, yet attractive, body panels. The dry weight of La Bala is an even 1,500 pounds, and when mated to a 1.6-liter, 170 HP turbocharged motor, allows the quirky track toy to reach 60 MPH in a mere 4.3 seconds.

Pricing for the kit was just announced and it comes in at cool $25 grand, sans engine and transmission. His site, Grabercars.com, has an overabundance of information about La Bala, including videos and a journal of the buildup. We're only halfway through it now, but we're totally sold.

[Source: Grabercars.com via Inside Line]

Poor man's Elise: 1,500 pounds, 170 HP, $25k originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: DUAL jet-engined Toyota MR2

Scott Davis — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Toyota

What will people do to get attention these days? The answer to that question can be found in two distinct places: YouTube or eBay. This insane piece of automotive engineering can be found for sale on eBay for a starting bid of $30,000.

The ad is very simple. All it states is that it is a 1991 Toyota MR2 that gets its motivation from (2) T58-3 General Electric jet engines with afterburners. Doing a little research takes you to www.toyjunkies.com, where the car is also listed for sale. There you can find a little more info and a few pictures.

The scariest part of the car to us are the aerodynamics. The car sports a stock spoiler on the rear and one of the wildest looking splitters ever built under the front bumper. The super size splitter appears to be designed to generate enough frontal downforce/drag to either keep the front end planted at any speed above 5 mph or to aerodynamically assure that the car will never go any faster than that at all. Oh, and the eBay ad also states that it is ready to race and shows a picture of a magazine article of unknown origin featuring the car.

If any of you have ever sold cars, you've no doubt heard the addage that "there is an ass for every seat." If the dual-jet powered MR2 sells for anything close to the asking price, we'll all know it is true.

[Source: eBay]

Thanks for the tip, Doug!

eBay Find of the Day: DUAL jet-engined Toyota MR2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Toyota, RR of the Day

The MkII Toyota Supra never received the affection garnered by its younger siblings, but it set the standard for future coupes and is still beloved in certain circles.

Power came from either a 2- or 2.8-liter inline six that produced anywhere between 145 and 161 HP and was channeled through a five-speed gearbox. Weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds, it was a quick ride for its time and proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable whip for both this writer and Flickr member longbowmkii.

There seem to be fewer and fewer of these on the road in decent shape, so we thought this particular example deserved a spot in this week's RR of the Day, 80s edition. We're even more enthused that Mr. Longbow has gotten his MkII out to a local autocross to see if it can still hang in the gymkhana world.

We're still on the prowl for more rides of the 80s, so tease your hair out, throw on that zipper laden leather jacket and submit your photos to our Flickr account by following the directions after the jump.

Continue reading RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra

RR of the Day: MkII Toyota Supra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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