page_title: Toyota MR2
section_title: Yearly changes
hierarchical_section_title: Toyota MR2 / First generation (W10; 1984–1989) / Yearly changes
caption_attribution_description: 1984-1989 Toyota MR-2 photographed in Fort Washington, Maryland, USA.
context_page_description: The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 to 2007 over three generations: W10, W20 and W30. It is Japan's first mid-engined production car.
  Conceived as a small, economical and sporty car, the MR2 employed straightforward design elements, including fully independent MacPherson strut front and rear suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes, and a transverse-mounted inline-four engine.
  The name MR2 stands for either "mid-ship run-about 2-seater" or "mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater". In French-speaking markets, the MR2 was renamed Toyota MR due to the similarity of the word "MR2" to a French profanity.
context_section_description: MK1a and MK1b are unofficial designations, but are frequently used by owners and vendors to distinguish between early production vehicles and later face-lifted models. While there are considerable differences detailed below, the most notable being that rear suspension components are not interchangeable between the MK1a and MK1b cars.
  MK1a – June 1984 (MY 1985)
  Original introduction
  June 1985 (MY 1986)
  Japanese model changes:
  Supercharged model introduced, offered with four-speed A/T or five-speed M/T
  T-bar roof option available
  Color-keyed front lip and bumpers, side stripes, mudflaps, side skirts option now available
  Mudflap removed for models equipped with "Aerodynamic Spoiler Package" as the side skirts are full-length along the side
  Rear sunshade with TOYOTA logo above rear window added
  Third brake light added
  Leather interior option now available
  Bigger 212 mm flywheel and clutch for naturally aspirated models
  Rear anti-roll bar discontinued on North American models
  MK1b Facelift – August 1986 (MY 1987)
  Powertrain changes:
  Naturally aspirated 4A-GE now upgraded with a "7-rib" structural design as well as larger 42 mm (1.65 in) connecting rods. North American 4A-GE is also now rated at 115 hp (86 kW).
  Intake camshaft valve cover now has the "16 Valve" portion in red instead of blue (this is not to be confused with the smallport third generation 4A-GE where the intake camshaft cover lettering has the entire "Twin Cam 16 Valve" in red)
  EGR port repositioned on exhaust manifold to prevent cracking
  Revised manual transmission internals.
  Air filter rerouted to the trunk and continues around the trunk towards the air vent on the opposite side of the engine bay.
  Chassis changes:
  Slight unibody changes
  Radiator tilted back at an angle to force air down towards the bottom of the car
  Revised rear suspension
  Larger 258 mm (10.16 in) front and 262 mm (10.31 in) rear brake rotors
  New tail lights (UK models retained old tail light design with different integrated reflector)
  New front lip and front bumper
  Radio antenna moved to rear right quarter panel for t-top/sunroof models
  T-bar roof available in North America and Europe
  Interior changes:
  LHD models now has parking brake on the right side
  New center console, center armrest
  Glovebox lock
  Double-din radio, rear speakers added to the upper C pillar
  Door panels, three-spoke steering wheel, gauge cluster markings
  Seat changed to single-color velour and perforations added for leather seats
  1987 (MY 1988)
  Supercharged model available in North America
  Color-coded side mirrors and new engine lid for supercharged models
  Full-length side skirts now standard on all models
  1988 (MY 1989)
  T-bar glass panels changed from smoked (clear) to mirrored (opaque)
  Color-code door handle and side mirrors for all models
  Incandescent third brake lamp replaced by LED strip integrated into the rear spoiler
  More aerodynamic wing mirrors introduced, with optional power retract mechanism
  North American supercharged models equipped with rear anti-roll bar
  The changes in MY 1986 and MY 1987 occurred in parts. Instead of a drastic change in MY 1987 models for the above MK1b upgrades, some MK1a parts continued on in early MY 1987 cars while some MK1b parts came on MY 1986 cars as options. An example is that some MY 1987 cars still retained the old "flat" front bumper despite having MK1b upgrades everywhere else on the car. Some early MY 1987 7-rib engines came with the earlier blue top valve cover. This was also noticed in the rear sway bar removal for the MY 1986. Some MY 1986 cars have a rear sway bar, while the mounting tabs on the strut housing were either there for both sides, only one side, or none at all depending on when Toyota ran out of the older rear struts with mounting tabs as production used up parts.
caption: MK1a AW11
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