I've done a lot of analysis on Lexus familial and performance styling elements but till now I haven't posted anything about MR2 specific styling elements. That was on purpose, because I had been thinking about it a lot and it's a bit of a complicated issue. For most people if you look at the original MR2 and SW20 there's only a few things that you'd notice that they have in common and would think - without applying any addittional logic - would make sense to pull forward.
The common styling elements (front to back):
1. Pop up headlights
2. T-top roof (as an option)
3. Air vents behind the doors (on most models)
4. Notch back engine lid/rear
5. Dual exhausts
As far as model carryovers, that's not a lot. The AW11 MR2 is boxy, and the SW20 is round. Other than the number of seats and where the engine is there's not a lot other than make and model name that tie the two together visually. Now you have to ask yourself - which of these make sense in a modern car? Let's take them one at a time:
1. Pop up headlights: These are a relic from a bygone era when you couldn't have a small headlamp and decent light output because the world lacked cost-effective projectors and HID's. There's no way a modern car would have these so they're out.
2. T-Top roof: These just don't get made anymore because car companies have figured out how to make convertible roof's that don't suck. They've also figured out how to build in enough chassis rigidity that you don't have to worry about ruining the structure of the car by taking off the roof. Removing T-tops is also a pain in the ass. However, I like them so they stay. There's something throwback-cool about them like old-skool jerseys or boom boxes. They're 80's fabulous.
3. Air vents behind the doors: These are basically a functional requirement more than a styling element and we've already established that they exist on modern cars, including the LFA, so they stay.
4. Notch back engine lid/rear: Now here's where I piss off the purists. One of the design elements that I'm insistent on for project MR2-FA is a fastback style engine lid. Neither the AW11 or SW20 were fastbacks. The fact that I refuse to do a notchback is likely to be deemed as herasy but there's a good reason for it. It's what Toyota would do. Hear me out.
Notchbacks aren't great for aerodynamics. They create a low pressure zone above the engine lid that leads to all sorts of detrimental effects. Did Toyota just not know that in the 80's? Actually I'm going to say they probably did. So why did they go with a notchback then? Because that's what Ferrari was doing at the time. I'm not going to link to it, but if you look up the models that Ferrari was producing during the MR2's production run you'll see that all the mid-engine cars are notchbacks with only one exception (the F40). The SW20 MR2 was meant to offer mini-ferrari styling at a price point that a common person could afford. To this day you can still get Ferrari style converions that will make your pedestrian Japanese sports car look just like high dollar sheet metal from Italy.
If you buy into that idea here's another one. Ferrari doesn't do notchbacks anymore and haven't for years. Why? Who cares. The point is that they don't, therefore if the MR2 were to maintain the Ferrari influence into modern times it would do so with a piece of glass over the engine. You can say what you want about my decision, but the logic is solid. Which leaves us with...
5. Dual Exhausts. Given that I've got a V6 on an engine stand waiting to be transplanted this is almost a requirement. I could probably get away with a single 2.5" pipe all the way back, but I think those look stupid so we're sticking wtih dual exhaust tips. Where they're located is a diffferent story.
So, of the five elements that really define what an MR2 looks like, the only things I really need to keep are the T-tops, the air vents, and the dual exhausts. Everything else - assuming I weren't to do something assenine like add a rear seat - is pretty much fair game. Disagree if you like, hate on it if you must, but the fact is there isn't a lot of model specific styling that I need to bring forward. This means that I'm free to build whatever I want within reason. I like that.
1. Pop up headlights: These are a relic from a bygone era when you couldn't have a small headlamp and decent light output because the world lacked cost-effective projectors and HID's. There's no way a modern car would have these so they're out.
2. T-Top roof: These just don't get made anymore because car companies have figured out how to make convertible roof's that don't suck. They've also figured out how to build in enough chassis rigidity that you don't have to worry about ruining the structure of the car by taking off the roof. Removing T-tops is also a pain in the ass. However, I like them so they stay. There's something throwback-cool about them like old-skool jerseys or boom boxes. They're 80's fabulous.
3. Air vents behind the doors: These are basically a functional requirement more than a styling element and we've already established that they exist on modern cars, including the LFA, so they stay.
4. Notch back engine lid/rear: Now here's where I piss off the purists. One of the design elements that I'm insistent on for project MR2-FA is a fastback style engine lid. Neither the AW11 or SW20 were fastbacks. The fact that I refuse to do a notchback is likely to be deemed as herasy but there's a good reason for it. It's what Toyota would do. Hear me out.
Notchbacks aren't great for aerodynamics. They create a low pressure zone above the engine lid that leads to all sorts of detrimental effects. Did Toyota just not know that in the 80's? Actually I'm going to say they probably did. So why did they go with a notchback then? Because that's what Ferrari was doing at the time. I'm not going to link to it, but if you look up the models that Ferrari was producing during the MR2's production run you'll see that all the mid-engine cars are notchbacks with only one exception (the F40). The SW20 MR2 was meant to offer mini-ferrari styling at a price point that a common person could afford. To this day you can still get Ferrari style converions that will make your pedestrian Japanese sports car look just like high dollar sheet metal from Italy.
If you buy into that idea here's another one. Ferrari doesn't do notchbacks anymore and haven't for years. Why? Who cares. The point is that they don't, therefore if the MR2 were to maintain the Ferrari influence into modern times it would do so with a piece of glass over the engine. You can say what you want about my decision, but the logic is solid. Which leaves us with...
5. Dual Exhausts. Given that I've got a V6 on an engine stand waiting to be transplanted this is almost a requirement. I could probably get away with a single 2.5" pipe all the way back, but I think those look stupid so we're sticking wtih dual exhaust tips. Where they're located is a diffferent story.
So, of the five elements that really define what an MR2 looks like, the only things I really need to keep are the T-tops, the air vents, and the dual exhausts. Everything else - assuming I weren't to do something assenine like add a rear seat - is pretty much fair game. Disagree if you like, hate on it if you must, but the fact is there isn't a lot of model specific styling that I need to bring forward. This means that I'm free to build whatever I want within reason. I like that.
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