AW11 Changes Per Model Year

This is the master list of all the changes made to the MKI MR2 over its 5 year lifesapn as compiled by the Mr2 list. It is the most complete known to date. This is list pertains to the US spec MR2, and while it most of the info applies to other countires models as well, there are differences between the different counties to keep in mind.

1985

Car Started out with:

  • Black bumpers, side molding, and optional rear spoiler
  • Two different clutch sizes. 0684 was the cutoff manufacturing month/year. I believe pre- was 200mm, and post was 212mm. 
  • Automatic Climate Control on all models. 
  • Three spoke alloy rims.
  • Front and rear sway bars
  • Blue top engine (smaller main journals, smaller piston pins, non-reinforced block, pintle-style injectors), 
  • No side skirts (used little triangles)
  • Seats with color keyed center sections (red, gray, blue, etc) and "shoulder pads"
  • Two spoke steering wheel
  • Simple console and interior trim panels
  • No rear speakers
  • Simple intake system for the engine
  • Oversteer characteristics to the suspension (rather good balance IMHO)
  • Small brakes
  • Simple tail lamps
  • Rubber front airdam (black)
  • Hardtop and sunroof cars available (sunroofs have no dot pattern in the blackout paint).
1986 
  • Color keyed bumpers and molding. 
  • Third brake light added. 
  • Mirrors still black. 
  • Crome exhaust tips (option?)
  • Fiberglass ground effects (side skirts) on rocker panels added to replace black plastic triangle in front of rear wheels on previous models along with color coded mud flaps was a new option.
  • Rear sway bar removed although the mounting brackets remain on the original rear struts on all but the latest '86 models. 
  • Automatic Climate Control became an option. 
  • Rear defroster wires changed (to accommodate third brake light in non-spoiler equipped models). 
  • "TOYOTA" printed on top of front bumper. 
  • The "bird" was added to the rear bumper. 
  • Rear clear "Toyota" spoiler
  • Sunroofs have dots on the blackout paint
  • 4-speed automatic transmission option
  • Leather seat option.
There are some '86s with sway bars. It appeared that Toyota installed the parts until they were used up. First the sway bars ran out, then strut carriers with tabs on one side of the car ran out (so some cars only had a strut tab on the other side of the car), the both sides ran out of strut tabs ran out. So if you have an '86, you can have either a sway bar, no sway bar and both tabs, one tab, or no tabs (depending on how late your car was manufactered in the manufacturing year).

1987

  • Rear tail lights slightly modified (integrated reflector is square rather than round). 
  • Emergency brake moved to right side. 
  • New Door panels.
  • Rear speakers added to top of "B" (?) pillar (above and behind occupant's heads). 
  • Ashtray moved from front of console to left of console. 
  • Radio goes double-din. 
  • Air vent on right side changed from a flush, two sectional, horizontal slotted opening to a protruding, single section, vertical slotted opening.
  • Entire Air intake system changed, with the air intake starting from the side vent wrapping around the back to a trunk mounted filter, then on to a MAF mounted lower in the engine bay.
  • Brake rotors and calipers are enlarged. 
  • Front fascia (air dam & valence) changed to be lower and jut farther forward (?). 
  • Instrument cluster (markings) changed. 
  • T-top option available. 
  • Automatic Climate Control dropped for different heat controls. 
  • Radio options were changed. 
  • The Steering wheel was changed from two spokes to three, and aslo had a smaller diameter. The center reads "MR2" rather than "TOYOTA". 
  • Entire suspesion was slightly changed. It was "revised" to remove some oversteer characteristics
  • New alloy rims that were the same as the 1987 Corolla FX GTS.  (Many Toyota distributers added the "basketweave" alloys however)
  • Stripper versions now available with cheap seats and carpet, no skirts, wings, or aluminum wheels 
  • Perforations added to the leather seats
  • A lock was added on the glovebox door
  • Holding rod for bin between the seats
  • A single-colored velour fabric was used from 1987 forward on all but the stripped versions.
  • Front strut tower bar standard
  • Radio antenna was moved to the rear quarter panel versus the roof for T-top cars and Sunroof cars. 
  • Mid 87: Changes to 4A-GE to increase it strength  (aka the 4A-GE received the 4A-GZE block)
  • Mid 87: Used new C-52 Transmission which was stronger compared to C-50.
  • Late 87: The words on top of the valve covers were reversed to be read while standing at the back of the vehicle.

    •  
1988
  • Supercharged engine option introduced. 
  • T-tops standard on SC models. 
  • All SCs had color-coded mirrors 
  • All SCs had  a engine cover with a large raised grill for cooling.
  • New "teardrop" alloy rims for the SC
  • All NAs have black mirrors.
1989
  • All Models had mirrors color coded. 
  • Third brake light changed to LEDs integrated into the spoiler.
  • Door handles color coded. 
  • Small (10 mm) rear sway bar added to SCs.
  • Larger Brake Master Cylinder
  • New AM/FM/Cassette head unit


Acknowledgement and recognition for their observations and contributions go to : Steve Neese, Dave Aucott, Daniel Wetherbee, Ian Rouse, Matt Kowske, Fred Dimalanta, Steve Bagdon, Steve Durman, Matt Ledbetter, Edward Chan, Randy Eickhoff, David Hawkins, Skylark, Ed A., Bryan Heitkotter,and Joe Pearlstein. Any one else able to help out?