Bought at the end of 2024 as a Rev 3 JDM-spec Toyota MR2 Turbo, this car quickly became far more than a personal project. Within six months, it had already received a 2GR-FE V6 swap, using the same engine found in the Lotus Exige and Evora, although this example came from a Toyota Sienna minivan.
What began as a road car soon became the foundation for 7 Works. As my understanding of chassis setup, suspension tuning, and performance development deepened, the MR2 evolved into the company’s core development platform.
Originally intended to sit alongside my Locost race car, the MR2 took on a much bigger role after those plans changed. It is now my road, track, and race car, and the car that will underpin almost every product developed by 7 Works. New ideas are tested here first, on both road and track, before being refined into customer products.
Current Specification
- Stock-power 2GR-FE swap
- E153 gearbox
- Factory LSD
- Custom headers and Y-pipe
- 7 Works front control arms
- 7 Works front top mounts
- Spherical bearings throughout
- BC Racing coilovers
- PBS ProTrack brake pads
- Whiteline roll bars
The car is being developed for serious track use, with Time Attack-style events a possible future direction. Despite that, it will retain its stock body and stay visually close to the original MR2. The goal is to achieve the highest level of performance possible without sacrificing road usability, with a strong emphasis on driver feel.
The focus is on building a car that feels precise, predictable, and confidence-inspiring at the limit. That means prioritising chassis balance, suspension behaviour, geometry, braking performance, and cooling, rather than chasing numbers.
The next phase of development is centred around pushing the chassis package further. The front suspension has already been heavily revised to accommodate a significantly wider tyre, and the rear is next to receive geometry changes with the same goal in mind. The dampers will also be revalved for track use using a custom-developed piston to my own specification, with the aim of delivering the level of control and consistency I want from the car.