HYPER GT SW20
A 500bhp MR2 from the Land of the Hornbill..wow.

It was a usual laid back Sunday morning. Most people would still be in Dreamland but I found myself driving to the top of a hill which overlooked Miri city and the South China Sea. I was not going for any morning “tai chi” or aerobics session mind you, but to meet the owner of this fine and unique yellow MR-2.

MR-2s are very popular autocross machines. With their MR (mid engine rear wheel drive) platform and a powerful 3S-GE (NA) or 3S-GTE (Turbo) engine powering the lightweight chassis, the MR2 is a nimble and tail happy machine. However, we seldom see these machines being used as a full fledged drag racers.. We often see the MR-2 as a mildly modded sports car for those who want to set themselves apart from the more popular 180SX, RX7 and other similar Japanese sports cars.

This MR-2 was built with only one mission, to be the ultimate MR-2 which has the perfect balance of power, handling and looks. As the stock 3S-GTE was deemed unsatisfactory by the owner, the engine was pulled out for a total rebuild. The engine was worked on by JUN AUTO MECHANIC of Japan, but whatever that went into the 3S-GTE's block remains a closely guarded secret. However, I am pretty sure that a lot of work has been done, especially to the cylinder head such as higher lift camshafts and a porting job. Forged items have found their way into the engine block to accommodate the large amount of horsepower that the owner desired.

With the engine head and cylinder block ready, attention was given to the main power generator. After experimenting with a Trust TD06-25G turbo which was found wanting, a Trust T78-33D turbo took its place. For a 4-cylinder engine which only displaces 2-litres, some may not agree with the “weapon of choice”, but so far, the owner is satisfied with the T78's performance. Bear in mind however, that there are some MR-2s outside Malaysia that run a T88-34D turbo. Can you say “lag”?

The T88-24D hangs off the engine block with a Trust custom equal length exhaust manifold which places the turbo in a perfect position despite its large size. With around 1.5bar of boost on its low boost setting much more than that in high boost setting, excessive boost from the turbo is vented out through a Trust Type R racing wastegate with a Trust Type R blow off valve, which gives a menacing sound whenever the throttle plate closes.

I believe one of the most exclusive parts this MR-2 has should be its close ratio gearbox. All the gears were changed with a set of Phoenix Power close ratio gears. Phoenix Power might not be familiar to some, but it is a well known tuning house in Japan which specializes not only in MR-2s, but also other machines. The ratios were very close and I still can remember how the tachometer's needle flicked across the dial with only a light tap of the throttle paddle. To add to the quick response from the gearbox, a lightweight ORC flywheel with a heavy duty clutch was also installed. Lastly, both the rear wheels spin together with the help of Cusco two-way LSD.

This Hyper MR-2 has proved that a 90's sports and performance car is still relevant these days. Just look at how popular the Honda Civic EG6, the 1, 2 and 3 series Lancer Evolutions, and the timeless Mazda RX-7 FD, are with the average Malaysian. With auto manufacturers focusing on producing more practical and environmental friendly machines these days, 90's sports car legends such as this MR-2 will always be remembered.

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