ME TWO

Japan’s first ever mid-engined sports car, the Mk1 Toyota MR2 – codenamed ‘AW11’ – was quite the success, evoking other small midship sports cars like the Fiat X1/9 and Lancia Monte Carlo, but offering Japanese reliability and relative practicality. The unremarkable 1.6-litre engine detracted little from the driving experience, which thanks to the mid-engined layout was superb, with sharp turn-in and remarkable balance on the limit. Indeed, the AW11 went onto win numerous Best Sports Car and Best Driver’s Car awards from press across Europe and America. It may have been expensive compared to European equivalents and the more conventional Honda CRX, but the futuristic styling and lack of mid-engined alternatives for the money meant it sold respectably well, shifting 164,000 cars in five years.

Some complained about a lack of refinement, however and when