Toyota MR2 Coloring Pages

Japan's First Mid-Engine Car

Toyota MR2 is a small, two-seater sports car made by Toyota.
Most cars have their engine inside the front hood.
But Toyota MR2 has its engine right behind the driver's seat.
A car like this is called a mid-engine car.
The first Toyota MR2 came out in 1984. It was the very first mass-produced mid-engine car in Japan.

The Secret Behind the Name

People say the name "Toyota MR2" comes from the first letters of "Mid-ship Runabout 2-seater."
It means "a casual two-seater car with an engine in the middle."
Just like its name says, it is a small, light car made for just two people.

What Is Great About Mid-Engine Cars?

When the heavy engine is near the middle of the car, it balances better.
This makes it super easy to turn smoothly around sharp corners.
Many race cars are mid-engine cars, too.
On the other hand, the trunk space in the back gets a little smaller.
Hearing the engine sound right behind you is another cool feature you only get in a mid-engine car!

Three Generations of Toyota MR2

The first generation came out in 1984 with a sharp, wedge-like shape. It even won the Japan Car of the Year award in 1984!
The second generation came out in 1989 and had a rounder, smoother body.
The headlights on the first and second generations are pop-up headlights that hide inside the hood when you are not using them.
The third generation came out in 1999, and its name changed to MR-S. It became a convertible car with a roof you can take off.

Three Coloring Pages

We have three coloring pages: the first generation, the second generation, and the third generation MR-S.
The first generation shows a T-bar roof with two roof panels removed, so you can see the seats and the steering wheel.
The third generation has a soft cloth roof called a canvas top.
The second generation is a coupe with a steel roof and a small wing on the back.
Line them up from oldest to newest and compare how the shapes changed!
We also have coloring pages for other Toyota sports cars, like the Celica and the 86.

Try Using Real Colors

The Toyota MR2 came in colors like red, white, black, and yellow.
In our sample photos, the 1st and 2nd generations are white, and the 3rd generation is dark blue.
Try coloring your favorite generation in its real colors!

Leave White Cars Mostly Uncolored

When you color a white car, leave most of the paper white.
If you use light gray just on the bottom of the car and around the tires, it will look 3D!
On the 2nd generation, coloring the thin side stripe in black makes it look super cool and sharp.

Windows and Lights

Color the window glass light blue or gray.
If you leave a few white diagonal lines, it will look just like real glass! Color the front turn signals orange. For the round headlights on the 3rd generation, make the edges silver and leave the inside white.

The Soft Top and Seats

Try coloring the 3rd generation's soft top roof black or dark gray. Color the visible seat on the 1st generation dark gray.
Using a different color from the car body makes the roof and seats stand out!

Tires and Wheels

Color the tires dark gray or black.
Silver is best for the wheels.
If you color the spaces between the spokes in dark gray, the wheels will look 3D.
The 1st generation has fine wheel spokes, so color them one by one carefully to make it look just like the real thing!

Line Up All 3 Cars and Display Them

When you finish all 3 coloring pages, line them up from oldest to newest and display them!
It is fun to make all 3 cars the same color, or give each one a different color.

Names in other countries

The Toyota MR2 was sold in other countries too.
In places like France, the name "MR2" sounded like a bad word, so it was sold under the name "MR."
The 3rd generation MR-S was called the MR2 Spyder in the United States.

T-bar roof

Starting halfway through the 1st generation, cars with a T-bar roof were made.
When you take off the roof panels above the driver and passenger seats, one bar stays in the middle. It looks like the letter "T" from above.
When you take the roof off, you can drive and feel the wind just like a convertible!

Clever fog lights

The 2nd generation had a special system. The lights used on foggy days would turn in the direction you turned the steering wheel.
It was a cool new feature back then that lit up the way ahead as you turned.

Where is the engine?

Even if you open the hood of the Toyota MR2, you will not see the engine.
The front part is usually a space to put luggage or a spare tire.
The engine is hidden under a lid behind the seats!