Let’s talk for a second about Toyota’s 3.5L V6. It’s Toyota’s go-to engine for a large part of their models. The 2GR-FE is shoved into everything from the Camry and Avalon to the Lexus ES350 and RX350. Notably, it’s also the engine used in the Lotus Evora sports car. Why is that? Because in a light, mid-engine car, the V6, which weighs in at about 359 pounds, has everything that is wanted: a reliable engine that has a wide array of parts available and a reasonable amount of power…especially when it is stuffed into a second-generation Toyota MR2.
Think about it: a SW20 MR2 weighs in at 2,700 pounds curb weight at the heaviest possible, and typically are closer to 2,500 pounds. Unless you have one of the rarer supercharged MR2s, there is really no reason why jamming in the engine from a 2009 RAV4 doesn’t makes sense. Stock power is a decent upgrade, and there is a supercharger available. Add in some suspension bits, decent wheels and tires, and you have a roller skate that can piss off the unsuspecting at an autocross. Russ and his MR2 haunt the British Columbia auto crosses, and he is proud of it. He should be, because when you look at the overall build, it’s very, very hard to find fault with the design.
So if is is that easy to swap in the V6, why didn’t Toyota do it in the first place?
Then they would have the go to match the show of one of the best-looking cars they ever made. Maybe the dullness of all those Camrys was infectious….
Probably just wasn’t cost effective. Toyota has been more about profit margins than pleasing enthusiasts for a long time now. Literally the most boring manufacturer I can think of.