Toyota MR2 Turbo Kits - Horsepower Upgrades for Enhanced Performance

Enhancing Performance of the Toyota MR2 with Turbo Kits

The Toyota MR2 has earned a strong enthusiast following for its lightweight chassis, rear-wheel drive layout, and smooth-revving engines. While the stock MR2 delivers an exciting driving experience right out of the box, many owners choose to enhance their car's performance with aftermarket modifications.

One of the most popular upgrades for the MR2 is adding a turbo kit. Bolting a turbo onto the stock engine can significantly increase horsepower and torque yields, allowing the MR2 to reach its full performance potential.

Benefits of Adding a Turbo Kit

Turbochargers work by forcing extra compressed air into the engine, allowing more fuel to be burned with each combustion cycle. The benefits of turbocharging an MR2 include:

• Horsepower gains of 50% or more
• Greatly improved acceleration
• Enhanced torque for stronger pull at mid-high RPMs
• Higher top speed potential

With the extra power output, a turbocharged MR2 becomes a much livelier performer. Throttle response improves noticeably, allowing the engine to reach higher RPMs where it makes peak power.

Turbo Kit Components

A complete turbo kit will come with all the hardware needed to safely add a turbo to the MR2. Common components found in kits include:

• Turbocharger matched to engine size
• Stainless steel exhaust manifold
• Silicon hoses and piping
• Intercooler for cooling compressed intake air
• Electronic boost controller
• Oil and coolant lines

Quality turbo kits also include detailed installation instructions to walk MR2 owners through the process from start to finish.

Tuning Considerations

Adding significant power to an engine also requires properly calibrating the fuel delivery and timing maps. Most turbo MR2 owners pair their hardware with an aftermarket engine management system or stand-alone ECU.

An aftermarket ECU offers advantages like:

• Precise control of air/fuel ratios under boost
• Boost-referenced ignition timing maps
• Control of electronic boost solenoids
• Launch control and no-lift shift functions

Proper ECU calibration is crucial for maximizing performance gains while also protecting the engine from damage.

Popular Turbo Kits for the Toyota MR2

While turbo kits are available from a wide range of brands, a few stand out as popular options among MR2 owners:

HKS GT2835R Turbo Kit

Japanese tuning legends HKS offer a GT2835R turbo kit custom-tailored for the 3S-GTE engine. With the standard 7psi actuator, this kit is good for around 280 horsepower. Upgrading the actuator can support over 320hp.

Turbonetics T66 Turbo Kit

The Turbonetics T66 kit utilizes a ball bearing turbo capable of high horsepower outputs. Combined with supporting fuel upgrades, some MR2 owners have achieved over 400 horsepower using this turbo.

Greddy TD06H-20G Kit

Trust Greddy to deliver a reliable OEM-quality turbo kit for the MR2. Their TD06H-20G uses a ceramic ball bearing turbo with a twin-scroll titanium turbine housing for excellent spool time and max boost around 22psi.

CT Engineering Turbo Kit

CT Engineering offers a well-engineered turbo upgrade solution using quality components. Their MR2 turbo kit includes an air-to-air intercooler and all fittings needed for DIY installation.

Installing an MR2 Turbo Kit

While a mechanically skilled MR2 owner can install a turbo kit themselves, it's a complex process requiring special tools and knowledge. Removing the stock exhaust manifold, fabricating piping, and tuning the ECU all demand experience.

That's why many owners choose to have their turbo kit professionally installed by a performance shop specializing in Toyota models. Though it costs more, the peace of mind of having the work done right by qualified technicians is worth it.

Dyno Tuning Session

After the turbo hardware has been mounted, the MR2 will need a dyno session to optimize the tune. An experienced tuner will tweak fueling, ignition timing, and boost curves to maximize safe power gains from the kit.

This precise electronic calibration is what allows the MR2 engine to operate smoothly at double the stock power outputs after adding a turbo. It's an essential step when modifying any vehicle.

Supporting Modifications

Besides the turbo kit itself, the MR2 may need other upgrades to handle the extra heat and stress. Common supportive mods include:

• Upgraded intercooler piping
• Larger front mount intercooler
• High-flow air filter
• Fuel injectors
• Fuel pump
• Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
• Exhaust system upgrade
• Engine oil cooler
• Wideband O2 sensor

Adding these parts ensures the MR2 turbo system operates reliably at higher output levels.

Achieving Your Performance Goals

The Toyota MR2 responds extremely well to turbocharging. With a properly specified and tuned turbo kit, MR2 owners can take their cars from mild to wild.

If you're looking to boost your MR2's performance, partner with a knowledgeable shop to select components that align with your power goals and budget. With some upgraded hardware and electronic fine-tuning, you'll be enjoying neck-snapping acceleration in no time.

FAQs

How much horsepower can I expect from an MR2 turbo kit?

Most MR2 turbo kits can reliably deliver 50-100% horsepower gains depending on tuning. With proper supporting mods, some owners have achieved over 400hp.

What supporting mods do I need with an MR2 turbo kit?

Common supporting mods include upgraded piping, intercoolers, injectors, fuel pumps, exhaust and more. These parts help handle the engine's increased output.

Should I install the turbo kit myself or have a shop do it?

You can install a turbo kit yourself if you have mechanical experience, but most owners recommend paying an MR2 specialty shop to ensure proper installation.

How much does it cost to turbocharge an MR2?

All in you can expect to spend $4,000-8,000 for a quality turbo kit and professional installation with tuning. The exact cost depends on components chosen.