MR2 Bible
Mk1 · 1984 – 1989

AW11.

The original. Lotus-influenced chassis, mid-mounted 4A-GE twin-cam, pop-up headlamps.

At a glance

Production
1984–1989. UK from June 1984.
Body
2-door coupe, 2-seat mid-engine. T-bar option added for the 1987 model year (production from August 1986) in markets outside Japan.
Engines
4A-GE NA · 4A-GZE supercharged (1986 JDM, 1988 USDM)
Suspension
MacPherson strut all round; Lotus-influenced design
Bolt pattern
4×100, 54.1 mm centre bore

Engines

4A-GE Inline-4 NA twin-cam (DOHC, 16v, T-VIS) · 1587 cc

The AW11's NA engine. DOHC 16v, T-VIS (Toyota Variable Induction System), 9.4:1 compression. Output varied by market. Borrowed from the E80 Corolla GT.

130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW)

Highest-output 4A-GE in the AW11.

Factory documented
128 hp (95 kW)

T-VIS retained; near-JDM output.

Factory documented
116 or 124 PS (market-dependent)

Two power steps existed across European markets.

Factory-derived
112 hp (84 kW)

Catalyst-equipped; lowest-output variant.

Factory documented
118 hp (88 kW)

Australian-spec NA.

Factory-derived

4A-GZE Inline-4 supercharged (DOHC, 16v, Roots SC) · 1587 cc

Supercharged variant of the 4A-GE. Roots-type Toyota SC12 supercharger driven by a serpentine belt off the crankshaft, sharing the drive with the water pump. An electromagnetic clutch on the supercharger lets it freewheel when boost isn't needed — controlled by the ECU. Denso air-to-air intercooler. Compression dropped from 9.4:1 (NA) to 8.0:1 to allow ~0.55 bar (8 psi) of boost. JDM-only at first; USDM received it for the 1988–89 model years before AW11 production ended.

145 PS

SC12 Roots supercharger, electromagnetic clutch (ECU-disengaged off-boost), Denso intercooler. 8.0:1 compression. Serpentine drive shared with water pump.

Factory documented
145 hp (108 kW)

Same engine as JDM; final two model years of US AW11 production.

Factory documented

Common problems

  • Distributor O-ring failure

    Common

    Engine-oil leak from the distributor base O-ring. Cheap part, accessible job. Symptom: oil pooling at the rear of the head.

    Specialist source

  • Rocker cover gasket deterioration

    Common

    Gasket weeps oil down the side of the head. Often paired with distributor O-ring.

    Specialist source

  • AW11 sill and rear arch rust

    Endemic

    Sills, rear arches, jacking points. Buy only if rust-free or accept a full restoration. Endemic across all UK-market AW11s of any age.

    Community verified

  • Supercharger bearing wear (AW11 SC)

    Generation-specific

    Roots-type supercharger develops bearing wear; specialist rebuild required.

    Community verified