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A new Toyota MR2? We want to believe

In the wake of a busy Geneva auto show, the rumor mill is churning, and the latest grist involves one of the most beloved Toyota sports cars of all time. EVO reports that Tetsuya Tada, the chief of the Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 project and a hard-liner about sportscar priorities (light and nimble, but with modest horsepower), wants a third vehicle for Toyota's nascent sporty lineup. Currently, we know there's a Supra-like vehicle in the works, being co-developed with BMW, and the 86 is sticking around. Tada said he'd like a third sportscar to compliment the two we know about, and that he wants it soon. A quick bit of history: Toyota's classic sporty lineup had three components. The most visible was the Supra, whose power and prestige grew as the car evolved from a cushy personal tourer to a high-horsepower, high-technology icon. The Celica was its Clark Kent, more mild mannered but also more accessible and affordable. The third was the MR2, a mid-engined go-kart that lasted for three distinct generations. Each had its charms, and all have their fans. When Tada says that he wants three sportscars in the lineup, we already know about the Supra successor, and the 86 is already filling the Celica's role, so the blank is easy to fill. It doesn't sound like Tada spoke the word "MR2" to EVO, or hinted that the car would be mid-engined, but Tada doesn't seem to say anything without purpose. Whatever the layout, this third car – if it comes to fruition – will probably play a role similar to the MR2 in relation to its stablemates. To translate: it'll likely be even lighter and more nimble, and probably less powerful, than the 86. The closest real-world analogue to the pure MR2 ideal is the Honda S660, a mid-engined Kei roadster that's on sale in Japan right now. It's light, small, and powered by a 0.66-liter inline-three. Toyota could decide to directly compete with the S660, borrow an engine from its small-car specialist subsidiary Daihatsu, and produce a mid-engined MR2. Another possibility, even simpler from Toyota's perspective, would be to adapt the existing Daihatsu Copen roadster. Sure, it's front-engine and front-wheel drive, but it's a small, light roadster. And even better, it sells abroad with a larger 1.3-liter engine. Restyle it slightly, perhaps to resemble the S-FR concept of a couple years ago, and it's an off-the-shelf solution. The S-FR itself is a third possibility.

Toyota recalling FJ Cruiser due to excessively bright headlights

Now, hold on. This recall isn't quite as serious as it sounds. Yes, Toyota is recalling 11,489 FJ Cruiser models from the 2007 to 2013 model years, and yes, it's because the vehicles, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states, "fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, 'Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.'" But read the fine print and you'll see the catch: This recall is only for vehicles fitted with the automaker's auxiliary lighting kit that can be mounted to the front bumper.
Basically, the auxiliary lamp assemblies use 55-watt bulbs, and when these are turned on in conjunction with the upper beam headlamps, it's a pretty blinding sight. NHTSA states that excessively bright lights can blind other drivers, increasing the risk for a crash.
To remedy the situation, Toyota will replace the 55-watt bulbs with cooler 35-watt units. The recall is expected to begin later this month. Scroll down for the full details in the NHTSA report.

Jaguar E-Type with Supra's 2JZ debuts at SEMA looking fly and fast

We hope you’re not bored of seeing Toyota 2JZ engine-swapped cars, because this one sure does capture our attention. The 1969 Jaguar XKE 2+2 youÂ’re looking at here is unlike any E-Type youÂ’ve seen before, and while it still has a straight-six under the hood, pretty much everything else about the coupe has fundamentally changed. In a nod to just how beautiful the E-Type is to begin with, its design is only different in this Eneos build because it needs to be. Fender flares were designed and 3D-printed by Illumasthetic, and they were then strengthened with carbon fiber. Why did it need the flares? Well, thatÂ’s because the 2JZ-GTE 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six from the Supra produces far more power than the E-Type ever did, requiring a lot more rubber to keep things straight. Of course, the Supra engine isnÂ’t stock, as itÂ’s been modified with Deatschwerks injectors, a Nuke Performance fuel system, CP-Carillo pistons and rods, a Borg Warner EFR 8474 turbo, Vibrant Performance intercooler Â… the list goes on forever. Output is estimated at about 750 horsepower. The Frankenstein theme continues with the E60 generation 535i rear subframe suspension and differential out back. Meanwhile, it uses the five-speed manual transmission from an E36 generation M3. The front suspension is custom, and while BMW brakes are used in the rear, Eneos chose brakes off a 2003 Chevy Corvette up front. The 17-inch Rotiform STL wheels are wrapped with Bridgestone Potenza RE-71 RS tires. Inside, this Jag-yota gets a full roll-cage, Tillett seats, an OMP steering wheel and a whole lot more. Eneos credits Faruk Kugay as the carÂ’s builder – Kugay previously built some rather creative cars, like a 997 Porsche 911 GT3 with a Subaru Impreza STI EJ25 engine and an E30 BMW 3 Series with a Honda S2000Â’s 2.0L engine. This Jaguar takes the wild engine swaps and engineering to totally new heights, though, and we canÂ’t help but simply love the way itÂ’s been executed. Related Video