Akio Yoshida

A tame mid-engine car

Development of the MR2 began as an affordable car that is fun to drive, at a time when makers were busy with emissions, fuel economy and safety measures and almost no cars were fun to drive. It was a mid-engine two-seater but aimed to be a commuter car; the design division was unhappy, but to have a wide range of people drive it, they took the sales division's requests and gave it an easy-to-drive, tame look.