It's the implicit ambition of the automotive aftermarket at large: Improve on every aspect of any given car, whether it be performance, styling or functionality. Similar to the way some companies offer a higher level of products and services for their target applications than their corner-cutting competitors, certain cars will receive a lot more attention than others when it comes to aftermarket support. Vehicles bearing Honda or Acura badges receive the lion's share, along with hot new performance platforms like the WRX and Evo, while others simply fall through the cracks.
One such vehicle is Toyota's MR-2 Spyder. Built to compete head on with two-seat contenders like Mazda's MX-5, the Spyder boasted a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive design and even weight distribution. The only problem was its 1.8-liter twin-cam engine produced only 138 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque-good for 32 mpg of fuel economy on the highway and enough power to make the 2200-lb car reasonably quick, but not enough to make it truly fast. And unlike the Miata, which touts similar power and balance, the Spyder has no trunk, making it somewhat impractical for anything but spirited driving.APR Performance in Irwindale, Calif., picked a 2002 Spyder for its latest project vehicle, aiming to improve both its performance and styling with an array of aftermarket equipment, much of it designed from the ground up for this very car. Called the MR2 Spyder S-GT, this car features a custom widebody aero kit penned by the APR body artisans-as well as a complete custom forced induction system designed by the performance engineers at Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
According to APR's Web site, the S-GT widebody kit for this MR2 was developed not only to improve the car's looks, but also to assist the diminutive chassis to stay glued to the pavement after comprehensive power mods have been put in effect. Basically, it all boils down to putting more rubber to the pavement in hopes of increasing traction and handling characteristics. More rubber means wider wheels, and wider wheels necessitate wider fenders.
When you take a long look at the finished project, it becomes apparent a widebody treatment is exactly what this car begs for. A new widened front bumper incorporates a carbon-fiber front splitter and canards, and according to the manufacturer, the new configuration helps improve handling by keeping the front wheels closer to the pavement. The front bumper also incorporates a sizeable center gap that's perfect for allowing interested individuals to run a front-mount intercooler on turbocharged motors.
In the rear, the side intake ducts have been enlarged with the flares to augment airflow into the engine bay while the car's at speed. A new rear bumper and rocker panels are also included in the kit, as well as flares for all four corners (duh). For improved downforce in the rear, an adjustable APR GTC 300 wing has been perched on the decklid. The rearview mirrors were taken off and replaced with APR Formula GT-3 mirrors, while the hood was replaced with a carbon-fiber piece from Fiber Images.
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