World Record: Toyota MR2 “White Lightning” Hits 1126 HP
When numbers like 1,000 horsepower are thrown around, the mind immediately gravitates to insane hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron or the Koenigsegg One:1.
One might also think of custom-tuned Nissan GT-Rs or even the odd Toyota Supra that seems to win everything at the local drag strip. But a Toyota MR2? Now that’s just nuts.
A few years ago, RaceLAB came out with a 900-horsepower MR2 that was seen dominating the streets of Florida. Now it’s back with the “White Lightning” MR2, which boasts an additional 226 horsepower to bring total ponies well into four digit territory.
It’s not a Toyota engine under the hood though, as this car has received a Honda K20Z1 transplant. That’s the same engine that was used in the 2006 Acura RSX Type-S and, get this, it only has four cylinders.
It makes up to 220 horsepower and 143 lb-ft of torque stock, so how RaceLAB managed to tune it up to a whopping 1126 horsepower, we don’t know. Either way, with the MR2’s relatively unassuming exterior and plain white paint, it’s bound to catch a lot of people off guard—and leave them in the dust.
According to the owner, it only weighs 2300 pounds or 1044 kg, which means the car makes about one horsepower for every 1.07 kg, a mind-blowing feat usually reserved for ultra-light open-wheel cars. On the downside, using a four-cylinder and a turbo does mean the car’s power delivery is incredibly delayed, but that’s mostly a matter of keeping the revs high while having fun on the road.
Plus, it wouldn’t be an old-school Japanese sports car if you didn’t give the V-TEC an opportunity to kick in.
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