Yahoo Autos The All-Wheel Drive Toyota MR2 Rally Car You Didn't Know Existed
Toyota very nearly had its own version of the Ford RS200, a mid-engine, all-wheel drive rally car called the 222D. Based loosely on the first-generation MR2, the 222D was Toyota's planned entry for rally competition based on Group S, a new set of regulations that were supposed to take effect in 1987. Unfortunately, the project was canceled after just ten prototypes were completed, leaving us only to wonder what Toyota's all-wheel drive MR2 could have accomplished.
The 222D existed somewhat in secrecy for a number of years, but Toyota is finally revealing more info on the car.
Toyota Motorsport Europe began work on the 222D project in 1984–the same year the MR2 went into production–with the goal of eventually producing a World Rally Championship winner. Initially, the 222D used a 1.6-liter four-cylinder to send power to the rear wheels only, but was later modified with a 600-hp 2.2-liter turbocharged four and all-wheel drive.
According to Toyota, 222D shared running gear with the then-in-progress Celica GT-Four, which itself debuted in 1986 and eventually became Toyota's WRC entrant two years later. In fact, the 222D shared very few mechanical parts with the MR2 it was initially based on. The MR2's bodywork was also modified with big fender flares, fixed front headlights, and modified aerodynamic components.
In 1986, the World Rally Championship's sanctioning body canceled the infamous Group B regulations, and Group S, the class the 222D was specifically designed for. There are conflicting reports about when Toyota officially canceled the 222D project, but it was undoubtedly a result of Group S's demise.
The black prototype pictured throughout now lives at Toyota Motorsports headquarters in Germany, while the white one is displayed in Japan. The only Toyota production car to even come close to the 222D was the supercharged MR2 of 1988, which only produced 145 horsepower.
In any case, you shouldn't be disappointed and think that the 222D's cancellation deprived the world of a great road car. Group S regulations only required 10 road-going versions to be made for homologation purposes. Still, it would have been cool to see Toyota have a real competitor in this golden age of rally.
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