New Zealander thought his Toyota MR2 Spyder was too slow so he built a version that shoots flames
- Automotive enthusiast boosts his Toyota MR2 Spyder
- He thought its stock 1.8L 138HP engine was too slow
- He replaced it but soon learned he needed to dial things back
Published on Feb 03, 2025 at 11:29 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Feb 03, 2025 at 3:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A New Zealand-based automotive enthusiast had a stroke of genius when he decided to give his Toyota MR2 Spyder a speed boost – and now it shoots flames.
The third-gen Toyota MR2 Spyder is a lightweight, mid-engine sports car.
However, its owner felt that it lacked power with its stock 1.8L 138HP engine.
So he got to work to give it the ultimate boost.
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The Toyota MR2 Spyder that shoots flames
The automotive glow-up was done by Brad Glasgow, aka G Mech, from New Zealand.
Glasgow is known for his ambitious engine swaps and modifications – and this project was certainly no different.
He didn’t feel that the 138HP Toyota engine on the classic little sports car was enough to provide an exciting driving experience.
First up he decided to install a Mitsubishi 6G74 V6 from a Pajero, which while relatively tame had, Glasgow heavily modified with a big turbo for massive power.
The last-gen MR2 became violently fast, had a four-speed sequential manual, and even shot flames from the side exhaust.
The result? His simulated launch control with flat shift shows the MR2 blowing flames several feet from its side exhaust.
Sadly the V6 setup was too harsh, unreliable, and difficult to drive, so he made the decision that it was impractical for regular use.
An engine that shoots flames
“I don’t drive it much because it’s a bit of a pain in the ass, a hard starter,” he said about the car.
Instead, Glasgow opted to change that engine out for something more manageable, lighter, and easier to tune.
Namely, a turbocharged 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from a first-gen Audi TT.
This sat alongside an improved transmission, with the MR2 Spyder now boasting a six-speed manual from a 2011 Volkswagen Passat diesel, including an LSD for better drivability.
It’s all about balance.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
