Zagato Designed 2001 VM 180 MR2 Up for Auction

Legend of Zagato

The Zagato name has reached legendary status in the automotive industry for its decades of successful collaborations with the likes of Aston Martin and Ferrari. For the past century, the coachbuilder/design firm has been injecting its unique exotic look and feel into some of the most iconic automobiles we've known. One such project that most may not remember, though, is this Toyota MR2-based 2001 VM180 Zagato.

Photos: BH Auction

100 Units

The eccentric mid-engine sports car you see in the slideshow above started life as an MR-S variant of the Toyota. Through this collaborative project between Zagato and the Japanese manufacturer, a total of 100 units of the VM180 were built. And while all 100 units were sold in Japan, some will have inevitably found their way traveling across the globe.

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Eccentric Looks

The designers at Zagato gave the car a distinct new character with a redesigned exterior. It VM180 looks vastly different from the MR2 on which it is based, or any other car for that matter. The most prominent characteristic of the exterior has to be the headlight design. The three separate bulbs are houses in a vertical, triangular graphic, tied into the front grille, creating an unusual front fascia appearance.

>>Join the conversation about this rare Zagato MR2 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Classic Shapes

Keeping with the theme of unusual, somewhat retro style, the rear fascia also features a trio of vertically arranged tail lamps enclosed in a dark graphic. A grille-like graphic at the rear houses the license plate. A small diffusor is accompanied at the bottom with a large single tailpipe. Zagato has added signature swooping lines to the fenders and the front and rear. And the softened-up shape of the modified MR2 is capped by bold retro/modern wheels on low-profile rubber.

>>Join the conversation about this rare Zagato MR2 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Climb Inside

The interior hasn't seen as much of an overhaul as the outside. Inside, the Zagato team has left the gist of the design unaltered. They've added an exotic touch with the use of high-end materials. New black and red leather seats are introduced, as well as a custom steering wheel.

>>Join the conversation about this rare Zagato MR2 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

Power Bump

Under the hood, the MR2's 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine is mostly untouched. The VM180 Zagato does get a small power bump, though, courtesy of a tune. With an additional 15 horsepower over the Toyota motor's factory 140 horses, the Zagato creation's total power output comes up to 155. 

>>Join the conversation about this rare Zagato MR2 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!

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