Toyota Presents Its First-Ever MR2 Spyder 'Webventure'
25 April 2000
Toyota Presents Its First-Ever MR2 Spyder 'Webventure'
New Wireless Technology Follows Toyota's Hot New Roadster & Twin Funnymen
Drivers from Sunset Boulevard to Broadway Via the Web
LOS ANGELES, April 25 America's unrivaled twin comedians
-- Randy and Jason Sklar, take to the road in the challenge of a lifetime --
driving the first-of-its-kind MR2 Spyder roadster with a specially-outfitted
web cam on a cross country journey "where no webcam has gone before." The
trip will broadcast live audio and video transmission from the traveling MR2
Spyder in Los Angeles and New York. The hip new roadster, presented by Toyota
Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. has been called the boldest two-seater to take
a slice of the road since James Dean's coupe in "Rebel Without a Cause." It
is designed for sports car enthusiasts seeking speed, affordability, thrills
and cool styling.
The two-week MR2 Spyder "Webventure" will kick-off in Los Angeles at The
Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Boulevard, on April 27th (10:30 AM-1:00 PM) and the
"Big Finish" will take place two weeks later in New York at Carolines On
Broadway, 1626 Broadway (10 AM-1 PM) on May 11. The trip will be chronicled
on a daily basis via Toyota's sub-brand website http://www.isthistoyota.com .
Visitors to the site will be able to follow all the "happenings" of the Sklar
Brothers in the MR2 Spyder as they cross country-following the "smile route"
from Sunset Boulevard to the Alamo, from Bourbon Street to Times Square -- and
everywhere in-between. An archive of these two live events, as well as the
two-week cross-country journey will be available for subsequent viewing on the
website. The technology has been made possible by the innovative
New York-based company, UstreamIt.com.
Throughout the trip, the Sklar Brothers are on a mission to gather a
"shopping list" of important "stuff" that friends really need -- things like
"Remember the Alamo" key chains, Stucky logs, the "Mud Hens" pennant, an 8x10
glossy of Al Hirt from New Orleans, a snow globe of Tallahassee's state
capital building, a Cheese Steak hoagie from Al's on South St. (Phila.), a
rubber Peking duck from Henry Ting's in Chinatown (NYC), to name a few.
In addition, Randy and Jason will be trying out the best "blue plate
specials" in diners across the country -- yet another of their obsessions.
Throughout the trip, the Sklars will share their own "travelogue" of
experiences from the best "hot spots" to the number of roadside delicacies
consumed, best entertainment spots, slammin' concerts, best dates, total
number of miles logged, scenic tourist attractions, etc. Visitors to the site
will be able to follow and share in all the daily "webventures" of Randy and
Jason in their MR2 Spyder.
The official starting line for the Toyota MR2 Spyder "Webventure" at The
Comedy Store, will be a grand send-off celebration. The MR2 Spyder will be
unveiled with its first-ever traveling web cam, and the Sklar Brothers will
lay out their plans for the road adventure of a lifetime. Web engineers will
walk through the technology and showcase the capabilities of the
specially-equipped MR2 Spyder. Interested car buffs, comedy lovers and web
followers will get a chance to experience the MR2 Spyder and its
specially-outfitted web cam by sitting in the passenger's seat, see the
dynamics of the car firsthand and discuss the road trip with Randy or Jason on
a live broadcast over the web.
Throughout the trip, the Sklar Brothers will deliver a humorous running
commentary about their "Webventures" in the MR2 Spyder, as they develop their
travelogue of adventures. There will be a daily "alert" as the traveling MR2
Spyder with its twin comedian drivers approach the various cities along the
"smile" route.
The culmination of the MR2 Spyder "Webventure" will take place in New York
City -- with a "Big Finish Line Event" at Carolines On Broadway. As the MR2
Spyder wheels into the "Big Apple," the Sklar Brothers will be primed with
their travelogue of humorous on-the-road-on-the-web adventures to share with
the New York audience.
The MR2 Spyder is specifically designed to appeal to younger new-car
buyers on a budget. The roadster carries an MSRP of $23,098. In preliminary
performance testing, it was capable of delivering a level of acceleration,
braking and maneuverability that comes very close to vehicles pegged at nearly
twice its price.
The MR2 Spyder was developed with five key criteria including:
-- Low inertia, light weight for good movement and true driver enjoyment
-- A long wheelbase to achieve high stability and fresh new styling
-- A mid-engine design to create excellent handling and steering without
the weight of the engine up front
-- Simple body structure to allow for easy customization
-- Low cost to the consumer
Other stats on the car include:
Weight: 2,200 pounds
Wheelbase: 96.5 inches
Twin-cam: .8 liters
Engine: 16 valve, four-cylinder
Manual Transmission: 5 speed
The MR2 Spyder's coachwork features steel panels that are bolted onto a
high-rigidity unit-body, making repairs and customization easier and less
expensive. There are storage compartments under the front hood and behind the
seatbacks. The center cluster console is designed to accommodate audio
equipment, or can be removed completely, for additional weight savings. The
manually operated convertible soft-top folds completely out of sight for a
fresh air drive.
Established in 1957, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., is the U.S. sales
and marketing arm of Toyota Motor Corporation, with responsibility for the
distribution and sale of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the United States. With
more than 1.4 million vehicles sold in 1999 and more than 60 percent of those
built in North America, Toyota is the fourth-largest car company in the United
States. For more information on Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., call
1-800-GO-TOYOTA.
Follow the Sklar Brothers' MR2 Spyder "Webventure" via the "Smile" Route:
Los Angeles Kickoff - Thursday, April 27
Phoenix - Friday, April 28
El Paso - Saturday, April 29
San Antonio - Monday, May 1
Austin - Tuesday, May 2
New Orleans - Wednesday, May 3
Tallahassee - Thursday, May 4
Jacksonville - Friday, May 5
Savannah - Saturday, May 6
Raleigh - Monday, May 8
Richmond - Tuesday, May 9
Philadelphia - Wednesday, May 10
New York City Big Finish - Thursday, May 11