THERE are basic laws of physics most of us get through life knowing nothing about.

This is all very well and good until it comes to choosing a car, at which time a bit of knowledge is of great benefit

For instance, you want to buy a car which is sporty, by which you mean something with good performance, sharp handling and a big fun factor.

Well, in this consumer-driven world, that's easy enough too. There are loads of sporty cars out there and the majority of them will costs you a fortune, not only to buy, but also to run.

It doesn't have to be that way and Toyota has broken the mould to get that message over.

Enter the new MR2 (that stands for mid-engined, runabout, two-seater, another little-known fact).

A designed-from-the-ground-up soft top, the little roadster barely weighs in at a souffl-light 975kg. This is 25kg less than the target weight set by engineers and everything about the car surrounds this one fact.

Being light it can make do with moderately sized everything - engine, tyres, brakes, suspension. The lack of mass means the 1.8 litre VVT-i engine, which feels so sluggish in its stablemate, the Celica, feels truly electrifying in the MR2.

Right from the word go it feels light and peppy. In fact as soon as you let the clutch out it seems to run away with you, with 30mph coming up in an instant in second gear.

You don't even have to rev it that hard, speed just climbs naturally as you work through the five gears.

For those obsessed with benchmark figures, 60mph comes up in an impressive 7.8 seconds and the top speed is a claimed 130mph.

With little weight to haul around, the MR2 also stops exceptionally quickly thanks to ventilated discs and anti-lock brakes. They feel tremendous, stopping the car on a sixpence if need be.

Being feather-light also has its benefits in the handling stakes. There is no weight to cause body roll through the bends, nothing to cause it to list, little to upset limplet-like grip and no encumbrances for the steering, which is as sharp and tactile as any car I have ever driven.

The sum total of this is a car which can't fail to put a smile on your face. It is pure, unadulterated driving pleasure at any speed, whether that's 40mph down a country lane or a bit quicker down your favourite A road.

With no mass to speak of and good aerodynamics there are also huge benefits when it comes to the petrol pumps.

One gallon of precious fuel will carry the MR2 over 40 miles, which is as impressive as it is becoming essential given escalating fuel costs.

The 20,000-mile service intervals and spares prices are a fraction of other manufacturers, ensuring that the tiny Toyota will not break the bank to run.

A price of £18,495 undercuts all rivals given its excellent specification.

The only options are a hard top, leather seats and aircon. Otherwise the MR2 comes fully loaded with airbags, ABS, electric windows, heated glass rear screen, CD player, remote central locking and power steering.

The looks and interior remind me of a modern-day MG Midget, albeit better built.

There are better looking soft tops but it is cute, in proportion and has cheeky lines. Attractive 15-inch alloys at every corner and a wedge profile give it a purposeful, sporty stance.

Inside the sports seats are fabulous, hugging the body in all the right places and just the job given the lateral G-force the car will pull.

Alloy pedals are drilled and the gear lever is nice and stubby. Clocks are motorbike-like and the overall ambiance is traditional sports car.

The hood is a doddle to drop and raise and with it down the car becomes even more fun, if that's possible. Storage space is limited. There's no boot, to save on weight. The glove box is large and lockable, doorbins are slim and there's some room behind the seats.

Under the bonnet is a small stowage box, otherwise you'll have to travel light, not a problem given the MR2 is likely to be a second car.

The new MR2 returns to the original concept of sports car which was born with the Mark I in 1984 but was lost with the pretentious Mark II in 1990.

It's so good it's hard to see how it will fail. Never has something so lightweight made such an impact