The cylinders are lined with cast iron, and is of a closed deck design (no open space between the bores).

The MZ family is a lightweight V6 engine of an all-aluminium design, using lighter weight parts than the heavier duty VZ block engines in an effort to lower production costs, decrease engine weight, and decrease reciprocating weight without sacrificing reliability.

[citation needed] This engine has been phased out in most markets, replaced by variants of the new GR series.

[3] Applications: Toyota Racing Development offered a bolt-on TRD supercharger kit for the MY1997–2000 Camry, MY1998–2000 Sienna and MY1999–2000 Solara.

Power output was bumped to 242 hp (180 kW; 245 PS) and 242 lb⋅ft (328 N⋅m) of torque.

Previous MZs had poor knock control, or perhaps oversensitivity when detecting knock, and power loss up to 20 hp (15 kW) may be realized due to erratic ignition timing when using an octane lower than 91.

The new flat-type knock sensor is a completely different design and detects more frequencies than the traditional resonator type.