Australia’s Voyager went to great lengths to bring a Toyota MR2 to Eurovision

There are certain things we expect to see on the stage at the annual Eurovision Song Contest: Big hair, bigger personalities, glitter and light shows that would put the Olympic closing ceremony to shame.

One thing we didn't expect to see? A 1988 Toyota MR2 AW11.

The iconic '80s sports car took centre stage alongside Australian Eurovision representatives Voyager at the song competition's second semi-final in Liverpool on Friday (AEDT).

The white MR2 served as a backdrop for the band's performance of their hit song 'Promise', which saw them proceed to the grand final of the competition.

While car buffs will likely need no explanation for the MR2 – it's just cool, okay? – the band's lead singer, Danny Estrin, took to Instagram to give a little backstory on the car's inclusion.

Turns out the stage car not only belongs to Mr Estrin – and it was also the first car he ever bought.

"It's a car I've owned for many years, it was my first car actually, and we've featured it in [our] music videos. We thought, 'Why not get that car onto the stage in Liverpool?' What a crazy thing to do, and we made it happen."

The Perth-born band said they decided to include the Japanese sports car as a nod to their roots, and a "mascot" for their particular brand of '80s synth rock.

"People are confused. Like: why is there a car? The story of the car is: we needed a vehicle to show that you are getting away from the kind of chaos into the nature. You know, escaping it all," Mr Estrin told YouTube channel Wiwi Bloggs.

"What better vehicle than something quintessentially eighties? That shape is so quintessentially eighties. It’s [a] poor man’s Ferrari."

When asked what went down in Mr Estrin's beloved MR2 when he bought it in the early 2000s, the singer responded: "It's only got two seats... there's room for me and the guitar, baby. That's all."

To ensure the MR2 used on stage was picture-perfect, Voyager enlisted the help of UK-based MR2 enthusiast and restoration expert Neil Jones, who sourced genuine accessories and stage-friendly enhancements for the vehicle.

"I have had lots of messages from people worried about dents and footprints on the bonnet," Mr Jones revealed in an Instagram comment.

"Please don’t worry about feet on the car, it’s got a special wrap to protect the paint, and even has a special, flush fitting bonnet badge!"

Released in 1984, the MR2 was the first mass-produced mid-engined car to come from a Japanese manufacturer and quickly became a cult favourite.

With two doors, two seats, a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission, the rear-wheel-drive coupe offered agile handling and exciting performance at a budget-friendly price point.

Today, examples of a 1988 Toyota MR2 AW11 like the one used in the Voyager performance are listed for sale for around $30,000.