Cool and obscure Toyotas (Part 1)

A lot of sporty Toyotas are well known all around the world. Celicas, MR2s, Chasers and obviously, the legendary Supra. But the japanese brand in the past offered a lot of performance-oriented trims of their regular cars that not everybody knows. This happens because most of these were only offered in Japan or only a few of them were produced. In these posts I will share the ones that caught my attention the most.

1- The FWD Truenos / Levins

The RWD Sprinter Trueno and Levin stopped production in 1987, but the names didn’t die there. Toyota continued both sagas as JDM-only models until 2000. The first FWD duo was the AE92 generation, produced from 1987 to 1991. The top of the line models where the GT Apex and the GT-Z, both powered by the same 1.6 4A-GE engine used in the previous generation.

While the GT Apex was naturally aspirated making 120 hp and 142 Nm of torque, the GT-Z models used the 4A-GZE, a supercharged variant of the engine, increasing the power up to 170 hp and 206 Nm. Both GT Apex and GT-Z used a 5-speed manual transmission.

In 1991 appeared the AE101 gens, and with them came the upgraded “Silver Top” 4A-GE in the top trims, with 20 valves instead of 16 and Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing or VVT, now making 160 hp and 162 Nm. Once again the top of the line models were the NA GT Apex and the supercharged GT-Z, but the latter used the same engine as the AE92 model, with the same output. Transmissions were a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed auto. This generation was produced until 1995.

The last Trueno and Levin were the AE111 chassis, produced from 1995 to 2000. It introduced the ultimate version of the 4A, the “Black Top”, which had a lot of upgrades compared to the older generations of the engine. It made 165 hp and 162 Nm. This engine was used in the BZ-V, BZ-G and BZ-R trims.

The BZ-R replaced the GT Apex and offered a 6-speed manual transmission, limited slip differential, bigger brakes and the special Strut Suspension Suspension. The GT-Z trim was discontinued.

You don’t see this cars too often because people tend to take the engines out to swap them into AE86s, specially the Black Tops.

2- Corolla GT / Sprinter GT

The Black Top 4A wasn’t a Trueno or Levin exclusive, it was used in a lot of Toyotas from that era, which we will see later. The JDM E110 corolla was offered in GT trim and used the 1.6l four banger making the same 165 hp and 162 Nm as the AE111s. Power was channeled to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual box o a 4-speed auto. Design wise, it had “GT” badges in the rear and on the front fenders, as well as an optional bodykit and rear wing.

Alongside the Corolla, the Sprinter was sold as the “sportier” brother of the Corolla but it was just a rebodied one. It used the same engines as the Corolla, so the Sprinter GT was also offered.

3- Sprinter Carib

The Sprinter Carib was the wagon version of the Sprinter sedan. As the regular Sprinter, it was a JDM-only model. The second gen was based on the E110 chassis. It offered a rugged bodykit. Some versions were offered with 4WD and a few others had the Black Top with a 6-speed manual box, but those were only FWD.

4- Corolla Ceres / Sprinter Marino

In the mid-80s up until the late-90s, hardtop sedans were a huge trend in the japanese car scene. Almost every manufacture launched a four-door with frameless windows. Inspired by the bigger Carina ED and offerings from other brands like the Nissan Presea, Toyota launched in 1992 the Sprinter Marino and Corolla Ceres duo. Both were exactly the same car apart from a different front end and tailights. They were based on the E100 corolla and as usual, they were sold in Japan only.

The Marino GT and the Ceres G Type were the most powerful versions making around 165 hp, both used the Silver Top 4A-GE mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed auto. Later models used the Black Top with a 6-speed manual or the same auto. Both models were cancelled in 1998 because of the Japanese economic recession.

5- Carina GT

The Toyota Carina was launched in 1970 and was marketed as a four-door celica, it used the same chassis in the first generations. The 7th generation or T210 was launched in Japan in 1996.

The performance variant was called the GT and, again, it was powered by the same Black Top as the range toppers AE111 coupes. It originaly had a 5-speed, newer models came with a 6-speed, an LSD and bigger brakes. Production stopped in 2001, ending the 31 year run of the Carina name.

As you can see, all of these cars offered the famous 4A-GE and some introduced the latest update, the Black Top 20V. Sadly these cars were chopped off in the early 2000s and with them, the production of one of Toyota’s most famous engine came to an end.

Part 2 will be launched soon, thanks for reading.