Toyota Soarer

| 5-speed R154 manual (5M-GEU) | 5-speed W57 manual (1G-GEU) | 4-speed A340E automatic }} }} The Soarer, introduced as the EX-8, first appeared at the 1980 Osaka International Motor Show. At its introduction in 1981, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award. Toyota sought to introduce a grand touring coupe, offering a powerful straight-six engine, luxurious accommodations, and a modern, aerodynamic appearance. Internationally, personal luxury cars were popular in the West, and Toyota saw an opportunity to offer the same type of car to Japanese buyers. The Soarer complied with Japanese external dimension regulations, and the first-generation models were classified as "compacts," which gave Japanese buyers tax-saving advantages. The engine displacements were also limited to above 2 liters but below 3 liters, so Japanese buyers could determine how much annual road tax they were willing to pay. It debuted with a rear-wheel-drive configuration based on the A60 Supra, which utilized MacPherson struts for the front, with a semi-trailing arm rear suspension with coil springs. Cruise control, audible warning messages, 7-way adjustable driver's seat, digital Automatic climate control, and digital speed and tachometer display using LEDs were included on top and mid-model trim packages. At the same time, ventilated disc brakes for all wheels and self-diagnosis maintenance reminders, among other electronic features, were standard equipment. The AM/FM stereo cassette had the ability to record on higher-quality metal tapes. On the face of the stereo was a microphone jack that would accommodate a microphone. If it was installed with a digital instrument cluster a trip computer was included. The digital cluster featured a digital tachometer, digital speedometer, electronic fuel, and coolant level gauges. The trip computer could calculate and display various things such as fuel economy in kilometers-per-liter, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and distance remaining to the destination. It was offered in four exterior colors with contrasting dark gray or dark brown interiors, while the six trim packages offered optional equipment as standard on the three top-level packages. The trim package names were the 2800GT-Extra, 2800GT, 2000VX, 2000VR, 2000V II with the entry-level 2000V I. on the 3.0 GT-Limited with the automatic transmission installed. It consisted of a six-inch CRT TV display installed in the instrument cluster showing engine revolutions, shift position, fuel consumption trends, and TEMS suspension settings. It would also notify if any maintenance warnings on linked systems should be done. Different functions would be displayed by touching a button; however, the screen was not touch-sensitive. If the car was stationary with the transmission in park and the parking brake applied, broadcast TV could be watched. and an all-new double wishbone suspension was installed for the front and rear wheels, labeled as PEGASUS (Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension) to accommodate the adjustable shock absorbers and anti-lock brakes were included. All mid-model refresh cars can be distinguished by where the side view mirrors are installed, whereby after 1983, the mirrors were relocated to the doors. The trim package names were updated to the 2.8 GT-Limited, 2.8 GT, 2.0 GT, 2.0 Turbo, 2.0VX, and 2.0VR with the entry-level 2.0V II, and for 1984 the 2.8 engine was upgraded to the 3.0-liter engine. The Z10 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985 in 2.0L, 2.8L, or 3.0L DOHC straight-six engines, and all engines came standard with electronic fuel injection. Early M-TEU-powered MZ11 models were different from later MZ11s in some regards. Later improvements to the MZ11 engine included a water-to-air intercooler, and further enhancements were made to an oil-and-water-cooled turbo, as opposed to the oil-cooled-only turbo in the early MZ11s. 1981_Toyota_Soarer_2800_GT-EXTRA_rear.jpg|1981 Soarer 2800GT Extra (MZ11) 1984_Toyota_Soarer_2.0GT.jpg|1984 Toyota Soarer 2.0 GT (facelift) 1984 Toyota Soarer 2.0GT rear.jpg|1984 Toyota Soarer 2.0GT (GZ10, facelift) ToyotaSoarer1stinterior.jpg|Z10 Toyota Soarer interior == Second generation (1986–1991) ==

| 5-speed R154 manual (7M-GTE) | 5-speed W57/W58 manual (1G-GE/GTE) | 4-speed A340E automatic }} | (3.0L engine) | }} | 2-door coupé (GZ20, MZ20) | 2-door convertible (MZ20 Aerocabin) }} }} The Z20 series Toyota Soarer was produced from January 1986 to April 1991 and was available in several variants. The styling of the second-generation Soarer is similar of that of the X80 series Cressida, Mark II, Chaser and Cresta. The digital speedometer display was upgraded and provided more information at a glance. The cloth upholstery was unique to each trim package, and the sport bucket seats used in the Toyota Supra (A70) were offered only on GT trim packages upholstered in cloth or leather. In April 1989, a limited 500-unit variant called the Aerocabin was introduced. This variant had only 2 seats and an electric folding roof. The Aerocabin had the same specs as the GT-Limited but was only available with the 7M-GTE engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, tan leather interior, and pearlescent paint. In 1988, the Soarer Z20 was given a facelift. The grille and rear taillights were redesigned and minor interior changes were made (climate control, dash). Other than that engines were improved, with power increases as follows: • 1G-GTEU • 7M-GTEU Unlike the A70 Supra, the 2.5 L twin turbo 1JZ-GTE was not made available for the Z20 Soarer. However, all models built from May 1989 including the Aerocabin did have a revised crossmember. Toyota Soarer 20 001.JPG|Toyota Soarer 2.0 GT Twin-turbo (GZ20) 1988-1991 Toyota Soarer rear.jpg|1988–1991 Toyota Soarer 2.0 GT Twin-turbo L (GZ20); rear view Toyota SOARER 3.0 GT AEROCABIN (E-MZ20) rear.jpg| Soarer AeroCabin rear view == Third generation (1991–2001) ==

| 5-speed manual (JZZ30 only) | 4-speed automatic }} }} In 1987, following the design freeze of Lexus division's flagship UCF10 LS 400 (Celsior) sedan due in 1989, Toyota commissioned its California design studio Calty to develop a new luxury coupe. In mid 1991, the vehicle designed by the studio debuted in the U.S. as the Lexus SC 300/400. That same year, Toyota debuted the third-generation Z30 series Soarer in Japan, replacing the Z20 series. The Z30 series Soarer shared the body and key components with the Lexus SC, with different interior features, powertrain configurations, and enhanced performance. The trim packages were the 4.0 GT-Limited, 4.0 GT, 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo-L and the 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo. These special-order cars would take only a week to produce from the time of the order to completed product. It is not known how many non-EMV UZZ31s were made, although they were offered from the very start of production in 1991. These non-EMV UZZ31 Soarers are uncommon, with only the UZZ32 more rare. File:1992 Toyota Soarer (UZZ31) 4.0GT-L coupe (2015-06-18) 01.jpg|1992 UZZ31 Toyota Soarer (Australia) File:1992_Toyota_Soarer_(UZZ31)_4.0GT-L_coupe_(2015-06-18)_02.jpg|1992 UZZ31 Toyota Soarer (rear view) UZZ32 Soarer "Limited" The UZZ32 was the top-of-the-line 30 series, featuring all of the options available on the UZZ31 with the addition of the computer-controlled Toyota Active Control Suspension with four-wheel steering. The UZZ32 had no conventional suspension springs or anti-roll (stabiliser) bars, instead utilising self-levelling, fully hydropneumatic struts controlled by an array of sensors (such as axis accelerometers, suspension height, wheel speed and steering angle) that detected cornering, acceleration and braking forces. The system worked well and gave an unusually controlled yet smooth ride with no body roll. However, the additional weight of hydraulic componentry and power requirements of the system affected performance and reduced fuel economy compared to the standard UZZ30 and UZZ31 models. The car was also costly to produce and at over in 1995, expensive to buy. As a result, only 873 UZZ32s were made and are typically the most sought-after model in right-hand drive markets such as the Japan, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Colours Japanese Soarers were available in many colours. Some were offered continuously throughout the run and some as limited runs or one-offs. These colour runs did not always match the equivalent U.S. market offerings on the Lexus SC. From 1991 until 1993, Soarers with external paint codes 8J5 and 202 came with a grey interior colour scheme. Those in 6M2 were available with both grey and "spruce" (blue-grey) interior schemes. Models in 3k3 could have grey or tan interiors. Models with paint codes 4k9, 051 (1991–1998) and 057 (1998–2001) came with tan interiors exclusively. Similarly, those with paint code 176 and 6M3 came with spruce interior colour exclusively. From 1994, a black interior scheme replaced grey (becoming the predominant interior colour from 1998–2001) and from 1994–2001, cars with external paint code 202 came exclusively with the black interior. Models in 3L2 were available with either black or tan interiors. In 1995, a limited edition was offered with Baltic Blue Metallic (752) paint that was shared with the 1993–1996 Toyota Supra and the 1994–1999 Toyota Celica. Roughly 199 SC300s were imported into the US with this exterior paint code and tan only interior, as well as 256 SC400s. In 1996, exterior colour 6P2 replaced exterior colour 6M2 and 8L5 replaced 8J5. The spruce interior was discontinued in 1998. Thereafter, models in 1A0 and 1C0 which had come with spruce interiors were changed to black interiors and 6P2 cars became available with black or tan interior schemes. == Fourth generation (2001–2005) ==

}} The 40-series Soarer model was largely identical to its Lexus equivalent, sold outside Japan as the Lexus SC 430 since 2001. The Z40 series Soarer 430SCV featured a hardtop which could fold into the boot of the car, in the fashion of the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SL. It was equipped with the 3UZ-FE VVTi (variable valve timing) 4.3-litre V8 engine, as was available in the Lexus LS 430 luxury sedan. It was rated at and of torque. This enabled the coupé to accelerate from a standstill to in 6 seconds. The shared body style of the Z40 series Soarer/SC 430 was developed by Toyota designers at design studios in France and Japan. Compared with the Z30 series, some observers generally considered the fourth generation a retreat in visual style due to its more compact and top heavy appearance. With the Z40 series Soarer, design and production synergies culminated in the development of a single shared design configuration for both the Soarer and Lexus models, unlike the previous generations. The rise of Lexus as Toyota's premium worldwide marque also contributed to the design focus on the Lexus model configuration rather than a separate Toyota-branded series of Soarer coupes. On July 26, 2005, Lexus was introduced in Japan with the 2006 SC 430 TSOOH in its lineup. The debut of Lexus and the SC 430 coincided with the conclusion of Toyota Soarer sales, after 6,486 examples had been sold with Soarer badging. == References ==