The AE86 series of the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno are small,
front-engine/rear-wheel-drive models within the
front-engine/front-wheel-drive fifth generation Corolla (E80) range—marketed by
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
from 1983 to 1987 in
coupé and
liftback
A liftback is a variation of hatchback with a sloping roofline between 45 and 5 degrees. Traditional hatchback designs usually have a 90 to 46 degree slope on the tailgate or rear door. As such the liftback is essentially a hatchback with a more ...
configurations.
Lending themselves to racing, the cars were light, affordable, easily modifiable and combined a five-speed manual transmission, optional
limited slip differential
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic tr ...
, MacPherson strut front suspension, high revving (7800 rpm), twin-cam engine with oil cooler (e.g., in the US), near 50/50 front/rear weight balance, and importantly, a front-engine/rear-drive layout—at a time when this configuration was waning industry-wide.
Widely popular for
Showroom Stock
file:Living model in plumbing fixtures Photo V (HS85-10-38529) (cropped).jpg, A plumbing fixture showroom, Canada, 1921
A showroom, also referred to as a gallery, is a large space used to display products, entertainment or visual arts.
Marketing ...
,
Group A
Group A is a set of motorsport regulations administered by the FIA covering production derived vehicles intended for competition, usually in touring car racing and rallying. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, Group A vehicles ...
, and
Group N
In relation to international motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to regulations providing 'standard' large scale series production vehicles for competition. They are limited in terms of modifications permitted to the standard specifi ...
,
Rally
Rally or rallye may refer to:
Gatherings
* Demonstration (political), a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade
* Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting event
Sport ...
and Club racing, the cars' inherent qualities also earned the AE86 an early and enduring international prominence in the motorsport discipline of
drifting. The AE86 was featured centrally in the popular, long-running Japanese
manga and
anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...
series titled ''
Initial D'' (1995–2013)—as the main character's drift and tofu delivery car. In 2015,
Road & Track called the AE86 "a cult icon, inextricably interwoven with the earliest days of drifting."
The AE86 would go on to inspire the
Toyota 86
The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, manufactured at Subaru's Gunma assembly plant.
The 2+2 fastback coupé has a naturally-aspirated boxer engine, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive confi ...
(2012–present), a
2+2 sports car
A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
jointly developed by
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
and
Subaru, manufactured by Subaru—and marketed also as the Toyota GT86, Toyota FT86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ.
In November 2021, Toyota temporarily restarted the production of a limited number of parts for the AE86, with dealers beginning to take orders for new
steering knuckle
300px, Double Wishbone Suspension
In automotive suspension, a steering knuckle or upright is that part which contains the wheel hub or spindle, and attaches to the suspension and steering components. The terms ''spindle'' and ''hub'' are someti ...
arms and rear
brake calipers
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hold ...
. Rear axle
half shaft
An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearin ...
s have also been scheduled for new production. Toyota has also announced that this reboot is temporary, and parts will only be available as long as stocks last.
Name
![Toyota Corolla GT AE86 Trueno hatchback](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Toyota_Corolla_GT_AE86_Trueno_hatchback.jpg)
The nameplate ''Trueno'' derives from the
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
word for ''thunder'', and ''Levin'' derives from the
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...
for ''lightning''. In Japan, the Sprinter Trueno was exclusive to Toyota Japan dealerships called ''
Toyota Auto Store
Toyota vehicles in Japan are distributed to numerous dealership chains throughout the country. Up to May 2020, each dealership chain had a different product offering, with some models restricted to one chain to maintain exclusivity. Since May 2020, ...
,'' while the Corolla Levin was exclusive to ''Toyota Corolla Store''.
The name ''AE86'' derives from Toyota's internal code during the car's development, designating the 1600 cc RWD model from the fifth generation of the Corolla. In Toyota's code language, the "A" designates the car's engine (4A series), "E" designates Corolla, "8" designates fifth generation (
E80 series) and "6" designates the variant within this generation.
The AE86 is also called the "",
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
for "eight-six". Similarly the AE85 was commonly called "", meaning "eight-five".
Bracketing a minor external facelift, models marketed between 1983 and 1985 are called "''zenki''" (前期, lit. ''early period''), and those marketed from 1986 to 1987 are called "''kouki''" (後期, lit. ''latter period'').
[Hachiroku.com.au Blog - はちろくブログ]
- AE86: An In-Depth Look at A Legend
In 1986, Toyota marketed a limited edition model of the AE86 as the "Black Limited" model.
Engine/technical
The AE86 was available with a
naturally aspirated 4A-GE inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
, a
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...
four-valve-per-cylinder motor, in Japan and Europe, which was also used in the first-generation
MR2 G Limited (AW11),
Corona GT (AT141),
Celica 1600GT-R (AA63) and
Carina 1600GT (AA63) (Japan only) with a
compression ratio of 9.4:1. It had a maximum
SAE gross power output of at 6,600 rpm and at 5,200 rpm of
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
in standard form, though it was later down-rated to and in net output.
[Drift Japan » Toyota Corolla AE86](_blank)
- AE86 History and Overview The 4A-GE engines used in the AE86 and AW11 were also equipped with
Denso electronic port fuel injection and
T-VIS Toyota Variable Induction System, or T-VIS, is a variable intake system designed by Toyota to improve the low-end performance of multi-valve engines.
T-VIS is intended to improve the low-end torque of high-performance, four-stroke internal combusti ...
variable intake geometry.
In North America, a modified 4A-GEC engine was used to comply with California emissions regulations. Power was rated at and of torque.
The AE86 used
ventilated disc brake
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to ho ...
s. The car was equipped with a
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles, and is named for American automotive engineer Ear ...
style
independent suspension at the front and a four-link
live axle with
coil spring
A selection of conical coil springs
The most common type of spring is the coil spring, which is made out of a long piece of metal that is wound around itself.
Coil springs were in use in Roman times, evidence of this can be found in bronze Fib ...
s for the rear as well as
stabilizer bars, front and rear, and an optional
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...
.
The AE86 came with a 5-speed manual
gearbox
Propulsion transmission is the mode of transmitting and controlling propulsion power of a machine. The term ''transmission'' properly refers to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive vehicles), differe ...
, and later came with the option of an automatic.
Higher-spec American AE86 models known as the Sport GT-S featured the DOHC 4A-GEC engine, four-wheel disc brakes, color-matched bumpers, front lower bumper surround with a much more sporty and pronounced lip, molded door panels, tachometer redline at 7500 rpm, leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats with leather-wrapped tops (front seats are completely different from Sport SR5), optional LSD, and aluminium wheels. The chassis code in the
VIN of the GT-S is AE88 (for North American market cars).
Lower-spec American AE86 SR5 models used the 4A-C
SOHC unit, The SR5 rear end was a non-LSD with
drum brakes. The SR5 model also had a softer suspension, and small styling and interior changes such as seats, gauge cluster, door panels, un-painted matte black front and rear bumpers, the lower part of the front bumper surround is shorter and flat, and its chassis code in the VIN differs as well, being AE86 for the SR5 model (for North American market cars).
Models equipped with the 4A-GE engine received a rear differential, while 3A-U (only offered on the AE85), 4A-U and 4A-C models received a smaller, weaker, rear differential.
The AE86 SR5 (4A-C equipped) had an optional 4-speed
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
alongside the 5-speed manual, however the GT-S model (with the 4A-GE DOHC engine) only came with a standard 5-speed
manual gearbox
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear change ...
.
One of the staff who was behind the car's engineering work was
Nobuaki Katayama
Nobuaki Katayama is a Japanese automotive engineer and former racing driver who was the chief engineer for the first generation Lexus IS, the Toyota Altezza in Japan, the first generation Lexus SC 400/ SC 300, and the 4th generation of the Toyota ...
, who would later head the company's motorsport department and who would become chief engineer of the
Altezza
The is a compact executive car sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota since 1999. The IS was originally sold under the nameplate in Japan from 1998 (the word ''Altezza'' is Italian for 'height' or 'highness'). The IS was introduced as an e ...
project a decade later. He has a photo of an AE86 hung in his office.
Body styles
The Levin and Trueno featured fixed-headlights and retractable headlights respectively, with both available as hatchback or coupé. The export model name Corolla applies to both variations.
The AE86 (along with the lower spec
AE85 and SR5 versions) was
rear wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars.
Most rear-wheel ...
, built on the rear wheel drive
E70 Corolla platform[ (same wheelbase length, interchangeable parts, etc.), unlike the ]front wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
E80 models in the same range.
File:1983 Toyota Corolla-Levin 01.jpg, 1983–1985 Corolla Levin GTV liftback (Japan)
File:Toyota Corolla Levin 1983.jpg, 1983–1985 Corolla Levin GT Coupe with alternative optional grill (Japan)
File:Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86) GT-Apex 2-Door Coupe in Toyota Automobile Museum.jpg, 1983–1985 Corolla Levin GT-APEX coupé with alternative optional grill (Japan)
File:1983 Toyota Corolla-Levin 02.jpg, 1983–1985 Corolla Levin GT-V liftback (Japan)
File:Toyota COROLLA LEVIN GT (E-AE86-ESMQF) rear.jpg, 1983–1985 Corolla Levin GT coupé (Japan)
File:Sprinter Trueno 1600 GT (AE86).jpg, Initial D replica of 1983–1985 Sprinter Trueno GT liftback (Japan)
File:TOYOTA SPRINTER TRUENO 1600GT-APEX E-AE86 REAR IMAGE.jpg, 1983–1985 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX liftback (Japan)
File:85trueno emblems.jpg, 1984–1985 Sprinter Trueno AE85/86 coupé taillights (Japan)
File:Toyota Corolla E80 Coupe 1983.jpg, 1983 Corolla 3-door liftback (AE86, UK)
Minor bodywork changes were made in 1985 which resulted in different tail lights, front and rear bumpers, corner and headlight trim lights, and grilles, are the main differences for both AE85/86 Levin and Trueno coupé and liftback models.
File:The frontview of Toyota COROLLA LEVIN GT APEX (E-AE86-ECMVF).jpg, 1985–1987 Toyota Corolla Levin GT-APEX liftback (Japan)
File:The rearview of Toyota COROLLA LEVIN GT APEX (E-AE86-ECMVF).jpg, 1985–1987 Toyota Corolla Levin GT-APEX liftback (Japan)
File:Toyota Corolla SR5 rear 1.27.18.jpg, 1985–1987 Corolla Levin taillights on the 1985–1987 Corolla Sport SR5 coupé (US)
File:Toyota SPRINTER TRUENO GT APEX (E-AE86-FSMVF) with VOLK RACING.jpg, 1985–1987 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX coupé (Japan)
File:Coupe or Hatch - Flickr - Grif Batenhorst.jpg, 1985–1987 Sprinter Trueno coupé & liftback (Japan)
Models/specifications
In Japan, the DOHC 4A-GEU AE86 was offered in GT, GT-V and GT-APEX trims as the Corolla Levin or Sprinter Trueno. In North America, the top-spec DOHC 4A-GEC was sold as the Corolla Sport GT-S (with AE86 on the build plate in the engine bay but AE88 in the VIN), with the SOHC 4A-C being sold as the Corolla Sport SR5 (with AE86 on the build plate and in the VIN). Both versions were sold with Trueno pop-up headlights
Hidden headlamps, also commonly known as pop-up headlamps, pop-up headlights, flip-eye headlamps, or hideaway headlights, are a form of automotive lighting and an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile's headlamps when they are not ...
and Levin taillights, and had longer bumpers in the front and rear. Euro-spec models were sold as the Corolla GT with DOHC engines and fixed Levin-style headlights. Australian models were sold as the Toyota Sprinter, also with fixed Levin headlights but with Trueno taillights.[ The Middle East received the same basic model as the North American market, with Trueno pop-up headlights, Levin taillights, and the regulated 5 mph (8 km/h) bumpers.
The lightest AE86 is the Japanese 2 door GT model which weighs about .][ It has the same exterior as the GT-V trim, but with the interior of the AE85 with the exception of the gauges, and is equipped with rear drum brakes.
]
North American AE86 specifications
File:5th Toyota Corolla hatch.jpg, 1983–1987 Corolla Sport GT-S liftback (US)
File:Toyota Corolla GTS (5115548287).jpg, 1983–1987 Corolla Sport GT-S coupé (Canada)
File:Toyota Corolla GTS (5115547161).jpg, 1985–1987 Corolla Sport GT-S coupé (Canada)
File:Toyota Corolla SR5 hatch front.jpg, 1983–1987 Corolla Sport SR5 liftback (US)
File:Toyota Corolla SR5 hatch rear.jpg, 1985–1987 Corolla Sport SR5 liftback (US)
There are three types of Corolla Sport RWD for the US market: DX, SR5, and GT-S. Although the DX was generally an internal Toyota designation, as brochures, and advertising do not include the DX designation; it consisted of a lower trim level, lighter duty suspension parts and the like.
* Model Years of production: 1983 to 1987
* Versions: DX, SR5 and GT-S (85+ Only)
*
Note that the VIN and the chassis code do not match for all models.
DX & SR5 specifications
* First 7 characters of VIN: JT2AE85 (DX) or JT2AE86 (SR5)
* Chassis code: AE86 (which may differ from the VIN)
* Horsepower: @ 4800 rpm
* Torque: @ 2800 rpm
* Weight: approximately
* Engine: 4A-C,
* Engine type: SOHC 8-valve Inline-4 carbureted
* M/T transmission: T50, 6-bolt flywheel
* A/T transmission: A42DL, 4-speed overdrive w/lockup torque converter
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that transfers rotating power from a prime mover, like an internal combustion engine, to a rotating driven load. In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter connects the power ...
, mechanically controlled, with electronically engaged overdrive
* Compression: 9.0:1
* Differential: open with 4.10:1 ratio, 2-pinion (automatic) (S292) or 3.91:1 ratio, 4-pinion (5-speed) (S314)
* Wheels/tires: 13×5" +33 mm offset rims with 185/70R13 tires
GT-S specifications
* First 7 characters of VIN: JT2AE88
* Chassis code: AE86 (which differs from the VIN)
* Horsepower: @ 6600 rpm
* Torque: @ 4800 rpm
* Weight: approximately
* Engine: 4A-GE,
* Engine type: DOHC 16-valve Inline-4 AFM Multiport Fuel Injection w/T-VIS
* Transmission: T50, 8-bolt flywheel
* Injector size: approx. , low impedance
* Compression: 9.4:1
* Differential: Open (T282) or optional LSD (T283) with 4.30:1 Ratio, 2-pinion
* Wheels/tires: 14×5.5" +27 mm offset rims with 185/60R14 82H tires (195/60R14 85H for 86+ models)
The AE86 in motorsports
While in production, the AE86 was a popular choice for showroom stock, Group A
Group A is a set of motorsport regulations administered by the FIA covering production derived vehicles intended for competition, usually in touring car racing and rallying. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, Group A vehicles ...
, and Group N
In relation to international motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to regulations providing 'standard' large scale series production vehicles for competition. They are limited in terms of modifications permitted to the standard specifi ...
racing, especially in rallying and circuit races. After production ended, many private teams continued to race the AE86, and it remains a popular choice for rallying and club races today.
Part of the continued appeal of the AE86 for motorsports is its rear-drive configuration, not available in most newer lightweight coupes. In Group A touring car races
Touring may refer to:
Travel Vehicles
* Touring cars, an open car
* "Touring", the estate/wagon version of Ford cars
* Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, Italian automobile coachbuilder
Tourism
* Bicycle touring, self-contained cycling trips
...
, the car either dominated the lower category where eligible or fought it out with Honda Civics or the later AE92s and AE101s whilst maintaining its competitiveness. In Ireland, where rallying is considered one of the most popular forms of motorsport, as organizing regulations are more relaxed compared to that of other countries, the AE86 was popular when new, and remains so popular that teams will purchase cars from the UK due to local shortages. The AE86 is also popular for rally use in Finland, where the cars can be competitive in the F-Cup competition for naturally aspirated 2WD cars.
The AE86 was entered in the European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004. In 2005 it was superseded by the World ...
from 1984 to 1988 with a 4A-GEU engine. In 1986 it beat the BMW M6
The BMW M6 is a high-performance version of the 6 Series marketed under the BMW M sub-brand from 1983 to 2018 (with a break from 1990 to 2004).
Introduced in the coupe body style, the M6 was also built in convertible and fastback sedan ('Gran ...
, BMW 325i (E30), Rover Vitesse
Vitesse may refer to:
* Vitesse Models, a diecast model car company
* Vitesse (band), Dutch rock band
* Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, a car
* Rover 216 Vitesse, a car
* Rover 3500 Vitesse, a car
* Rover 800 Vitesse, a car
* Triumph Vit ...
, Volvo 240 Turbo, Merkur XR4Ti
The Merkur XR4Ti is a performance-oriented 3-door hatchback sold in North America from 1985 to 1989. A product of the Ford Motor Company, the car was a version of the European Ford Sierra adapted to U.S. regulations. The XR4Ti project was champio ...
, Mazda 929
The Mazda 929 is a full-size car which was sold by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda between 1973 and 1997. Mazda used the 929 nameplate for export markets only, badge engineering
In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of ...
, Holden Commodore (VK)
The Holden Commodore (VK) is a mid-size car that was produced by Holden from 1984 to 1986. It was the fourth iteration of the first generation of the Holden Commodore and introduced the luxury variant, Holden Calais (VK) sedan.
Overview
T ...
, Alfa Romeo 75 (turbo V6), and Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 to win the Manufacturers Championship with 267 points, surpassing the 1986 Drivers Championship Schnitzer Motorsport
Schnitzer Motorsport was a motorsport team based in Freilassing near Munich, Germany. From the early days of its establishment, the team has operated an automobile racing squad for BMW, and has remarkable results in touring car and sports car r ...
BMW M6.
In 1986 and 1987 Chris Hodgetts
Chris Hodgetts (born 6 December 1950 in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire) is a British former racing driver. He began his racing career in 1979, driving in the Clubman Class A championship.
BTCC career
Hodgetts debuted in the British Touring ...
won the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by TOCA. It was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and was renamed as ...
), beating the V8 Rover SD1
The Rover SD1 is both the code name and eventual production name given to a series of executive cars built by the Specialist Division (later the ''Jaguar-Rover-Triumph'' division) of British Leyland (BL), under the Rover marque. It was produc ...
's, Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a mid-size car or large family car manufactured and marketed by Ford Europe from 1982-1993, designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément — and noted for its aerodynamic styling producing a drag coeffi ...
Cosworth's and BMW 3 Series (E30)
The BMW E30 is the second generation of BMW 3 Series, which was produced from 1982 to 1994 and replaced the E21 3 Series. The model range included 2-door coupe and convertible body styles, as well as being the first 3 Series to be produced in 4- ...
M3's two years running for an overall points victory driving an AE86 for Toyota (GB) PLC and his own race prep team CHMS.
The semi-factory supported Kraft team entered a spaceframe Trueno in the JGTC
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
for the GT300 regulations in 1999. The Trueno used a Dallara
Dallara is an Italian race car manufacturer, founded by its current President, Gian Paolo Dallara. After working for Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and De Tomaso, in 1972 in his native village of Varano de' Melegari (Parma), Italy he created ...
F3 chassis and was powered with a 3S-GTE engine that came from a SW20 MR2 Turbo that produces about . Despite being popular with the fans, the car had minor success and was abandoned from use halfway through the 2001 season when the AE86 burst into flames during the third round of the season at Sugo. Kraft subsequently replaced it with a newly delivered Toyota MR-S.
The rear wheel drive configuration, combined with the AE86's light weight (approximately 2300 lb (950–970 kg) curb weight), balance and relatively powerful (and easy to tune) 4A-GEU engine made it popular among the Japanese '' hashiriya'' (street racers in Japanese), many of whom raced in ''touge
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both human and animal migrat ...
'' (mountain passes in Japanese) where the corners suited the AE86 best, especially on the downhill. Among those who utilized this car was Japanese racing legend Keiichi Tsuchiya
is a Japanese professional race car driver. He is known as the for his nontraditional use of drifting in non-drifting racing events and his role in popularizing drifting as a motorsport. In professional racing, he is a two-time 24 Hours of L ...
also known as the ''Drift King'' ("Dori-Kin" in Japanese). Keiichi Tsuchiya helped popularize the sport of drifting, which involves taking a car on a set of controlled slides through corners. The AE86's FR configuration made it well suited to this kind of cornering, and currently the car is a mainstay of drift shows and competitions. Japanese drifters like Katsuhiro Ueo, Toshiki Yoshioka, Yoichi Imamura, Koichi Yamashita, Hiroshi Takahashi, Tetsuya Hibino, and Wataru Hayashi were also involved in making the AE86 famous in the drift scene.
AE86s around the world have been extensively modified for use in professional drifting.
In popular culture
The AE86 is considered as an iconic cultural symbol in Japanese popular culture
Japanese popular culture includes Japanese cinema, cuisine, television programs, anime, manga, video games, music, and doujinshi, all of which retain older artistic and literary traditions; many of their themes and styles of presentation can be ...
following its inclusion in the '' Initial D'' anime and manga. The main character, Takumi Fujiwara, uses his father's AE86 Trueno GT-Apex Hatchback for racing and making his tofu deliveries. Takumi's friend, Itsuki Takeuchi, drives an AE85 Levin. Throughout the series, two of Takumi's opponents drive AE86s: Wataru Akiyama, who drives a turbocharged (later supercharged) AE86 Corolla Levin, and Shinji Inui, who drives the notchback coupé version of the AE86 Trueno. The AE86 is also a playable vehicle in the '' Initial D Arcade Stage'' series. The popularity of ''Initial D'' is cited as the main cause of the car's high resale price, which is often referred to as "Takumi tax" or "Tofu tax", after the main character and his tofu delivery occupation respectively.
In the 2001 film ''The Fast and the Furious
''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...
'', a red Corolla AE86 can be briefly seen in the background waiting in line to enter Race Wars. The AE86 also made minor cameos in '' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' and ''Fast & Furious
''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...
''.
References
External links
*
{{Toyota timeline (North America) 1980–2009
Toyota vehicles
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Rally cars
Sport compact cars
Hot hatches
1980s cars
Cars introduced in 1983