Toyota Soarer

The is a personal luxury GT coupé produced from 1981 to 2005 by Toyota and sold in Japan. It was available at both Japanese Toyota dealerships called ''Toyota Store'' and ''Toyopet Store'', and it debuted with the Z10 series, replacing the ''Toyopet Store'' exclusive Mark II coupé, and the ''Toyota Store'' exclusive Crown coupé.

In 1986, the Z20 series Soarer was launched, based on the then new A70 series Supra platform. In 1991, the Z30 series Soarer premiered in Japan, while its Lexus equivalent, the SC 300/400 debuted in the US market.

While externally identical to the SC, the Z30 series Soarer lineup offered different powertrain specifications and multiple unique vehicle configurations. In 2001, Toyota introduced a convertible-only successor in Japan as the Z40 series Soarer and elsewhere as the SC 430. In contrast to previous series, the Z40 series Soarer and SC were based on a single model and were largely equivalent. In 2005, following the introduction of Lexus in Japan, the Soarer name and emblem were discontinued, and the Z40 model became the SC 430 in common with worldwide markets.

In its home market, the Soarer was a competitor to the Nissan Leopard and Mazda Cosmo coupes, and served as Toyota's " halo car", introducing new technologies before they were installed on other Toyota products. All versions of the Soarer featured a unique winged lion emblem (often mistakenly called a Griffin) as the logo throughout the vehicle.

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First generation (Z10; 1981)

The Soarer made its first appearance at the 1980 Osaka International Motor Show with the name "EX-8". The Z10 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985, with 2.0L, 2.8L or 3.0L DOHC I-6 variants.

At its introduction in 1981, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award.

The first-generation Soarer debuted with a rear-wheel-drive configuration based on the A60 Supra. It boasted numerous technological items, such as a touchscreen computer-controlled air conditioning climate control (Electro Multi Vision Display, on all models except the base models which featured standard fan/heater controls), digital speed and tachometer display using LEDs (that were differentiated between models), among other electronic features. Due to the compliance of Japanese external dimension and engine displacement regulations, the first-generation models were classified as "compacts", which gave Japanese buyers tax saving advantages.

The suspension utilized MacPherson struts for the front, with a trailing arm type IRS (independent rear suspension), labelled with Toyota's branding PEGASUS (Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension). The vehicle also came with self-diagnosis maintenance reminders.

There were a number of different engines available.
*GZ10=1G-EU, 1G-GEU
*MZ10=M-TEU
*MZ11=5M-GEU
*MZ12=6M-GEU

Early M-TEU powered MZ10 models were different in some regards to later MZ10s. Some of the difference are listed below.
*Later MZ10 models had a water-to-air intercooler
*Later MZ10 models had an oil-and-water-cooled turbo (as opposed to the oil-cooled-only turbo in the early MZ10s)

The MZ12 model was equipped with the following features:
*ABS
*Cruise Control
*7-way adjustable (driver only) leather seats
*First Toyota automobile with Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS) (1983)
*Digital Automatic climate control
*Audible warning messages
*Electro Multi Vision Display (CRT display) (1985)

Second generation (Z20; 1986)

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 Soarer shared its platform with the newly introduced A70 series Supra.

The Z20 Soarer introduced a vehicle information display system with Electro Multi Vision and visual information cassettes.

In 1986, the Toyota Soarer introduced a world first electronically controlled ( Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension), semi-active full air suspension (spring constant, variable attenuation force).

In 1988, TOM'S released a limited model package named the C5. The 7M-GTE in the Tom's C5 Soarer saw the power upgrades similar to those seen in the Turbo-A Supra of the same year.

In April 1989, a limited 500 unit variant called the Aerocabin was introduced. This came with only 2 seats and an electric folding roof. The Aerocabin came with the same specs as the GT-Limited and were 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 grill and rear taillights were redesigned and minor interior changes were made (climate control, dash). Other than that engines were improved:
* 1G-GTEU 180 ->
* 7M-GTEU 230 ->

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.

Third generation (Z30; 1991)

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 new Soarer continued some of the features of earlier models, such as digital dashboard instrumentation and integrated car systems control via the in-dash ''EMV'' touchscreen. It was also one of the first cars in the world to feature a factory GPS automotive navigation system via CD-ROM. This generation of the Soarer was considered an expensive and extravagant luxury car in Japan. It was longer and wider than a Crown, while comfortably accommodating two passengers, with only modest space available for rear seat passengers. It did not comply with Japanese Government dimension regulations which made buyers liable for yearly taxes due to its size. The larger engines also obliged Japanese buyers to pay more annual road tax