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>>Toyota Corona

Toyota Corona

Toyota Corona
Manufacturer Toyota
Also called Toyota Corona Premio
Toyota Carina II
Toyota Carina E
Production 1957—2002
Successor Toyota Allion
Toyota Avensis (Europe)
Toyota Camry
Class Europe: Large family car
United States:
1957—1983:
Compact
1983—2000:
Mid-size car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
5-door liftback
2-door coupé
Related Toyota Caldina

The Toyota Corona is an automobile manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota between 1957 and 2002. While in the United States it was classified until 1983 as a compact car and later on as a mid-size car, in Europe it was always regarded as a large family car.

The Corona became massively successful in export markets: confusion easily arises because Toyota (like Volkswagen with their Passat and Mitsubishi with their Colt) applied model names inconsistently in different places. Following the 1969 parallel introduction of the Corona Mark II (which in certain markets mutated into the Cressida in 1973) there were disparate models sharing the Corona name. As time went by, models branded in much of Asia as Coronas turned up in European markets as Carinas, while ten years later in North America the Corona was successfully replaced by the larger Camry. In addition, because of the similarities in names, it is a very common mistake to confuse the Corona with the much smaller Toyota Corolla.

Early Days (1957-1969)

Corona Mk II
Corona Mk II

In its heyday, the Corona (Latin for crown) was Toyota's principal export entrant. The first to be exported in any quantity was the third-generation model, launched in 1964, characterized by a front end reminiscent of a razor. With each incarnation, the Corona — and an associated, plusher model called the Corona Mark II (later spun off on to a separate platform) grew larger.

The 1964 release third generation, slant nose apart, was known for its range of bodystyles on offer. Aside from the sedan, variants included a 3-door wagon, two pick-up variants (one of which had an extended cab) and a 5-door hatchback, which looked reminiscent of a Renault 16.

T80 Sedan & Wagon, T90 Hardtop Coupe (1970-1974)

Engine choices were 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, and 2.0 liter gasoline.

In the United States, the 1970s were probably the Corona's high point, helped by the fuel crises of 1973 and 1979.

T100 - T120 Series (1974-1978)

The Corona T100-Series were built as a 4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop coupe and 4-door wagon. Engines were 1.6 and 2.0 liters, except in North America, where the 20-R 2.2liter engine was used. The high performance 2000 GT Sedan and Hardtop Coupe with 18R-G twin cam engine were only offered in Japan. The face lift revised the hood and grille, and enlarged the tail lights. The Wagon featured wood panel body claddings. North American models had longer bumpers (hiding recoverable bumper shocks) to meet local 5 mph (8 km/h) impact standards; they gained standard radial tires in 1975. This series also saw the standard (on some models) Electro Sensor Panel which monitored fluid and bulb status. Some models had a shifter mounted on the steering column, which may have been Toyota's first serious attempt to compete with American brands like General Motors and Ford. The column shifter would carry over to the T130 Series, and it was used again in 1995, with the introduction of the Toyota Avalon. Most of the company's trucks, SUV's and minivans have also adopted this feature.

T130 (1978-1982)

1979-1983 Toyota Corona CS sedan (T130)
1979-1983 Toyota Corona CS sedan (T130)

Introduced in Japan in 1978, the T130-Series Corona featured a boxy design with more elegant lines. 4-door Sedan, 4-door Wagon, 2-door Hardtop Coupe and new 5-door Liftback were manufactured with 1.6 or 2.0 liter engines. Minor change and the 1.8 liter 3T engine were added in 1981. The North American Corona shared the 2.2 liter 20R engine with the Celica.

The T130 was the last Corona in the USA where Sedan, Wagon and Liftback were offered in Base and LE models. The Corona was not renewed for the 1983 model year but replaced by the larger Camry. Toyota Australia manufactured sedans and wagons using 1.9L Holden Starfire engines, badged in Toyota engine terminology 1X.

T140 (1981-1989) & T150 (1983-1987)

Corona T140 Sedan
Corona T140 Sedan
Corona T150 Sedan
Corona T150 Sedan

The longest-running model was the rear-wheel drive seventh-generation (T142) model, which began production in 1981 and was still manufactured locally by Toyota Australia in 1987, even though by that time a front-wheel drive version (originally called the Toyota Corona FF and marketed in some countries as the Toyota Carina II) had already been released. The diesel version, CT141, was commonly used for taxi in Singapore.

The Corona was eventually dropped in Australia in favor of the larger Camry, but in New Zealand, Toyota continued to offer versions of the Corona, assembled locally at Toyota's plant in Thames, New Zealand. Later, Toyota New Zealand followed Australia's lead and dropped the Corona, instead marketing the Australian-built Camry as its offering in the midsize segment of the market and had unique sheetmetal. This was later succeeded by a four-door hardtop called the Corona EXIV.

Toyota's large family car lineup in Europe was quite confusing when looking over the past 25 years. The 1970 and 1981 Carina models were sold in most of Europe, but in 1984 they were replaced with the "Carina II" — which was really the 1983 model Corona as sold in Japan with alterations to the headlights, grille and trim — most notably it had a lot less chrome than the Corona.

T160 Coupe (1986-1989) & T170 (1987-1992)

Corona T170 Sedan
Corona T170 Sedan

It eventually faced competition from the smaller Toyota Carina as that model grew in size. Because of Japanese taxation laws, both models got to the maximum 1700 mm (66.9 in) permitted for a lower tax bracket and in the 1980s and early 1990s, were the same size. A Corona coupé was spun off in the mid-1980s. It was based on the 4th Generation Celica notchback Coupe, but with fixed headlights instead of retractable.

The Corona T170 Series was launched in Japan in December 1987 which in 1988 became new Carina II in Europe.

T190 (1992-1998)

Main article: Toyota Corona T190
1994 Toyota Corona (Japan spec, imported into Russia).
1994 Toyota Corona (Japan spec, imported into Russia).

Introduced in March 1992 the new Corona made its European debut at Geneva Auto Show as Carina E, which replaced the Carina II. The Carina E was built at Toyota's factory in Burnaston, UK. The UK produced Carina E is notorious to have some parts of slightly lower quality than the one produced in Japan.

This generation of Corona was called Corona Absolute in Indonesia, or Corona Exsior in the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan. Generally the Carina E was offered in XL and GL trim levels, but in UK they were marketed as S, GS, CD, and CDX. The high performance GT-i with 3S-GE engine was offered in small numbers in certain European countries.

The T190 is the last Corona for most export market, trim levels are XL, GX, and GLi with 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0 liter engine.

In the Philippines, the Corona was only available with the 2.0 liter 3S-FE engine throughout its production from 1993-1998. Early examples of the Corona T190 (ST191) looks similar to the 1992 Japanese spec model. It only has the 2.0 EX Saloon variant, with a choice of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The 1995 model has the facelifted exterior, having the front and rear bumpers with the black trim, and the standard 3 piece rear spoiler. The Exsior was introduced in 1996, this time with extended bumpers and red/amber taillights and garnish. Another variant of the Corona Exsior was the LE, it has genuine leather seats, faux dash wood panel, and electronic air purifier/ionizer as standard equipment. It was eventually replaced in 1998 with the Toyota Camry 2.2.

The five-door model was called the Corona SF in Japan, while the station wagon had become a separate line there, from 1993, called the Toyota Caldina.

Production in Japan ended in 1995, but in Europe and South East Asia lasted until 1997.

T210 Premio (1996-2001)

1996 Toyota Corona Premio.
1996 Toyota Corona Premio.

A final eleventh generation was built between 1996 and 2001 for the Japanese home market, with one particular model called the Toyota Corona Premio that was spun off into an independent model called the Premio (coded ST210), and a related model called the Allion after 2001. The Corona Premio was offered as Base Premio, Premio E, and Premio G. Engines choices are 1.6 liter 4A-FE, 1.8 liter lean burn 7A-FE, and 2.0 liter 3S-FE. This is the last model using Corona name in Japan.

T220 Avensis (1998-2002)

The T220 was built as Sedan, Liftback, and Wagon. Only the Wagon was sold in Japan as Caldina. The Sedan and Liftback were mainly sold in Europe as Avensis, and the lower grade model for taxi called Corona. Engine for Avensis is 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 gasoline, and diesel. The Corona Taxi has turbo diesel. In South America, the Avensis is renamed Corona and powered by 2.0 liter 3S-FE engine..

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