>>Toyota Sera

Toyota Sera

Toyota Sera
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1990-1995
Predecessor	Toyota AXV-II Concept
Class	Sport compact
Body style(s)	2-door coupe
Platform	FF layout
Engine(s)	1.5L 5E-FHE I4 110/6,400 (ps/rpm)
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2300 mm (90.6 in)
Length	3860 mm (152 in)
Width	1650 mm (65 in)
Height	1265 mm (49.8 in)
Curb weight	930 kg (2050 lb)
Related	Toyota Tercel Toyota Paseo Toyota Starlet

The Toyota Sera was a two door coupe (2+2) built by Toyota solely for the Japanese market in the early 1990s, although enthusiasts in New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the UK have since imported a handful of them. It was initially revealed as the Toyota AXV-II concept car in 1988, and was shown in almost production-ready form. The word Sera is a French word meaning "will be" which answers to the question why the car's design, shape and stock butterfly doors are so close to features of a concept car. The styling and layout of the car was actually beyond its time when it was actually put into production.

Sera

The Sera EXY-10 was available with a 1.5 L inline 4 engine. It came with either 4 speed automatic or a 5 speed manual transmission with Anti-Lock Braking system as an option. Only 15852 units were made between 1990 to 1996 and therefore, now becoming a rare collectible. The car is related to the Toyota Paseo, and shares similar floorpans, suspension, steering and brakes.

Toyota Sera's most distinctive feature is its butterfly doors, which open forward and up from the bottom and top of the A pillar (similar to the McLaren F1 and Saleen S7). The weight of the door is supported by a thick gas strut, but there is a balance system to help take into account changes in temperature inside the door. The door can be opened fully in a fairly confined space - only 43 cm clearance on either side of the car is needed, unlike the conventional doors on most cars.

The Sera came with an optional 'Live' surround sound system that included a pair of component speakers on the rear parcel tray, mounted in a tube that could rotate towards the passengers or the glass hatch. This premium sound package also included a small subwoofer as well as a centre speaker in the dash and is usually identified as "Super Live Surround Sound" or SLSS.

One drawback of the car is the large amount of glass that can create a solar load greenhouse effect inside the car causing interior temperatures to rise. All Seras came as standard with air conditioning to offset this problem. The advantage to the glass design is that occupants have excellent all-round visibility in contrast to most small coupes. Due to the overwhelming amount of glass, the vehicle body is not very rigid. This lack of rigidity affects the handling characteristics with body roll, although some of this behaviour can often be attributed to the age of the cars — a new original suspension is actually quite competent, although still somewhat at odds with the sporting image the car has acquired outside of Japan. Another disappointing feature is the small opening for the rear cargo area: measuring only 52 cm by 82cm. This boot (trunk) space is large enough to fit a small suitcase, but the rear seats fold down to increase storage area to an acceptable level, and the division between the rear seats and luggage area is removable. Ultimately the Sera is a practical design given its compact size.

The Toyota Sera was produced in three distinct versions, each available with either manual or automatic transmissions, standard (two speakers, fitted to the doors) or SLSS audio, and a wide range of options. The factory SLSS system (Super Live Surround Sound) had a DSP system with 10 speakers: Front cone x 2 (10cm, IIRC), Front Tweeter x 2, Centre Speaker (10 cm again), rear cones and tweeters in a stylish tube on the parcel shelf at the rear which could be rotated to reflect off the rear window or aim directly into the car, along with a rear subwoofer of adequate capability.

Phase I

The initial build features beige/tan interior or greyish blue depending on exterior colour, a bayonet fuel filler cap, and a ribbed woven seat material that is very hardwearing. Most of the production was completed in this phase, around 12,000 of the total 15,852 or so cars produced, from launch in March 1990 to May 1991.

Phase II

Phase II was produced, identifiable by different seat materials featuring a pastel pattern in the main sections with tan/greyish bolsters depending on interior colour, and a screw-type fuel filler cap. Around 2,300 Phase II cars were produced between May 1991 and June 1992.

Phase III

The final version of the Sera features a grey interior with seat fabrics that have a secondary colour to complement the exterior colour, some engine component revisions, side impact beams in the doors, optional airbags (which may have been accompanied by ABS - an option on all Seras - and three-point rear seat belts), stronger door struts to compensate for the side impact beams, and the only external change to the Sera - a solid plastic spoiler with LED high-level brake light incorporated.

The Phase III Sera also featured a limited edition model, the Amlux, named after Toyota's flagship building in Tokyo. (The Toyota Amlux is the world's largest automobile showroom situated in Ikebukuro. It is in a one of a kind oval-shaped high rise building that glows purple at night, but with a curious matte-finish look, and flashing white stobes.)

The Sera special edition Amlux version were based upon the phase III automatic SERA with SLSS. Special features included:

• Two-tone green paint • Special colour hubcaps • Blue tinted glass • Choice of 6 special colours of seat material designs • Rear seat cover • AMLUX logo on mats • AMLUX logo on door • Personalised name plate on the car • Personalised seat custion and also a special scarf

Tuning

The engine is the 5E-FHE developing 110 PS (108 bhp), and this is the largest capacity derivation of the E series engines, and the most powerful of the normally aspirated versions. The Toyota Starlet GT Turbo or Glanza engine, codename 4E-FTE, develops 135 PS (133 bhp) as standard and has been successfully transplanted in a number of Seras in Japan, Australia and the UK. The Starlet Turbo can be tuned to give substantially more than released by Toyota. In order to achieve these levels of power (175-200 hp) it is necessary to make quite a number of changes - exchanging the intercooler for a larger version and relocating to the front bumper, a revised exhaust, a revised induction kit, plus a number of electronic devices to revise the fuelling and turbo boost safety points. Another option is to use the 4A-GE engine (black top with map sensor) which can produce around 165 hp (123 kW) giving the car a weight to power ratio of 5.63 kg/hp - in comparison the Mazda RX-8 has a weight to power ratio of 5.93 kg/hp (see Power-to-weight ratio). With a Standalone Engine Management System (EMS/ECU) and various other engine modifications, the 4A-GE can easily be made to produce around 200 hp (150 kW). With a T4 turbo, more than 230 horses. At least two cars in Japan claim to have 300 bhp (220 kW) and one in Australia with a claimed 290 bhp (216 kW). This is an expensive conversion as the engine and transmission have to be strengthened, cooling and fuel issues have to be solved as well as improvements to the brakes and handling.

Accessories and aftermarket exterior styling/parts

Optional accessories for the Sera at launch included an in car fax, "fragrance synthesizer", CleanACE cabin filter (relatively common - for an accessory. Many accessories are extremely rare), parking sensors, bodykits, ski-racks which attach to the doors, and a different set of seat covers and mats in a striking colour combination.

There are several designs of bodykit available for the Sera. They popular ones are made by G5 Speed Garage (Japan), Quest Power: Type-A (Japan), Cia Style Kit (UK), Andros rear bumper (Cyprus), X-Racing (Australia). Sera bodykits mainly include redesigned and grounded front bumpers, front splitters, Carbon Fibre bonnets, Wheelarch trims, Front bumper extensions, side skirts, rear spoilers, wide arch kits, headlamp eyelids and body mounted rear wings.

One criticism that can be leveled at the Sera is that the suspension is equipted with too soft springs for a sporting coupe. To compensate this problem, there is after a market handling package available, developed with the assistance of Leda Suspension. This gives the car a firmer and more sporting drive with less pronounced and more progressive body roll characteristics. The car is lowered slightly as well giving a more aggressive appearance. The kit contains: 1 pair of front dampers, 1 pair of front progressive rate springs, 1 pair of rear dampers, 1 pair of rear progressive rate springs.

Other features

Projector head light

The Sera/EXY-10 was one of the first cars to feature projector headlights (though the 1988 AXV-II concept model featured conventional lights). The Alfa Romeo Stradale is believed to be the first car to feature dihedral doors, which like the Sera, features windows that curve upward into the 'roof' section of the vehicle.

The Sera is still very well supported by Toyota for spares, and many UK dealers are happy to order parts and service the car.

In Australia, most Seras will have required three-point seatbelts and side impact beams to be fitted for compliance. There may be benefits to importing a later model to avoid this third-party work.

Present Status

Now, over a decade since the Sera was launched, the Sera is enjoying a renaissance in popularity, and is becoming recognised as a future classic. Over the past few months, prices of Seras in Japan have risen, not just because of demand from buyers intending to import the car from Japan, but also due to increasing demand for these cars in Japan.