>>Toyota Soarer

Toyota Soarer

1st Generation Toyota Soarer

2nd Generation Toyota Soarer

3rd Generation Toyota Soarer

The Toyota Soarer was a personal luxury GT coupé sold by Toyota in Japan from 1981 to 2004. The Soarer débuted in 1981 with the Z1 series, replacing the Toyota Crown Coupe, which took the form of a angular two-door coupé. In 1986, a more rounded Soarer was launched (the Z2 series). In 1991, the third generation (30 series) Toyota Soarer premiered in Japan. The 30 series Soarers were related to the Lexus SC 300/400, a luxury coupe Toyota had commissioned for its new upscale Lexus division outside Japan. While sharing the same body style and multiple components as the first Lexus SC, the 30 series Soarer lineup offered different powertrain specifications and multiple unique vehicle configurations.

In 2001, Toyota introduced a convertible successor which appeared in Japan as the fourth generation (40 series) Toyota Soarer, and elsewhere as the Lexus SC 430. In contrast to previous versions, the fourth generation Soarer and Lexus SC models were largely equivalent. In 2005, following the introduction of Lexus in Japan, sales of the 40 series Soarer were discontinued and the Lexus SC 430 became available in the Japanese market.

Z1 series (1981-1985)

Toyota Soarer Z1 Data for Japanese Versions, 1982
Production	1981-1985
Body style(s)	2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	2.0 L OHC-I6 (IG-EU), 125 JIS hp 2.0 L OHC-Turbo-I6 (M-TEU), 145 JIS hp 2.8 L DOHC-I6 (5M-GEU), 170 JIS hp
Transmission(s)	5 speed manual transmission; 4 speed automatic
Wheelbase	104.7 in (2660 mm)
Length	183.3 in (4655 mm)
Width	66.7 in (1695 mm)
Height	53.6 in (1360 mm)
Curb weight	2605-2895 lb (1180-1310 kg)

The Z1 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985, and came in 2.0L, 2.8L or 3.0L I-6 variants. The first generation Soarer debuted with a rear-wheel drive configuration. It boasted numerous technological items, such as touchscreen computer controlled air conditioning climate control, digital speed and tachometer display using LED, among other elecronic features.

The suspension utilized four wheel double wishbone upper and lower control arms with struts, electronically controlled with Toyotas TEMS setup. The vehicle also came with self-diagnosis maintenance reminders.

There were a number of different engines available.

• GZ10=1G-EU or 1G-GEU
• MZ10=M-TEU
• MZ11=5M-GE
• MZ12=6M-GE

Early MZ10s were differnent in some regards to later MZ10s. Some of the difference are listed below.

• Later MZ10s had a water to air intercooler
• Later MZ10s had an oil and water cooled turbo (as opposed to the oil cooled only turbo in the early MZ10s)

The Z1 series Toyota Soarer was honored as Japan's Car of the Year for the 1981-1982 model years.

The MZ12 was equipped with the following features:

• ABS
• Cruise Control
• 7 way adjustable (driver only) leather seats
• Toyota Electronicly Modulated Suspension (TEMS)
• Digital Automatic climate control
• Electro multivision display (CRT type display)

Z2 series (1986-1991)

The Z2 series Toyota Soarer was produced from January 1986 to April 1991, and came in four variants: a 2.0L DOHC I-6 (1G-FE), a 2.0L naturally aspirated or twin turbo DOHC I-6 (1G-GE or 1G-GTE), and a turbocharged 3.0L DOHC I-6 (7M-GTE) with available air suspension. The styling of the second generation Soarer is similar of that of the MX73 Toyota Cressida and GX71 Toyota Mark II. The Soarer shared its platform with the newly introduced Toyota Supra.

30 series (1991-2000)

In 1990, following the successful launch of its upscale Lexus division outside of Japan, Toyota commissioned its California design studios to develop a new luxury coupe. In 1991, this vehicle debuted in the U.S. as the Lexus SC 300/400. In the same year, the third generation Toyota Soarer debuted in Japan as the Z3 or 30 series Toyota Soarer, replacing the Z2 series in that market. The 30 series Soarer shared the body style and key components with the Lexus SC, but featured different interior features, powertrain configurations, and other performance enhancements.

At the time of its 1991 debut, the Toyota Soarer boasted some of the rarest and most luxurious features of any car on the road at the time. It was one of the first cars in the world to feature factory GPS navigation and integrated car systems control (via the in-dash EMV touchscreen). It rivalled the likes of US$75,000 BMW & Mercedes-Benz vehicles and could be bought for a fraction of the price. It had a luxury feel to it, yet the 2.5GT twin turbo model in particular was truly a very powerful sports car as well. Not surprising though, given it shared the same chassis as the MKIV Toyota Supra. Both cars' suspension, brakes, drivetrains, and engine parts were interchangeable.

The Toyota Soarers made from the years 1991-2000 were offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission for all models. In addition, the JZZ30 Soarer could be had with a 5-speed manual transmission. Unlike their US Lexus equivalents however, the 30-series Soarer lineup never received a 5-speed automatic, and only the six cylinder versions received variable valve timing (VVTi) engines, in 1996.

In addition, the UZZ30 (equivalent to the Lexus SC400) was only sold from 1991 to 1993, and the JZZ31 (equivalent to the Lexus SC300) was not introduced to the Japanese market until 1994.

The JZZ31 model used the same engine and transmission as the MKIV 1993-1998 Toyota Supra N/A. This 3.0 liter DOHC Inline Six engine, the 2JZ-GE, was also used in the Lexus IS 300 and GS 300 models.

30 Series Soarer models

• JZZ30 - 2.5L 6 cyl twin turbo (1991-1996)
• JZZ30 - 2.5L 6 cyl single turbo VVTi (1996-2000)
• JZZ31 - 3.0L 6 cyl (US Lexus SC 300) (1994-2000)
• UZZ30 - 4.0L 8 cyl (US Lexus SC 400) (1991-1993)
• UZZ31 - 4.0L 8 cyl air suspension (1991-1997)
• UZZ32 - 4.0L 8 cyl 4ws, active suspension (1991-1996)

30 Series JZZ30 turbo models

In Japan, the 1991-1996 Soarer was available in one specific model (the JZZ30) with a 1JZ-GTE 2.5L Twin Turbo engine. It officially produced 206 kW (276bhp) and 363Nm of torque @ 4800 RPM. From August 1996 the twin turbo engine was updated to a single turbo unit with variable valve timing (VVTi), nominally producing the same 206 kW but greater low-end torque of 378Nm at just 2400 RPM (see The Toyota JZ Engine Guide below). The 1996 model also received minor cosmetic changes including revised front and rear bumpers and side mouldings.

The 2.5 litre turbo Soarer variant was available in two trim levels - the GT-T and the GT-TL which added electric seats, wood trim and cruise control to the list of standard features.

30 Series UZZ31 and UZZ32 models

The UZZ31 and UZZ32 Soarer models, not sold in the U.S., had more luxury features than the JZZ30 single/twin turbo cars or the JZZ31/SC 300 and UZZ30/SC 400. Features like full leather electrically adjustable seating with seat heaters and memory systems, electrically adjusted auto-retracting steering, and ultrasonic de-misters in the wing mirrors helped distinguish these cars from their sportier versions and from their German competition. The UZZ31 and UZZ32 models were also available with an "EMV" (Electro Multi Vision) package which provided a screen with television, navigation (Japan only), diagnostics, car computer and touch control of all functions in the climate air conditioning system and of the sophisticated 7-speaker (with subwoofer) audio system with digital signal processing.

The UZZ31 model used an air suspension system that had two settings for both ride height and damper stiffness.

The UZZ32 model was the top of the line 30 series featuring four wheel steering and a complex hydraulic computer- controlled active suspension system. This did away with conventional springs and anti-roll (stabiliser) bars in favour of hydraulic struts controlled by sensors that detected cornering, acceleration and braking forces. The system worked well and gave an unusually controlled yet smooth ride with no body roll, but the weight penalty of the system affected straight-line performance somewhat, and the car was costly to produce. As a result, only 873 UZZ32's were made and are now collectors items in the UK and Australia.

40 series (2001-2004)

The 40 series Soarer model was largely identical to its Lexus equivalent, sold outside Japan as the Lexus SC 430 since 2001. The 40 series Soarer 430SCV featured a hardtop which could fold into the boot of the car, in the fashion of the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SL. The coupe was equipped with the 3UZ-FE VVTi (variable valve timing) 4.3 litre V8 motor - as was available in the Lexus LS 430 luxury sedan. It produced a respectable 208kw (280HP) and 430Nm of torque. This enabled the coupe to accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in a reasonable 6 seconds. The shared body style of the 40 series Soarer/SC 430 was developed by Toyota designers at design studios in France and Japan. Compared with the 30 series, some observers generally considered the fourth generation a retreat in visual style due to its more compact and top heavy appearance. As a result it had lost the long sleek look previously seen and admired greatly in the 30 series models.

With the 40 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 in its lineup. The debut of Lexus and the SC 430 coincided with the conclusion of Toyota Soarer sales.