>>Toyota 4500GT

Toyota 4500GT

Toyota 4500GT
Manufacturer	Toyota Motor Company
Assembly	Japan
Successor	Toyota Soarer Lexus SC300/SC400
Class	Grand Tourer
Body style(s)	2+2 coupe[1][2]
Layout	FR
Engine(s)	4.5L (4500 cc) V8 220 kW/295bhp@6600 rpm 390N·m/288 ft·lbf @ 4800 rpm
Transmission(s)	6 speed manual, rear mounted
Curb weight	3197 lb (1450 kg)

The Toyota 4500GT concept debuted at the 1989 Frankfurt Auto show. It was a 2 door, 2+2 Coupe that signalled Toyota's entry into the competitive upper-level luxury coupe class. Although the car's controversial styling was almost universally disliked by the show-goers at the Frankfurt show, its mechanical components were far more relevant, as they carried over much more closely to its production offspring than the styling did.

World class performance

Toyota claimed the 4500GT was capable of transporting 4 passengers and their luggage comfortably at a speed of 300 km/h (186 miles per hour) To achieve this, the car had to be both efficient, and powerful. The body's unusual shape (dropping snout, flat and abrupt rear end) yielded an extremely low coefficient of drag for the time period - just .29.

The powerplant was quite impressive, though. A derivative of Toyota's then-new 1UZ-FE V8, the 4500GT boasted an additional 500 cc of displacement over the production unit, twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, and 5 valves per cylinder. This high tech masterpiece produced 220 kW (295 bhp) at 6600 rpm and 390 N·m (288 ft·lbf) at 4800 rpm. This V8 was mated with a 6 speed manual transmission, which was mounted at the rear with the differential to even out the front/rear weight balance.

The Suspension was a sophisticated double control arm setup front and rear. The front utilized upper A arms and lower L arms, and the rear used upper L arms and lower A arms for increased camber which promoted stability in high speed corners.

No acceleration testing was ever done on the car, but with 295 bhp (220 kW) and a curb weight of 3197 lb (1450 kg), the RWD 4500GT could be reasonably expected to achieve 60 miles (97 km) an hour in less than 7 seconds.

Concept to showroom

the 4500GT never made it directly to the showroom; however, it was the predecessor to the highly successful Toyota Soarer/Lexus Coupe. The Lexus SC400 utilized a more tame version of the 4500GT's V8, a 4.0 L with 250 horsepower (186 kW). The styling of the Soarer/Coupe was in the eyes of many much more cohesive and attractive, and it went on to great commercial success on the mechanical backbone of the 4500GT concept.